The New York herald., 1851-10-03

Of the empire or the avowsl of IN i'm posture which
It was more sulpable to frame than to ackno Wedge
breach of faith from sovereign to his people, the
reckless violation Of pledges offered In Q mo-
meut Of weekness to be retracted at a time of
strength, and the encouragement thus given to the
more violent partizans of the revolution to insist
hereafter on something beyond the personal
gagements Of crowned heads and their ministers.
What We do regret is that the constitution of the
4th OF March was so impracticabe it is allegedto
be, no other satisfaction whatever should be given to
the just expectations Of the nation, and no attemp
made to place the monarchy on any foundation moro
secure than the bayonets OF multitudinous army
comprising the disaifection of irritated and de-
ceived people. For when We say that this declara-
tion Of the crown brings the Austrian government
back to the point at which the revolution began we
mean as far as Its own policy and authority are CON
be attained than the forms of popular govern
ment which have now been discarded. The ad-
ministration of Prince Metternich had at least
some claim to the character Of what is termed
"paternal' government, and it allowed itself to be
extinguished and 0verthrown for want of the m ost
OBJ vious precautions of self defence that of Prince
Schwarzenberg if equally despotic AMI iufaisely
more strong; the former might squeeze, the lattcr
bites; the one ruled with whips, the other rules
with scorpions. To have made no advance waatso-
in consequence Of the events Of the last three
years is, in fact, to have enormously receded Not
only have the hopes Of the nation been inordnatey
excited by the promises Of the Sovereign, we'll
by the wild efforts Of the revolution-not only have
these hopes been blghted and those prom stu,ti-
fed, but maay Of the germs of more liberal institu
tions, especially In the provinces, and distinct mem
bers of the Austrian Empire have been crushed aud
annihilated. In Hungary the ancient constitution
has been overthrown in Italy, the state of war be-
tween the government and the people is permanent,
in Bohemia, Galcia, and even in Lower Austria
the provincial Estates had just bsgun to regain
something Of parliamentary power which is older
than the imperial Of the house of Hapsburg,
but which is again interrupted. Partly by the viO-
ence of the revolution aud the excesses of democrs
cy, arming race against race, and nation against
natOn-partly by the de,potic and some times insi
dious policy OF the cabinet of Vienua these ancient
landmarks of national freedom and independents
have been swept away, but that edidce which was
to have stood in their place, and to have received
In one imperial Parliament the representatives o.
the nation, is alb doned before its walls were
raised. The revolution is complete 10 all that was
stopped short Of all that might have efec led the
generation of the empire. To the work of destruc-
tion, as far as the hopes Of the people were oon-
cerned, little could be added but the work of re-
construction is thrown by rash and incapable hands
into the rude and brutal form Of military despoism
We may consider ourselves the mere entitled to
speak this language because we have mover ceased
to desire that Austria should hold her place
amongst the nations of Europe. We have fought
her battles when it was not easy or popular to do
SO we have never Supposed that the dismemSer-
ment OF t vast empire could prove anything but
q great danger and calamity to Europe, whether it
rebellion and We had cherished hopes, which we
do not disavow, that the present mini tiers of the
crown would bring to their mighty task a more
enlightened, confding, and constitutional spirit.
The result has shown that Prince Schwarzenberg
and his colleagues below the stan land at which
We had hoped to place them. They exhibited en-
ergy in the work Of resista ace, when was
tial to the i'm mediate defence Of the empire but
there their powers have stopped, and they are pro.
badly themselves surprised 70 find how much their
subse luent performances have fallen short Of what
were once their intentions.
But what, we may now ask, If every pretence Of
constitutional government is formally abandoned
and If even the Council Of the Empire Is to be
placed in direct subordnation to the cabinet, as
the cabinet itself stands in absolute subordinat'on
to the crown, what is now to be "Austrias
future - That expression was first applied, se-
veral years ago, by an eminent writer, who laid
bare TO Europe, in a memorable pamphlet, the hol-
Iewness Of Prince Metternich's administration and
the then impending revolution. Such predictions
were too family listened to-least Of all, were they
noted by those who had most need to take warning
by them. They have since been armed with the
force Of revolution, quelled only by torrents Of
blood. Yet tho causes Of these evils, and Of this
weakness, remain for the most part unremoyed, and
the nation Is left TO infer that under the existing
monarchy they are 10 be considered irremove able.
The army has, indeed resolved marked increase
Of Strength and efficiency; but perfect rs that army
may be, the experiment Of stalking ths existence
Of q State on the strength and fidelity OF troops
alone, however numerous, loyal and brave, is one
which has never yet permanently succeeded, espa-
eially when these troops carry with tnem ia.o the
ranks the passion of oppressed nations and discon
tented citizens. Despotism even N Russia is no.
suppoIted by such means, for in great part Of the
Russian domnions the authority Of the Car Is tie
object Of devoted popular regard to his sabjects
The moot absolute powers OF sovereignty which
existed in Europe during the middle ages, and,
indeed, down TO the outbreak Of the French revo.
luton, in lIs9, were tempered by the rights OF
feudsl interiors, Of corporate bodies, and provia-
cial inSffutions IL the to egtabligh
unmixed despotic government In the midst Of
the daylight ani the actiyity-the press and the
railrcads-of the 10Th century could by possibility
rope had never witnessed before, and we must seek
for apalogies to Il beyond the Bosph ,rus. The
experiment Of constitutional government may be n
hard one, and We have frequently seen IL fall from
inexpereIce one side and bad faith The other:
but VIC undertake TO affirm that the experiment Of
absolute military pewer over whole nations Of eiu
Gated, enlightened, aud exasperated men is an i'm
possibility, The former gains by its failures,
the latter Loses even by It's success; and those who
are one day TO render an account Of throne and
empire committed to their charge will do we'll to re.
member BY which Of the eternal laws Of Providence
and humanity they have guided their course.
Prussia.
On the return Of the King Of Prussia TO P,tsdam
ffoin bis journey, he was received at the railroad
station in the usual manner, by the authorities. In
the evening he received at Sans Souci de putation
off trerbund, with address Of congritalatioa
on bis return. The King thanked the speaker OF
the dcputaton for tho expressions Of loyalty aud at
tachment Of the body and replied in the following
terms -" Tbe last few days had been glorious
once, especially those Of the homage in HohenE)l-
lcrn; the public reports could only give faint idea
Of them. But for the rest misunderstanding or ma
lice bad On this occasion pla ed words in his mouth
he had never used or thought Of using. lie had bsen
made TO say that he lament the distance Of the
HohenzoDern principalities would prevent his
rtIdoring them military support. lie had said ex-
ac;ly the contrary, and Il vas proved by the IA,
that be was then fOrtiiyirg the castle Of HohenEol-
lem. Much more earnestly must he complain
that his enemies (they were the same the treubund
50 n)bly contended agsinst,) were not ashamed
to use the yitssuears 20 bring the Queen and him
r,f into suspicion and to rob them OF the confidence
Of their subjects a gain had the most wicked lies
circulated that Nc and the Queen were abou; 20
so over to the Catholic church. IL true he was
now scousomtd TO these hell.bofn (f,s dsr HR-
sfsrlmffgOD modes Of attack. They had been en-.
Jloytd against him ever tirce the commencement Of
bic reign; enc lie bad always taken the place oe ano
1tun had Irr a..