The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-23
The Fall of Italy.

The Fall OF Italy.
We think we can with safety say that none of
the stirring and eventfu occurrences which trans
pired within the past year or eighteen months, in
the political world, created greater sensation in
this country than did the defeat of the Italians and
the triumph of the Austrans, in the conflict that re-
Gently took place between their respective forces.
The people of the United States that the cause
ofItalian freedom in the scale, and that within
few days it would be either triumphant or de-
feated. The conflict came, and Young Italy had to
succumb, much to the regret of all liberal men in
this country.
As might be expected, the success of the Aus
TRANS is theme ofcongraulation with the despots
and their minions in Europe. They fatter them
selves that the spirit of freedom and democracy has
received check which will prevent it from rear
ing its head in that part of Europe, if not forever
for an indefinitely long time ; that the corrupt and
rotten monarchies have acquired new lease of
existence. We accordingly find in the London
Times, Of the I'd instant, the organ of the corrupt
English monarchy, article from which we
extract the following paragraph
No foreign in the varied and astonishing annals
OF the last few months has been hailed in this country
with more cordial and universal satisfaction than the
triumphant victory of Marshal Radetzky the Pied
monese army 1t has gratifed sense of Justice by
the chastisement of perfdi~us invasion and by sig
nal vndicaton Of the law of nations it has gratied
our national sympat by the triumph of an old and
faithful ally and it has strengthened hopes that
the prompt termination Of the campaign will prove the
basis of q lasting peace.
That these are the sentiments of the Times, and
f the government of England, as well as those of
the body of the arisocracy, whose very existence
epends upon the maintenance of the present order
of things, we think is beyond doubt but that they
directly the of those entertained by the
masses of the people-the down trodden masses
there can, in opinion, be little question. Yet
they must not be too confident. The spirit of free
dom has, to be sure, received check, and is, for
the time being, PROSTATE and poweress but we
are satisfied that it will revive and burst forth with
renewed vigor at no distant day. The Times and
Its coadjutors may chuckle much as they please;
but they may laugh at the other side of their mouths
sooner than they imagine. France is still re-
public. There has been no reaction in the demo-
cratic feeling of that powerful country, and ac-
cording to all appearances, she is likely remain
such for ever. She will be the beacon light of re-
publicansm, that will lead freedom to its ultimate
goal. AS long as that powerful nation retains her
present form of government, the spirit of liberty
will be kept alive, and despotism in Europe will
be safe from assault and overthrow.
We cannot help remarking that there is much
dissatisfaction felt and expressed by our citizens at
the conduct of the French republic in not coming
TO the rescue of Italy. If she had thrown her in
f1uence into the SCALE it is thought that the issue
would have been very difierent-that Italy would
have been triumphant, instead of Austria This, we
think, is very lkely but we must not give way too
much to our feelings. 1t must be recoected that
the statesmen of France have as much on their
hands as they can well attend to. They are trying
q great experiment, on the result Of which depends
the fate of repubcanism, not only in that country,
but throughout Europe. They are not in position
to interfere forcibly in the affairs of any other
country; but their sympathies well ours, were
no doubt with the Italians 1t would not do for
France, IN her present position, to take part in
general war; for that general war would succeed
her interference in the affairs of Italy, we believe
Is certain. On this subject, we insert the following
very significant remarks from the London Times
There is nothing in the present aspect Of affairs In
Northern Italy which is in the slightest degree
eng 10 the interests or the dignity Of the French repub
nc But for the temerity of Charles Albert Marshal
Nadetzky would not have crossed the Tcino fthe
presence OF Austrian force on the Piedmontese ter
ritory be injury to France the French have no one
20 thank for that occurrence but the revoutonsts of
Turin and Milan who kndled a Are in tbcir own or
chard with the amiable intention Of setting fire 70 the
powder magazine the wall In reality and n fbe
question were still intact France has noIn - o smo
plain Oh ana ner true interests identical with those
Of Ausria-namely the maintenance of peace and tbe
restoration Of order in Central Italy.
NJ Theirs, any other dspassonate Observer NJ tho
present state Of Europe cannot fail remark that the
conduct Of the French government in this emergency
will have most important effect the relations Of
the republic with the rest Of Europe a French enped
tonto the shores 81 Italy for the arowed purpose Of tnda
ting the Austrian army, woid hare the effect Of concerning
the aneabie relations still happily subsing between France
and England into GOODNESS and Suspicion Whst the relations
~ France cih Russia wouid degenerate into hostility and
those Wth austria into
The words in italics omnous, and we think
point very distinctly that if France had interviewed
between Italy and Austria, that country and
Russia and England would have formed an alliance
against her. This may have been, and probably
was, automatically nmated to the government of
Louis Napoleon, and may have had the desired ef-
iect IN preventing French intervention. The next
STEP that will be taken, that Italy u.s. for the pre-
sent, powerless, will in all probability be the resto-
ration OF the Pope and the destruction of liberty in
Rome We shall what course France will
take IN that matter; but whether the head of the
Catholic Church be reinstated or not, his career as
q temporal prince is defined
On considering the whole matter. we canno,
convince ourselves that either Italian liberty or the
spirit of progress and democracy in Europe is
crushed. France may for the present, be unable
10 aid other nations in the struggle for freedom; but
as long as she remains republic, she will keep il
alive, and 1t will never be quenched until every