The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-08 00:00:00

AUSTRIA AND PIEDMONT.

The following letter has been received from
Turin, dated the 4th of Jan. :—" The persuasion
that a war will arise is now so general and so
firmly fixed in the public mind, that any one who
asserts the contrary is regarded as a friend to the
Austrians. Everybody pretends to know from an
excellent source that war is resolved on, but if one
asks for any precise facts one cannot obtain an
answer. Everybody says that the war will be
between Austria and Piedmont, but nobody
knows who is to be the ally of Austria and who
the ally of Piedmont—everybody comprehends
that Piedmont cannot carry on a war without
an ally—or what will be the occasion of the
war, and. this is precisely what one would
wish to know. To every question or objection an ora-
torical figure is given in reply—' The mine exists—
there is only wanted a match to set it on fire.' War,
in my opinion, is not so imminent as people be-
lieve r nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the
almost unanimous opinion entertained that war
will break out is a serious fact, and merits atten-
tion. Whence comes this belief ? How has it
arisen ? How can it be justified ? I shall answer
these questions in a few words. The cause of this
excitement among the public is, first, the conviction
that Piedmont cannot persevere in her liberal
course without causing a change in the condition
of Lombardy. Now, the experience we have had
of the effect of diplomatic intervention, the
existing :state of European politics, render this
change impossible except by a violent crisis, a revo-
lution, or war. A war is considered more probable
than a revolution, because it is supposed that the
great Powers have an immense interest in proclaim-
ing the first in order to avoid the second. Add to
this consideration the agitation which prevails in
Lombardy, the silence maintained by the official
organs in presence of the rumours in circulation,
the measures of precaution adopted here, which are
exaggerated, but which exist, such as providing
a quantity of cloth, coal, and the purchase of
2,000 horses for the army, and you will not be
surprised that such an opinion is entertained. As to
the speech from the Throne, the Government can-
not speak of war during a period of profound peace.
It does not fear war, and I do not say it does not
desire it, but it neither can nor ought to confound its
desires with the realities of political propriety.
Moreover, it will not contradict the reports cur-
rent, because it is beneath the King to do so ; nor
disapprove them, because they point to an expres-
sion of public opinion which cannot displease the
Government, and which is favourable both to the
national policy of Piedmont and to that of the
House of Savoy. The speech will consequently con-
fine itself to 'a few phrases on the subject, which,
without saying anything positive, will give the
nation to understand that at the same that the
King will never violate his word or fail in his duty,
he feels confident the people will never fail to sup-
port him with their courage at any sacrifice in de-
veloping all practical liberties at home and the
national policy abroad. It will be endeavoured in
the speech not to discourage public opinion, and at
the same time not to add to the existing excite-
ment. An opportunity will be taken of the occa-
sion to state that the Government relies on the
nation to support the King under all contingen-
cies."