The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-28 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, OCT. 28, 1867.

Disappointment has succeeded to the hopes that
were formed about Italy being relieved from the
horrors of war. This is to be regretted on many
accounts, for the condition of European affairs is not
at all so satisfactory as it might be without this new
grievance starting up. At any rate the patience of
the Emperor NAPOLEON has been exhausted by the
uncertain state of matters, and by the perversity
with which the insurgents have punned
their object. The troops of the French Ex-
PEROp arc now in Civita Vecchia, and

Imay probably march on to Rome before very long.
This most undesirable turn of affairs has been
brought about by various causes, foremost among
which we may mention the inability displayed by
the Italian Government to restrain the force and
fury of the Garibaldians. Of course they were
placed in most difficult circumstances, but it would
have been a very fortunate thing if they had con-
trived to rescue themselves and others from the
awkward position in which they aro now placed.
We deeply deplore the sad condition in which
Italy now is, and the worst is that there seems no
very great likelihood of an extrication for some
time to come. The course pursued by GARIBALDI
is a most misguided one, and his admirers must
feel greatly concerned not only for his safety, but
for the great responsibilities which he has brought
on himself. It would have been a far more patrio-
tic course to have taken to have let things alone for
some years at least, and allowed Italy to consolidate
the great triumphs which she won by the war of last
summer, than to have rushed heedlessly and reck-
lessly into a conflict of which no one can foretell the
consequences, but which may probably end in ruin,
defeat, and perhaps death. It would seem from the
accounts that are received from Italy that GARI-
BALDI has worked himself up to that pitch of excite-
ment and enthusiasm when men cease to reason,
and forget to judge calmly and collectedly. The
consequence of this unwise resolve on his part will
be felt for many a long day to come, and at no
period could they be more untoward than at present
on account of the complications in Germany, and
the great responsibility that rests on France.
The Emperor NAPOLEON has, indeed, fallen on
evil days of late, and the long course of unbroken
success that had attended the enterprises of his
eventful reign seems to have changed into darker
and more fitful states of fortune, but no one can
deny that his present position is a most unenviable
one. Whatever he had done in this Italian busi-
ness there would have been found many to declare
that he was wrong, and to have adduced many
potent arguments to show that it was so, and that
their deductions were quite correct. Now he is in
this dilemma, that on one side he is called upon to
keep his pledge, and on the other he must crush, or
seek to crush, the very race whose freedom he was
mainly instrumental in procuring. At the same
time it must be borne iu mind that NAPOLEON has
shown no readiness to rush to extremities. He
allowed things to take their course for some
time before he came to a decision about his
own time of action, and even now he would doubt-
less be glad to meet the Italian Government
half way ; but the danger exists in the fact that the
Italians are not likely to make the best of things,
or to put anything like a favourable interpretation
upon the policy he has pursued. No doubt much
of the evil that we now deplore, and that we appre-
hend fir the future, might have been avoided if the
September Convention had been better framed; but
as they stood, it was lveilnigh impossible for the
French EmPEttow, to act otherwise. In the wad
excitement that now prevails it is quite idle to
expect that this will be recognised, and
by this time the word will have gone forth that the
Emperor NAPOLEON has sided with the oppressors
of Italian liberty. It would seem as if an evil in-
fluence pervaded the nations of the Continent just
now, for no sooner does one think that any par-
ticular kingdom or community has gained sAid and
lasting advantage than forthwith it is again en-
vironed by doubts, and overshadowed by misfor-
tune. It was the one salient po'nt in the