The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-08

free country few policemen. with stout sticks,
would have suppressed Il In couple OF hours
Neither the people Of Ailgn nor the Swiss resi-
dents had the slightest share in the plot, there
was indeed, any plot at all.
Such being. according to the most reliable
accounts, the true history Of the outbreak, one
is totally ut loss to discover any shadow OF o
pretext for the wholesale punishment inflicted
on the Swiss. They took no part in the melee.
They were not implicated by the confessions Of
the prisoners. They were not suspected of dis
affection. They were not capable Of organizing
serious resistance to the government. On the
contrary, they had always borne the character
of peaceable. loyal useful citizens.
Two motives have been assigned for Radets-
ky's conduct The first is the supposed COM
plicity existing between the authorities Of the
Canton of Ticino and the rioters. This charge
is totally unsupported by proof; while, on the
contrary, it is on record that at the first news
of the outbreak, the Cantonal government exer-
cised the strictest vigilance to prevent the or
ganization of any body of 'sympathisers," and
to discover and disarm any of the insurgents
who might be lurking within the limits Of their
authority. Not a little of evidence can be pro-
duced to show that the Swiss approved Of the
movement but conclusive proof abounds to
establish their disapproval and their desire to
cooperate with the constituted authorities Of
Lombardy. The second motive assigned is Ra-
detsky's desire to avenge the expulsion of some
Capuchin friars from Ticino. We do not clearly
see why Radetsky should be supposed to have
the interests of the monks so closely at heart,
but give the notion to our readers for what it is
worth.
To our mind, the expulsion Of the Swiss is
susceptible of much simpler explanation. The
Austrians have suffered much Of late from popu-
lar movements they are now anxious to avert
further disasters by striking terror into the
| minds of the people. Hence the indiscriminate
butcheries at Milan hence the cruel expulsion
of the inofrensive Swiss. These six or seven
thousand exiles-for we believe the Con-
sui has moderated their number-have re-
turned home in abject poverty. Their coun-
trymen are themselves too poor to succor
them. Before aid can reach them from abroad.
hundreds nay thousands, will die Of hunger by
the WayEQe, ana Inelr DledcHeu OOues VIII NC D
monument to Austrian severity warning to
all who would hereafter rebel against the Aus
trian rule. This is, in our opinion, the real key
to the monstrous cruelty we have narrated
We content ourselves with laying the facts
before our readers. To heighten by comment
the indignation they will one and all feel, were
impossible. Indeed, such is not our purpose.
If. in the legitimate pursuit Of our national
career, the eagle Of Austria were ever arrayed
against the eagle Of the United Stntes. it
would. no doubt, add fresh fury to the zeal Of
| our troops to remind them that the character
| of the foe was sullied by acts Of such fiendish
barbarity that even the widest savages
seem humane by contrast. But until such a
| contingency happens, silence had better veil
our feelings, SO far as the Austrians are con-
cerned We shall emphatically record our dis
| gust at their conduct at the same time that we
discharge debt due to humanity, and perform
an act grateful to ourselves, by contributing,
each according to his means, to the fund to be
| raised for the succOur Of the starving Swiss.