The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-08 00:00:00

THE EL ROPEAN CHANGES.

The Tinifs enlarges upon the extreme difficulty I I
created for Austria by the late events of determining her
position for the future. Under • smooth surface the
empire is at the present moment • prey to anarchy in ,
every branch and order of the administration. Any at-
tempt on the part of the government in admit the justice
of national claims has hitherto bad no other effect than to '
raise a storm of sub-national counter-claims and bring the
state to the verge of utter dissolution ; and, in consideration
of these supreme dangers, Austrian statesmen seem stag-
gered
in their schemes for the reconstruction of the
empire, either on the principle of a dualism between the
German provinces and Hungary, or of a federation of the
main national divisions of the empire. Anything like a
constitutional plan, either general or partial, or the forma-
tion of a real ministry, is in abeyance, and the management
of military and diplomatic affairs alone engrosses the
attention of the rulers. The one advantage which
Austria possesses is that in any dispute with Hungary,
in any difficulty in the East, she will no longer have
to be on her guard against Italy; while in
all her complications on the Danube, in her conflict with
rebel races, or in her ad►ance upon Turkish or Russian
borders, she can have no better ally than the new North
German Confederacy. Austria and Prussia may still have.
both in the East and West, community of interests, but
warmly any ground for rivalry and hostility.
line Daily Pears sees no reason in the political or mate-
rad interesta of Austria and Italy why the wish of the
Austriangovernment to enter into friendly relations with its
former enemy should not be realised. The chief obstacle will
be found in the policy of Austria during the lastfewmonths,
uselessly involving Italy in ruinous losses and cruelly
wounding its self-esteem. If, howe►er, the Italians are
wise they will not dwell upon the mode in which Venetia
is transferred, unless to seek the explanation of it in tie
very peculiar circumstances of the Austrian governmest
at the time of its occurrence ; but it will take them a little
while to forget it.
The Herald honours the persistence with which the King
of Hanover clings to a throne which he has lost by no
faults of his own, which has been wrenched from him by
the most iniquitous violation of public law that history
records, and which, could hie subjects have preeervesl it
for him, he would 'till enjoy. Our contemporary goes on'
to contend that though the Prussian soldiers fought well
last summer, accident gave them nearly every one of their
victories, and accident alone saved them from a great de-
feat. As things are, nothing more is left for King George
to do, and little to hope.
The release from their osAh of allegiance which King George
of Hanover has given Wilds former subjects is described
by the Daily News as a graceful act and one that lends
dignity to the misfortunes which have overtaken the
royal house. The other dispossessed sovereigns of Germany
who have relieved their people from their oath of allegiance
have done so after making arrangements with Prussia
more or less advantageous to themselves. The act of
King George can only have been prompted by • liberal
concern for the happiness of his former people.