eaders of this very conservative party,
who more than all others were responsible for the state of irritation
which produced the conflict, have appeared in the ranks of the French
army, thus acting the part of public prosecutors, and convicting and
condemning innocent people for their own sins.

But it remained for Juarez himself, driven by necessity, to commit the
act which settled the fortunes of his country. On the 17th of July,
1861, he published a decree announcing that for the term of two years
all payments on debts would be suspended, expressly including foreign
bonds. From that moment Mexico was doomed. The British and French
ministers at once sent in sharp protests. The reply of the Mexican
cabinet-minister is pitiful to read. His excuse is absolute necessity.
The mismanagement of his predecessors has made it impossible that he
should carry on the Government, and at the same time pay its debts.
After some further correspondence, apologetic on the part of Mexico,
sharp and bitter on the part of the foreign ministers, diplomatic
intercourse ceased. The Mexican minister at Paris, in obedience to
orders, sought an interview with M. Thouvenal. He began by saying that
"he was instructed to give the most ample explanations." Whereupon M.
Thouvenal interrupted him, exclaiming, "We will not hear any
explanations; we will receive none"; adding, in great excitement, "We
have fully approved the conduct of M. Saligny. We have issued orders, in
concert with England, that a squadron composed of vessels of both
nations shall exact from the Government of Mexico due satisfaction, and
your Government will learn from our minister and our admiral what are
the claims of France." We have quoted thus fully from official documents
to show that the emergency found France armed and ready, if not glad, to
pursue the quarrel to the end.

What was that end? As it stood on paper, simply to take possession of
the ports of Mexico, and sequestrate their customs to pay the interest
on foreign debts. This is stated over and over again by every party in
all possible forms of distinctness. By no means is any interference to
be permitted in the internal affairs of that country. In November, 1861,
Lord John Russell writes to the British minister at Mexico in these
unmistakable terms:--"You must be careful to observe with strictness
Article Two of the Convention, signed yesterday between Great Britain,
France, and Spain, by which it is provided that