During these frequent revolutions it is easy to understand that many
treaties were broken, and much property was seized.

The foreign residents in particular found Mexico a dangerous country to
live in, and within a few years Spain, England, and France were making
heavy claims against the country for damage done to their citizens.

The claims of England and Spain were satisfied, and they withdrew the
troops they had sent to Mexico to enforce their demands.

France, however, could get no satisfaction, and so she remained, and
carried on war against the Mexicans until she succeeded in getting a
little the best of them.

It was at this moment that Louis Napoleon made up his mind that an Emperor
was what Mexico needed, and sent out the unfortunate Archduke Maximilian
to rule a wild, boisterous, and only half-conquered people.

The Mexicans, ever pleased with a change, welcomed the Emperor very
kindly; the beauty and charity of the Empress made many friends for her,
and for a time all went well.

With the aid of the French troops, Maximilian completed the conquest of
the rebellious Mexicans, and was at the height of his popularity, when, in
an evil moment, he made a proclamation that all the rebels who had fought
against the government should be regarded as bandits, and punished as
such.

The people were furious at this. These bandits were many of them of their
own families and friends, and revolutions were so common in the country,