Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-05-07
From the London Leader.
A New Empire in Europe.

A New Empire I'm Europe.
AusrRIA is astonishing her friends, She
outstrips the most sanguine expectations
of her reactionary Confederates.
Not much is positively known Of the
results Of the Dresden Conferences;
enough, however, to elicit universal cry
Of dismay. Austria proposes to incorpo-
rate the whole Of her dominions, Hungary,
Lombardy, Venice, and all, with the ter
ritory of the German Confederacy. :
Prussia, and Germany, have ceased to
exist. There is now only one huge Aus
trian empire of Central Europe, extend
ing from the Baltic and German Ocean to
the Adriatic and the editerraneau, and
by the great channel Of the Danube to
the Black Sea: an empire of seventy to
eighty millions of souls, embracing the
whole Of Germany, third of Italy, a
large portion Of Poland, with perhaps
score Of other new, ardent, high-met,led
tribes. What was the crown of the Othos
Of Saxony, what even the .tripe diadem of
Charlemsgne, to the new chaplet glitter
ing on the brow Of the youthful Kaiser
ct Vienna?
Yet such was the inevitable finale of the
German reaction. The existence Of Aus
tria and Germany had, since March, l848,
become an impossibility. Germany must
either divide and break up Austria, or
must be swallowed up by it. Three diff
feren. proposals were repeatedly made
TO reconcile the interests of the two states.
First, an entire and absolute separation.
Then the admission Of the .Austro- German
provinces alone into the Germanic Fede-
ration. Finally, the incorporation of the
whole Of Austria, with the exception Of
her Italian Provinces. Now, Lonbardy,
Venice, and virtually Parma, Modena,
Tuscany, and the Roman Legations, are
to become German.
German nationality thus merges into
the Austrian union. Great national in
terests may reconcile the German people
to the loss of political existence; for how
long it is difficult to say. Germany abdi
Gates her dignity. Prussia sinks at once
into mere Imperial Lieutenancy. The
German Princes become mere puppets,
with not even the shadow of the impor-
lance of their electoral predecessors.
1t is an unparalleled event, big with un.
fathcnable consequences. Russia herself
might well be startled at her own work
but it is too late to oppose it. France and
England protest; but protests break nc
mans bones. And, after all, what ha,
Austria done besides acquitting hersel
of her crushing task' What complain,
can France and England prefer agains,
her, il she took advantage of their lack
of address in ACQUIRING their own share Of
the prey3 She only begs tie game hel
obliging friends have shot Tor her. He,
allies were mere amateur bunglers. They
crushed for the mere pleasure of crushing
So Prussia in Baden and Hesse; SO France
in Rome. Austria alone has business
like way Of going to work.
But The treaties Of lSl5?-the balance
Of power forever hurled at our teeth?-
Alas! honest men had never ceased to sa,
it.: Deienda est Austria. That hybrit
state was the stumbhng-block of European
progress. Our English diplomatists talk
ed and acted as if the very axis Of tn,
earth hung on the skirts OF the imperia
mantel of the house Of Hapsburg. Aus
iria was s'our natural ally" and now it il
Austria alone that kicks the beam; Aus
tria that brings Europe on the very brinl
OF war.
For, behold! the new federal compac
is scarcely acceded to, and already thu
new colossal empire thunders al its neigh
5ors' doors. One hundred thousand mel
gather on the Swiss frontier. Prussi
has bone to pick with the Diet respect
ing her high Protectora:e of Neuf- chatel
Austria must needs take upon herself tn
police of the French and Italian cantons
Masses of troops are equally ready t
cross the Ticino. Alas, for Sardinial
statutes and Helvetian democracies! TIL
iron tread of barbarism never drew nea
with more ominous sound.
Blu. woe, above all, to France-distrac
ted, craven France! She may not hav
ITO fear the fate Of Lombarly or Hungary
But let her look to Prussia! There ar
depths Of humiliation by The side of whc
the most irreparable reverses are signa
trophies. The extinguisher that is no,
putting out the light OF the Great Frederi
at the Dresden Conferences has alread
cast its shade over doating France. Franc
lis threatened with something worse tina
the worst territorial losses. The Dresde
scheme would isolate, blot her out, ann;
ihilate her.
Nor has she any reason TO rely on tn
;incompressible force Of the popular ele
,inent. Matter, we know not for how lon
"a period, has now the advantage owe
spirit; and France herself powerful
contributed to this dolorous consummatior
The Dresden Conferences aim at no es
Enlistment of national unities. The
build an empire, not country. It is n
question Of constituted communities, q
.coalescing races.
And England? England is faithful
her Venetian policy: rotting in her lagoon
-iapregnable, yet not invulnerable.-
The fall Of nations around sinks her faith
om-deep in her slough Of magnificent i'm
potence. Austria and Russia lord il owe
the Continent. Little hope for Europ,
except such as may arise from the quar-
rels inevitable amongst robbers at tn
division Of the booty.
And England? England, always at he
old business, keeps shops for 'all nations.
q H.~..l..e, C-cr. A !. eoomn WI