. . .
The downfall of the extended
Mexican Empire was predicted from its first inauguration. Not from any great
political foresight which they professed to enjoy, but in consequence of the
word of the Lord contained in the Book of Mormon, page 77—"And this land
shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon
this land who shall raise up unto the Gentiles; and I will fortify this land
against all other nations, and he that fighteth against Zion shall perish,
saith God; for he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish." This
book the Saints know to be true, and to contain the word of the Lord delivered
through the Prophets among the ancient inhabitants of Ameria; therefore, they
looked for the fulfilment of this prediction, having already seen the
fulfilment of many other prophecies contained in that sacred record.
The history of Louis Napoleon’s
Mexican scheme adds another testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon. In
1864, Maximilian enters the city of Mexico proud and triumphant, his beautiful
wife rejoicing at the realization of her own ambitious dreams; Napoleon III.
from his Imperial throne looks with supreme satisfaction upon the rising
kingdom which is to swell in his greatness. In 1867 Maximilian lies in a bloody
grave on a foreign shore; his wife is a raging maniac at Miramar, and the awful
news of Archduke's fate, comes light a blight upon Louis Napoleon in the hour
of his pride, when surrounded by monarchs and princes in the midst of the great
pageant which he had set up to attract and dazzle the world. The grand
festivities he had arranged in honor of the Sultan had to set aside, and he and
his court went into mourning. The lustre of his star was dimmed at its
culmination, by the dark cloud of his great mistake.
As to the political complications
which will grow out of this Mexican problem, like the results of all other
things, they are in the hands of all other things, they are in the hands of the
Lord, and we do not presume to lift the veil which he has drawn over them; but
in watching the progress of events upon the continent of Europe, and the waning
glory of the powers that be, we shall not forget the prediction we have quoted
from the Book of Mormon. Charles W. Penrose, "The Fate
of Maximilian," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 29, no.
29 [July 20, 1867]: 455)
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