no influence shall be
used in the internal affairs of Mexico, calculated to prejudice the
right of the Mexican nation freely to choose its own form of government.
Should any Mexican, or any party in Mexico, ask your advice on such
subjects, you will say that any regular form of government, which shall
protect the lives and properties of natives and foreigners, and shall
not permit British subjects to be attacked or annoyed on account of
their occupation, their rights of property, or their religion, will
secure the moral support of the British Government." The statement of
France was just as clear, only shorter. M. Thouvenal said to Mr. Dayton
that "France could do no more than she had already done, and that was to
assure us of her purpose not to interfere in any way with the internal
government of Mexico; that their sole purpose was to obtain payment of
their claims and reparation for the wrongs and injuries done them." The
language of Spain, if anything, was shortest and clearest of all. She
assured Mr. Schurtz, that, "if Spain did take part in this intervention,
it would be solely for redress of her grievances, and not for the
purpose of imposing new institutions upon Mexico." So it was clear,
after all, that this was nothing but a grand naval excursion for the
collection of just dues from a reluctant or dishonest debtor! Nothing
more! No intention whatever of intruding upon the poor man's castle!

Was it not surprising, now, that, with everything so transparent, nobody
had any faith? Almost simultaneously, from Mr. Adams at London, from Mr.
Dayton at Paris, from Mr. Schurtz at Madrid, and from Mr. Corwin at
Mexico, came missives, couched in different language, but all conveying
the same lesson: England meant what she said, and France and Spain did
not. All at once, too, the air was full of rumors. The conservative
party was to be restored by force. A monarchy was to be set up. Prince
Maximilian was to be invited to the throne of Mexico. As before, nobody
could trace these rumors to any trustworthy source. But everybody
believed them. And every one of them has proved to be true. About this
time there appeared in Paris a striking book, part history, part
philosophy, part prophecy, entitled, "Mexico, Ancient and Modern," by
Michel Chevalier. What is peculiar about the book, so far as it relates
to present affairs, is, that it says but little in regard to the
collection of dues, much concerning the necessity of reorganizi