During the progress of these humiliating negotiations the imperialists were racked by serious forebodings. In the middle of 1865, already an ominous gathering of troops and vessels in Texas and along the Rio Bravo induced Bazaine to concentrate most of his men in the northern provinces, to the neglect of provinces below, like Michoacan and Guanajuato. The result was a revival of republican operations in these regions, which only too plainly showed that the empire rested wholly on French bayonets.[1] It could not be denied that the intelligent and active Mexicans were nearly all imbued with republican ideas. A large proportion had listened for a while to the promises held out by a part} 7 in behalf of a strong central government under a permanent head; but these proving weak and illusive, national jealousy and impatience hastened the return to former principles. As for the Indians, they looked on with passive indifference.
Notwithstanding the eagerness for office, more than one of the prefects preferred to resign rather than occupy an equivocal position, unable as they were to carrv out measures or to enforce order with the scanty troops at their command.[2] Their representations recalled to Maximilian the warnings uttered already at Miramare,[3] and in a series of alarming letters he himself depicted the situation in sombre colors, blaming Bazaine as the cause, and declaring him responsible.[4]
- ↑ Charged by Drouin de Lhuys to report on the state of affairs in Mexico, Domenech wrote in effect throughout the year: 'J'aitrouve le Mexique sur un volcan, l'empereur et l'empire usés, l'insurrection triomphante, partout où les Francais ne sont pas en grand nombre.' Hist. Mex., iii. 210. But he was not believed; certainly not at first. See also Héricault, Max., 28-34.
- ↑ Prefect Moral of Michoacan, a most worthy and respected man, resigned four times without being allowed to leave. Some of his letters are very blunt. See Domenech, iii. 223-4. He also objected to the stringent measures which to the French seemed more indispensable the smaller their forces became.
- ↑ Notably by Teran, whose character as Juarez' agent caused him to be disregarded.
- ↑ 'La ville de Morelia est entourde d'ennemis; Acapulco est perdu. . . Oajaca est presque dégarni; San Luis Potosí est en danger. . .On a perdu un temps précieux, on a ruiné le trésor public, on a ébranlé la confiance, et tout cela parce qu'on a fait croire á Paris que la guerre est glorieusement finie.' Letter
of the stronger imperial party. Even the doubtful conduct of Juarez in retaining the presidency after his term expired in November did not impair his standing with the states.
