soon acquired a decided influence with Maximilian, despite his doubtful antecedents. The French appointments appeared a necessary adjunct to the July convention with France and the Franco-Mexican reorganization of the army; but Napoleon objected to the semi-official interference implied, and Bazaine was soon obliged to seek an excuse for withdrawing them.[1]
Meanwhile advances continued to be made for conservative favor, and on September 14th Lares, as president of the cabinet, was reënforced by García Aguirre, Teófilo Marin, and Mier y Teran, for the department of public instruction and worship, gobernacion, and fomento respectively; and to these were added the Portuguese, J. N. Pereda, I. T. Larraínzar, subsequently M. Campos and R. Tavera, intrusted with foreign relations, finance, and war, Arroyo being placed at the head of the household.[2] In the programme now issued the necessity was pointed out of harmonious coöperation between political and military powers, and of suppressing hostile demonstrations, while otherwise allowing freedom of opinion and sustaining individual guarantees, with inviolability of property. The administration had to be intrusted exclusively to the ministers, who were responsible, and territorial divisions to reliable adherents — an im-
- ↑ Influenced partly by a protest from the U.S. Note dated at Washington Aug. 16th. Payno alludes to Friant as harsh and autocratic. Cuentas, 856; a man who held more absolute control of the treasury than any previous imperial minister.
- ↑ Iglesias criticises Lares as an 'hombre malo, pero de capacidad,' he and Aguirre being secessionists from the liberal ranks. Tavera's record was blenished with cruelty; the rest were unknown or incapable Revistas, iii, 637-9. He adds something about sub-secretarial changes. Arrangoiz grieves over the fate of Marin, Teran, Lacunza, and others as having to die in exile Méj., iv. 137. Niox calls Lares an agent of the archbishop. Expéd. 618.
digger in the United States, became in Mexico a catholic priest and secretary to the bishop of Durango, and later curate at Parras, under the patronage of the rich Sanchez Navarro, who subsequently recommended him to Maximilian. He had just returned from Rome without achieving anything at the Vatican. His coarse heavy physique and smooth sensual face stood in marked contrast to the oily tongue and flitting eyes. Maximilian came soon to speak ironically of him, and Basch accuses him of 'Mangel an Offenheit und politischer Ehrlichkeit.' Erinnerungen, ii. 1, 3, 16-17, etc. Kératry alludes to his dismissal from the episcopal palace at Durango for loose conduct. Max., 160; Constit., June 19, 1868.
