The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-31 00:00:00

HUNGARY.

Whatever ultimate importance may grow out of
the success of the most reprehensible attack of the
French on Rome, the Austro-Russian invasion of
Hungary is at present the subject of pre-eminent
interest. It is no longer a question of whether the old

tyranny of Austria could be patched up and set upon
its legs again, whereby, according to the apprehension
of some, that phantom for which we have squandered
so many millions—the balance of power in Europe
—could be maintained ; but whether Russia shall
succeed in overwhelming the liberties of a large por-
tion of civilized Europe with a torrent of the most
disgusting and atrocious brute force. The suc-
cess of Russia in Hungary would place all the
so-called dominions of Austria, and in all pro-
bability the whole of Germany, under a sys-
tem of Cossack rule, which must inevitably lead
to revolutions and wars, in which little short of a
miracle could prevent our taking a part. Russia is
formed by nature to be a great country; it abounds
in natural wealth, and its population is adapted for a
peculiar phase of material civilization. Furthermore,
it has in Nicholas the advantage of not a bad speci-
men of the genus despot. He has muzzled and chained
an aristocracy, who covered over the vices of civiliza-
tion and savagery with a varnish of French polish ;
he has encouraged every branch of domestic industry :
and lastly, by the emancipation of his serfs—which,
by the bye, left him at liberty to do just as he pleased
with them—he has laid the foundation of what, at some
indefinite period, will be a middle class. Tse
he things,
as far as they go, are tolerably good ; but they have
been achieved and are sustained by absolute des
potism. Nicholas is not a Nero or a Donaitian :
he neither delights in roasting Christians or
skewering flies; nor does he, like Catherine, imi-
tate at the Hermitage the di:gusting vices of Ti-
berius at Caprea. Hellas no love of crime for its own
sake, but, true to the essential nature of a despot, he
thinks it no atrocity, however grossly it outrages all
law, human or divine, that answers his purpose, or
promises to forward his ambitious schemes. Ac-
cording to a very common view of human neces-
sities, many suppose that a Government of bruta-
lity is the only one which can maintain order and
progress amongst a half civilized people. We are no
believers in the doctrine; but those that are must
admit that, even when a tyranny seems useful, it is
seldom safe. Indeed, history leads U 3 to suppose
that revolution is the natural death of a despotism ;
and so inevitable is the fatal tendency of crime to
lead to crime, that we might almost add assassination
is the natural death of a despot. The Government of
Nicholas is a good despotism—as good as an essen-
tially had and vile thing can perhaps be made;
but it is never safe, and arrays demands new
crimes to protect its head from the conse-
quences of previous violations of human right.
With greater ease could the Egaiopian change
his skin, or the leopard his spats, than Nicholas, the
despot, become Nichols', the constitutional King.
Tne difficulty is to remain what he is, while ideas
opposed to his very existence as a despot are rife in
the earth. So decidedly contagious and epidemic are
the ideas of constitutional freedom, that the most
rigorous system of political quarantine is needful
to keep them out of Russia. Freedom in Hun-
gary, in Germany, or even in France or Italy,
are plague-spots in the sight of Nicholas : they
show the fatal march of—to him and to his system
—the most fearful of all diseases. Better for him to
behold his country suffering all the plagues of Egypt,
than living is close neighbourhood and communion
with a nation that is free. Hence the vast armies
he has poured into Hungary—his mixture of force and
fraud with the Porte ahout the governments of the
Turkish provinces of the Danube. The light of liberty is
an abomination to him, and it must be quenched in blood.
We are not seeking to vilify the man, but we are describ-
ing the despot; and if our picture is black, be it remem-
bered that truth would demand far deeper shades to
pourtray the lineaments of most others of his class.
We have no desire to draw curses upon Nicholas, but
assist to draw attention and execration upon a system
of which he is the victim as well as the head. While
the Emperor's minions are endeavouring, by brutal
cruelty, to terrify the unfortunate population of
Hungary, he himself publishes a decree that
no university in Russia is to have more than
three hundred pupils; that no university is to take
new pupils until its numbers fall below this limit, and
then a preference to be given to those of noble birth.
Knowledge is a very dangerous thin°. in Russia; and
a few hundred pupils living together, and learning
that nations have been free, and that some are en-
deavouring to imitate England in being freemen,
is of so much danger to the state of Russia that
it must be put down by special enactment. Rus-
sia flogs women —hangs patriots—stabs, shoots,
and plunders, a nation with whom its only quarrel
is that it loves freedom—proscribes learning, and
checks education—all at the same time ; and yet this
coarse brutal tyranny is allowed full sway, applauded
by a large part of the English press, and, we fear,
not at all discouraged in its atrocities by the Govern-
ment of this country. Honour to the editor and pro-
prietors of The Sun, who have started a subscription
in behalf of the Hungarians at Folkstone, and seek,
by articles of great ability and truth, to vindicate the
cause of justice in Hungary, and to rouse the English
people to a perception of their duties as inheritors of a
freedom which they should endeavour to spread over
other lands, and be ever ready to help all who writhe
under despotism to achieve for themselves.
We are glad to see that public meetings have begun
to testify their sympathy with Hungary, and we hope
that such will be held all over the land. A nobler
cause never demanded a more generous and extensive
expression of sympathy and regard. The retreating
movements of the Hungarian army have occasioned us no
surprise. Attacked on all sides by forces much larger
than their own, a diminution of the sphere of their
operations was palpably necessary. It cannot be
doubted that the condition of Hungary is one of great
danger ; but pretty nearly the same course would
be adopted from policy as from defeat—namely,
an avoidance of pitched battles, and a gradual retreat
from what were their outposts before the commencement
of the Russian invasion. So little reliable intelligence
reaches us, that we cannot estimate either the precise
amount of danger or the chances of success. In some in-
stances the Imperialists have doubtless gained advan-
tages ; but in the vicinity of Comorn they were clearly
beaten, although the injudicious vehemence of the
Hungarian artillery in pursuing too far led to the
loss of some pieces of cannon. The Russians have
been allowed to penetrate the passes of the Carpa-
thians, and march towards Debreczin, with certainly
much less resistance than might have been opposed
to them ; and the whole behaviour of the Hun-
garian troops seems to indicate some strategic
plan, which is not yet fully seen, but which,
we apprehend, consists in forcing the Imperialists to
occupy districts where they will find it difficult to
obtain provisions, and where the nature of the geound
will place them at a disadvantage. We cannot
believe that Debreczin has been left unprovided
with handsome means of defence, and shall be
much surprised if the Russians do not meet
with serious obstacles in their march towards
that important place. In the absence of
sufficient information, we can only speculate on the
intention of the few movements with which we are
acquainted ; and the retreat of Wellington to the
heights of Torres Vedras may be cited as a well-
known instance by which the appearance of defeat
was, after a sufficient delay, changed to a course of
brilliant victory.
If we survey France, we see the people governed in
a Russian fashion, having neither liberty of the press
nor free discussion, which result is the plain conse-
quence
of their own folly. In Germany, the King of
Prussia is succeeding in the fighting department, and
exhibiting many Russian notions of liberty, placing all
expression of opinion under the control of soldiers and
police. It is quite plain this cannot go on for ever, but
the way out of it is not yet visible. Italy still opposes
grave difficulties. If a Russian policy is adopted with
Rome, it must tend to weaken the position of Louis
Napoleon ; and if his Ministers endeavour to be liberal,
they will be committed to a quarrel of more or less
importance with Austria and Russia. The proba-
bility is, that they will endeavour to steer a middle
course, and by so doing offend everybody. There is
some satisfaction in observing the reasonable course
taken by Narvaez in Spain, where a little progress offers
an agreeable contrast to the Russianizing process go-
ing on in most parts of Europe; and it is remark-
able that this should take place while we have no
ambassador at that Court. Notions of free trade and
concessions to the liberal party have wonderfully pro-
gressed since the ignominious dismissal of Mr. Bul-
wer ; and in these economising times it might be
worth considering whether we had not better let well
alone, and make up the
quarrel with Spain without
putting the nation to the
expense of another embassy
at all.

In concluding our weekly noticel of foreign
affair"
foreign affairs,
we cannot help remarking on
the t
transacted at the Old Bailey—we alludeae
qpi,) to the trial of
..I,lsgtha vessel
Prince Granatelli and others for eul
against the Neapolitan Government. ,
was stopped, and the unhappy Sicilians obligedve tossel
submit to a renewal of misrule, this trial might have
been spared. It was obviously intended to annoy
Lord Palmerston, as well as to exercise a little royal
vindictiveness against Prince Granatelli; but thanks
to the verdict, it has proved a,failure. " The glorious
uncertainty of English law has, in one instance at
least, been of some use, and enabled men to escape
punishment who bad incurred no moral guilt, which
is more than we can say for their opponents and the
precious witness upon whom they relied.
Let us add, that we hope that many names from
our own district will be added to those who have al-
ready contributed towards the subscription in aid of
the Hungarian soldiers, so honourably and judiciously
set on foot by The Sun.—North Devon Journal,
July 12.

AUSTRIA and HUNGARY.
The Vienna papers publish the proclamation
which the Austrian Commander- in - Chief, General
Haynau, has addressed to the inhabitants of Pesth, on
the occasion of his leaving them to hasten .o the
rescue of the Ban of Croatia :
"TO THE INHABITANTS OF BUDA AND PESTS.
"After several victories, which the Imperial arms have
obtained over those of the traitors, we are again among
you. We have again planted the Imperial standard on
your steeples. But our feelings are far different from
what they were when we left you a short time ago.
Doomed to death is every person, no matter of what
rank or sex—doomed to instant death, on the spot of the
crime, is every one who dares to assist the cause of the
rebels, by words, or by deeds, or by revolutionary dress;
doomed to instant death is every one who dares to insult
any of my soldiers, or of those of our allies; doomed to
instant death is every one who enters into traitorous
communication with the enemies of the Crown, or who
maliciously presumes by rumours to assist the rebellion,
or to conceal weapons."

CENTRAL GERMANY,
The Kiilner :Zeitung, states that his Highness the
Regent John was expected to arrive at Frankfurt on
the 26th of August. His Highness is to be accom-
panied by an Austrian army of 10,000 men.
The same paper gives a list of the sums which the
various states of Germany are still owing to the
Central Power. The whole of the sums amount to
8,894,000 florins, of which Austria owes 4,194,000
florins ; Prussia, 1,800,000 ; Bavaria, 1,296,000 ;
Wurtemberg, 149,000; Hanover, 52,000; and
Saxony, 465,000 florins.