The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-30 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1858.

What is the real position of Austria at the pre-
sent moment? What her views and objects ? It
is nianifest that we must look to Italy for the
solution of these interesting problems ! It is in
that quarter that all her energies have been
strained, that every preparation has been made !
When under the specious garb of neutrality she
obtained permission to occupy the Danubian
Principalities, she manifestly anticipated that
during " the shuffling of the cards" something
would have turned up from which political capital
might have been extracted. She held the key of
the position, ready to take advantage of any op-
portunity, and if Russia bad triumphed, to obtain
her full share of the plunder ! But, notwith-
standing her yearnings after Moldaa:a and Wal-
lachia, she never for a moment lost sight of Italy.
So far as the belligerent Powers were concerned,
she was, according to the proverb of our Scottish
brethren, "Neither fish, flesh, nor good red her-
ring." At one time she lent herself to Russia
by liberating the army of the Pruth for service in
the Crimea, and thus enabling Russia to test her
force on the sanguicary fields of Balaklava and
Inkerman. Faithful to her ancient traditions,
she was ever " strong upon the strongest side,"
and would only act when she believed Fortune,
g I her fickle ladyship, was by."
When the ratification of the Precious Peace
proved that she had comparatively little to ac-
quire on the Turkish frontiers she redoubled her
efforts in the Italian Peninsula. As we have
already stated, she never for a moment, during
the height of the struggle, or even during
the most stringent pressure of her financial dife-
cuulties, lost sight of her long-cherished
policy of bringing the entire " boot," from
knee to toe, under her own paramount
influence. She bad obtained a steady footing,
and she would not yield a single inch ! Her
policy, although better concealed, was just as
aggressive as that of Russia. She bad still visions
of aggrandisement, of bringing all Italy under
her control and management. The notion was
not quite so chimerical as it may appear on a
easual inspection. Lombardy was her own. The
iron had already entered into the soul of its in-
habitants. No possible opportunity was afforded
of casting off the intolerable yoke. Rome was con-
tented with the extension of her spiritual power, and
with that anticipation readily conceded the prolonged
occupation of " the Legations," and the virtual
supremacy of Austria. Boami was made to play
the Viennese game. His despotic tendencies, and
the perverse obstinacy of his disposition, rendered
indispemsable the support of a higher power.
The Duchies were held by Austrian flunkeys of
the Imperial blood, who would not venture to dis-
pute any orders from head-quarters. There was,
therefore, only Sardinia to be dreaded. VICTOR
EMIANI7EL stood forward in bright contrast to
other potentates. He was the recognised cham-
pion of Italian Liberty—the hope of the oppressed
and suffering peoples. By his magnanimous con-
duct respecting the Eastern difiSculty he
bad acquired an insuperable claim on the
Western Powers. Ho could not be de_
Sorted by France or England in any conker,
forced on him by Austria. The Cabinet of Vienna
well aware of this. They know that; notwith.