able to show more magnanimity; nevertheless, let all sprigs of European royalty take warning and remain at home.
On the 16th of June, Escobedo confirmed the sentence, and ordered the execution to take place that day at three o'clock in the afternoon. Foreseeing the bestirred themselves to save Maximilian by flight, to take place on the night of the 14th. Two colonels had signified their readiness to yield to the tempting offer of a hundred thousand pesos each; but finding that only drafts on Austria could be tendered in payment, or after merely acting as decoys, they withdrew, turned honest, and disclosed the plan. The result was increased precautions, and the expulsion from the city of the foreign diplomatic agents for having favored the attempt.[1]
The position of the chivalrous though weak-minded and misguided Maximilian could not fail to rouse wide-spread sympathy, even in Mexico; and petitions for mercy came pouring in from all quarters, including several from army men. Riva Palacio and Torre, who had made it their special aim to plead as supplicants with the government, pointed to the need for considering the honor of the country. Foreign governments had also instructed their representatives to assist the efforts of the Austrian embassador, Baron Lago, and Curtopassi, Hoorickx, Forest, and Baron Magnus, acting for Italy, Belgium, France, and Prussia, respectively, hastened up from Mexico for that purpose, Magnus taking the lead as the least obnoxious to the
- ↑ Of the colonels, Villanueva and Palacios, the latter broke his word of honor in revealing the plan. They had demanded the signature of foreign ministers on the bills besides Maximilian's. Baron Lago of Austria gave his, but the other ministers refusing to sign, le withdrew. Salm-Salin was placed under closer arrest and his wife sent away. For details and fac-simile of Maximilian's order, see Salm-Salm, Diary, i. 269, 281-90, ii. 65, 80, etc.; Basch, ii. 200-5. It has been assumed that the colonels intended merely to implicate the ministers, and Masseras believes that the prudence of the latter saved them from great danger. Essai, 321. Juarez is said by some to have personally desired an escape of the prisoner; but this is not probable.
