Father Fischer's persuasive tongue had been wagging fluently yet cautiously in behalf of the clerical cause, and was acquiring ever greater power as the improving health of the emperor gave buoyancy to his spirit.[1] Nor had he been unaided, for Navarro and other conservatives came to support his promises of large pecuniary assistance from the church,[2] and the speedy formation of an army. In their anxiety for the imperilled estates and other prospects, they were intent above all on delay, and Mexicans are proverbially lavish with promises.[3] The outlook for an army
- ↑ Fischer feared at first to press the point, and aimed only to keep Maximilian irresolute; 'and I aided him,' says Basch, 76-7, but with the object of preventing abdication till the proper time — when the French left. He could then have retired with honor, observes Kératry, 235. Basch, 66–7, declares that the abdication would have been performed on the way to Orizaba but for the remonstrances of Fischer and himself. Diaz' triumphs in Oajaca had a very depressing effect. Domenech scouts at the influence of Fischer, Hist. Mex., iii. 404, but others held it at a higher value. D'Héricault understands that $150,000 were offered to induce Fischer to urge the departure of Maximilian, and names Martin Daran as the banker holding the check; yet it may have been an invention by Marquez and others. Max. et Mex., 38-9. Basch always suspected the sincerity of the oily priest, and states that the emperor came too late to a similar conclusion. 'Pater Fischer hat mich mit dem Concordate betrogen und belogen,' he exclaimed in his prison at Querétaro. Erinnerungen, i. 99.
- ↑ Mille promesses, de la part du clergé.' Détroyat, 294. Fixed at $4,000,000 without delay. Kératry, 234. The sources were 'a secret with the party.' Rivera indicates Campos' hacendarias laws as the means. Hist. Jal., v. 696.
- ↑ Intent on the arrangement for settling British claims, Minister Scarlett is said by Basch to have supported Fischer's pleading, but Arrangoiz doubts it. Méj., iv. 1si. Maximilian ratified the convention with England Nor. 9th. Mex., Men. Hac., 1870, 682. For text, see Derecho Intern. Mex., ptii. 373-85, 391-408. 'Le ministre de Prusse, M. le baron Magnus, parlait dans le même sens, declares Détroyat. L'Interven., 295.
yet remained to arrange measures for a stable government to protect the interests pending, and to this end he had summoned the council of state, Bazaine being invited to attend. This overthrew all the calculations of the French leaders, for the journey of so large a number of prominent conservatives would hardly imply or result in a simple abdication. On the 20th, indeed, came a telegram from the emperor intimating that none of the steps so far taken authorized the belief that he would abdicate in favor of any party. The council had been called to determine into what hands the supreme power should be placed from the date of abdication till the result of a national vote could be ascertained. He must restore the power to the nation which conferred it. The marshal had declined to attend the council, and now 'se arrepintió,' says Arrangoiz. Méj., iv. 194. Kératry, Max., 244, dilates on the trap into which Maximilian had drawn the French representatives by their disclosing that a new government was near at hand; but the trap is probably an assumption. Basch, 93-4, almits, however, that the discovery of negotiations for a new ruler without deference to his own wishes did affect the emperor deeply. 'Mehr denn je fühlte er jetzt die tiefe Verletzung.'
