The Press.
London, England, 1855-09-08 00:00:00

nt
rt

No. 123.—V0L. 111.

LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8,1855.

rtss.

After the great war with Russia is over, the
world will not be much disturbed by a little
war between Austria and her Italian provinces.
Smooth words butter no parsnips, and pro•
mises, like pie-crust, are made to be broken.
If the Italians, after all their past experience,
are fools enough to believe that they will ever
receive any active assistance from our Liberal
Government, who will be found to compassion-
ate their disappointment?
This may be the view of the Premier; but is
it really consonant with good faith and sound
policy ? Can a great nation, without loss of
character, play with the patriotic passions of a
people for purely selfish ends—calling them
into activity only that they may be quenched
in suffering?

LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1855.

THE partisans of Lord PALMERSTON are exciting
hopes in Italy which they know to be utterly
vain and delusive, or they are contemplating a
struggle which must wrap all Europe in flame.
Neither thoughtlessness nor party necessities
oan be pleaded in excuse of a policy which
directly tends to excite civil war in an empire
with which we are professedly at peace, and
to make the aspirations of a people for free-
dom a lure to compass their destruction.
It is known that Italy is in a state of dis-
quietude. The disaffected believe that the
war will eventually turn to their advantage—
that it will become a war of opinion, and that
the flag of Italian independence will be raised
under the immediate protection of the Allies.
Hence thb movements of the allied Govern..
ments are watched with-theraanguine ardour
natural to the temperament.of the South, and
great significance is attached to any acts which
favour, in however slight a degree, the idea
that the Italian people may be called upon, in
opposition to their Governments, to take part
in a great contest for the reconstruction of the
map of Europe.
At this time of expectation and ferment,
when any accident may convulse the whole
Italian peninsula, parties supposed to speak
the sentiments of our Administration do not
scruple to aver that the Sardinian alliance and
the enrolment of an Italian Legion are but the
commencement of a policy designed to end in
the humiliation of Austria and the complete
emancipation of Italy. It is said, for example,
by a journal well known to be conducted by a
member of the Government, that the Italian
Legion will furnish a nucleus for an Italian
army, and will " supply leaders, officers, and
" organisers whenever the day of liberation
" shall dawn, and the war of emancipation
" shall begin." The Italian patriots are ad-
vised to " bide their opportunity," and to wait
the return of the Sardinian troops, who will
be more than a match for " the unpractised
" regiments of Austria, and put to shame her
" armies." it is not only in a weekly journal
that these sentiments are put forward ; they
are sedulously propagated in a variety of ways
by Lord PALMERSTON'S adherents, and are
boastingly proclaimed as au evidence of the
reality of his Liberal policy.
The Premier himself may probably regard
them much in the same light as he does those
placards on the wall tempting recruits to
enlist by the promise of bounty which they
will never receive. As we want an Italian
Legion, why not hold out to the people such
inducements as are most likely to influence
them? The most tempting bait is the best.
If the prospect of a free and united Italy has
any charms for the Milanese, promise it to
them by all means as the reward of service in
our ranks. When the Legion has answered
our purpose, and fought our battle, let its
soldiers engage with Austria if they please.

Do those persons who now speak and write
with so much gusto on the prospects of Italian
independence ever reflect on the contempt
they cast upon this country? Where was their
zeal when they believed that Austria was in
the market, and eager biddings were made by
our Government for her support? Not a
whisper in favour of Italy was then heard. It
is only since Austria has become reserved in
her attitude that the " Italian dodge " has
grown into favour. Had the despotic Court of
Vienna been more compliant, we should have
had no appeals to patriotic Italy. As the
bayonets of the Austrianoranny ;ill not move
at our summons, we must see what can be
done with the populations they oppress.
It is with pain that we notice the degrading
position in which the adherents of the Govern
ment have succeeded in representing it
Every generous mind must compassionate the
unfortunate condition of Italy. must sigh over
her fallen fortunes, and hope that a day is not I
distant when the vivid genius of her singu•
larly gifted people, invigorated by the in
fluences of well ordered freedom, will once
more play a conspicuous part in arts and
industry. But just in proportion to the real
interest felt in her welfare, will be the reserve
exercised in raising expectations which if not
realised must inevitably darken her destiny
and retard her advancement. Twice within
the last forty years has Italy sustained the
horrors of unsuccessful insurrection. Huma-
nity shrinks with horror from the thought of
inciting her to renew the unequal contest,
that our bottle•holding Premier may again
acquire the applause of his jovial associates by
his dexterity in the ring.
Lord PALMERSTON is exactly one of those
men adapted by nature, habit, and circum-
stance for carrying on a great war in a little
spirit. Does any one suppose that any Italian
Legion he can raise will really have any
appreciable influence on the contest in which
we are engaged ? That it will occasion infinite
squabbling, and originate diplomatic notes
ithout end, we may be perfectly sure ; but
it will no more harm Russia than if Lord
PALMERSTON, in playful mood, were to occupy
himself in casting squibs to the North from
the Treasury in Whitehall. While our fleet of
unrivalled strength is lying idle in the Baltic,
and the allied armies—amounting to two hun-
dred thousand men—are awaiting with anxiety
the next movement against Sebastopol, the
head of our Executive is solely intent on irri-
tating Austria, by threatening her with the
concentration of all the vagabondage of Italy.
What satire upon the folly of Governments ever'
equalled this living reality now present to our
sight?

STAMPED .... SIXPENCE.
UNSTAMPED..FIVEPENCE.

It is, to speak plainly, the great interests
and the great families of England which are
to blame for the success of the charlatanry
which is now impairing our strength and bur-
lesquing our policy. What has been done
under the Palmerston regime f A pacific
negotiation has been broken off, and a series
of small intrigues have been set a-foot on the
Con4inent which resemble nothing so much
as those contemptible little infernal machines
which some Palmerston of Russia sowed
thickly in the Baltic waters•
It is not by such devices that the might of
England is to be shown, and the war brought
to an honourable close. It is only by steadily
fixing our view on some distinct objects to be ob-
tained that we can hope to employ our strength
and resources to the best advantage. Wars
without principle are sure to result in wars of
exhaustion. An union of the sound heads and
firm wills of the country is required to prevent
this contest from degenerating into a mere
brutal and destructive trial of which party
can bear the most bruising. We want a Go-
vernment sufficiently strong in administrative
capacity to devise plans and organise forces
for the achievement of decisive success in the
field, and sufficiently powerful in legislative
support to make peace on. Wrists which will
fulfil the original objects th _war. ,
country can fusel*
only by a combination of its essential Conser-
vatism. Above all else it must comprehend
enough of principle, sense, and resolution,
to despise that claptrap by which the existing
Administration endeavours to support itself,
and to disregard that idle clamour which
would wage war against a nation or nations
merely from prejudice against the peculiar
character of their Governments.