The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-04 00:00:00

relations of independent States, or even to recognise any of between Denmark and France. I have telegraphed to
the limits imposed by the law of nations on the conduct of Copenhagen for official information on the subject, and the
all civilised States. Under the most frivolous pretexts, answer I have just received completely demonstrates the
Sardinia declares herself liberated from the obligations falsity of that news. Please to publish this in your
clearly imposed by treaties, as proved by the conventions journal, and believe me, &c.,
with Austria and the Italian States for the extradition of "COUNT BILLS-BRAHE, Minister of Denmark."
criminals and deserters. Her emissaries overrun the neigh-
bouring States, exciting soldiers to disobey their chiefs,
treading under foot all the rules of military discipline,
Piedmont admitted deserters into the ranks of her own
army.
" Such were the acts of a Government which boasts its
civilising mission, and in whose States there are journalists
whose journals find readers, and who, not content with
simply making the apology of assassination, count their
bleeding victims with fiendish joy.
"Who, after:that, can any longer doubt that this Govern-
ment regardedas the chiefobstacle the rights which Austria
derives from treaties, and accordingly sought to get rid of
them by all the means of an underhand policy ? The true in-
tentions of Piedmont, which had long ceased to be a secret
to any one, were openly avowed, as soon as that State was
sufficiently assured of foreign assistance, and had no fur-
ther necessity for masking its projects of war and revolu-
tion. Europe, which sees in the respect of existing treaties
the palladium of its repose, received with well- merited dis-
favour the declaration containing the assertion that Sar-
dinia considered herself attacked by Austria, because Aus-
tria would not relinquish the exercise of rights and duties
conferred by treaties ;—because she maintained her right to
keep a garrison in Piacenza, a right guaranteed by the great
powers of Europe; and because she presumed to form alli-
ances with other sovereigns of the Peninsula for the com-
mon defence of their legitimate interests. There remained
but one other pretext, and that was allegedaccordingly. The
cabinet of Turin declares that all remedies for the state
of Italy would be mere palliatives, so long as the Aus
trian domination extended over the Italian soil. This
was an open attack on the territorial possessions of Austria,
exceeding the utmost limit to which a power like Austria
could tolerate the provocations of a less powerful state
without an appeal to arms. Such is, stripped of the fissile-.
of falsehoods withwhicli it was'enveloped, the truth respea-
ing-the line of conduct which for ten years past the house
of Savoy has followed at, the suggestion of unprincipled ad-
visers. Be it said, also, that the accusations and reproaches
by which the Sardinian Cabinet endeavours to present
under a false light its attacks on Austria are nothing but
wicked calumnies.
"Austria is a Conservative power, with whom religion,
morality, and historical right are sacred. It knows hew to
estimate, to protect, and to weigh in the scales of equality
what is noble and legitimate in the national spirit of the
people. In her extensive dominions reside nations of diffe-
rent races and of different languages ; the Emperor em-
braces them all in the same love, and their union under the
sceptre of our august dynasty is advantageous to the whole
of the great family of European nations ; but the pretension
of forming new States, according to the limits of nationa-
lities, is the most dangerous of all utopian schemes.
" To put forward such a pretension is to break with his-
tori; and to seek to carry it into execution in any point of
Europe is to shake to its foundations the firmly organised
order of States, and to threaten the Continent with over-
throw and chaos. Europe feels this, and she attaches her-
self the more firmly to the territorial division fixed by the
Congress of Vienna at the close of an epoch of continental
wars with as much regard as possible to historical condi-
tions. There is not a power whose possessions are more
legitimate than those in Italy restored to the House of
Hapsburg by the Congress which re-established the king-
dom of Sardinia, and made it the brilliant present of Genoa.
"Lombardy has been for centuries a fief of the empire
of Germany ; Venice was given to Austria in exchange
for her giving up her Belgian provinces. Thus, there-
fore, what the Cabinet of Turin calls the true reason
of the discontent of the inhabitants of Lombardo-Venetia,
namely, the domination of Austria on the Po and
on the Adriatic, is a solid and unquestionable right in every
respect, and one which the Austrian eagles will preserve
from all attack. But it is not only a legitimate Government
—it is a just and benevolent one, which administers the
Lombardo-Venetian provinces. These beautiful countries
have prospered more rapidly than could have been hoped
after the long and painful years of revolution : Milan and
several other celebrated towns display wealth worthy of their
history; Venice is recovering from her profound decline,
and displaying new life; the administration and justice are
regulated, manufactures and commerce prosper, science and
art are cultivated with ardour. The public burdens are not
heavier than in other parts of the monarchy; they would
even be lighter, if the fatal effects of Sardinian policy did
not require that the State should augment its forces, and
consequently raise new revenues. The great majority of
the people of 'Lombardy and Venetia are content; the
number of discontented who have forgotten the lessons of
1848 is small in comparison ; and it would be less without
the incessant excitations of Piedmont.
" Piedmont therefore does not disquiet herself about
populations which are suffering and oppressed ; but she
rather interrupts a regular state of things, and the develop •
ment of future prosperity. Human prudence cannot fore-
see how long this deplorable enterprise will trouble the
peace of Italy; but terrible responsibility weighs on those
who have wickedly and deliberately exposed their country
and Europe to new catastrophes.
" The revolution so carefully kept alive in all the Penin-
sula has promptly followed the impulsion given it. A mili-
tary rising has taken place at Florence ; it has compelled
11.1. H. the Duke of Tuscany to leave his States. Insur-
rection reigns at Massa and Carrara, under the protection
of Sardinia.
" But France, which for a long time past, we repeat, has
shared that terrible moral responsibility, France has
hastened by acts to assume it altogether. The Government
of the Emperor of the French caused on the 26th of this
month his charge d'affaires at Vienna to declare that he
should consider the passage of the Ticino by the Austrian
troops As a deelaration of 'war against France. Whilst we
were still waiting at Vienna the reply of Piedmont to the
summons to disarm, France caused. her troops to enter Sar-
dinia by the land and sea frontiers, knowing well that by
so doing she placed in the balance the weight which would
bring down the last resolutions of the Court of Turin.
" And why, wo ask, were the legitimate hopes of the
friends of peace in Europe thus to be annihilated by a
single blow? Because the time had arrived at which pro-
jects long meditated in silence have arrived at maturity—
at which the second French Empire desires to give
substance to its ideas—at which the, political state of
Europe, based on right, is to be sacrificed to its illegitimate
pretensions—at which the treaties which form the basis of
public. European power are to be reduced by the political
wisdom which the • power which rules at Paris has
announced to the astonished world.
" The traditions of the First Napoleon, in a word, are
resumed. And such is the signification of the conflict. on
the eve of which Europe is placed.
as half a century ago, the question
"May the world, undeceived, be penetrated with this'
pat r
ostteackt e
ti
hs
et o
mdoesfte defend
etheu
si n
pd eops
se
ensdsei
onnc
se
conviction—that now,
a agna
ntsot
ooffnSattaietness,
ambition and the spirit of domination.
"The Emperor Francis Joseph, the chief of Our Empire,
although he deplores the woes which will be occasioned by
the impending war, has remitted with calmness his just cause
to the hands of Divine Providence. He has drawn the
sword because guilty hands have attacked the dignity and
honour of his crown ; he will combat with the profound
sentiment of his right; he will be strong in the enthusiasm
and courage of his people, and he will be accompanied by
the wishes of all those whose conscience distinguishes truth
from falsehood, and right from injustice.
" You will communicate to the Government to which
you have the honour to be accredited both the Imperial
manifesto and the present despatch.—Accept, &c."
Led

A decree of the King of Saxony, dated the 29th
ult., convokes the States of his kingdom in extra-
ordinary session, for the 23d May, "on account of
the present political situation."

PRITSSIA.

The People's Gazette of Berlin declares that
Germany is not bound to support Austria in Italy,
but that; on the contrary, that Power ought to be
loft to curry on unassisted the conflict in which she
is engaged. It says :—" Austria has taken a bold
step, and she alone must bear all the consequences
of it. No doubt France may desire to attack
Austria, not only in Italy, but on German territory.
In that case certainly the situation would be diffe-
rent ; and to be prepared for it, the Confederation
and Prussia ought to place their armies on a war
footing. But for the present to rush into war for
the honour and dignity of Austria, because she
cannot live quietly with Sardinia, is a course which
only writers paid by Austria or exaggerated pru-
dence can demand."