New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-07
THE POLICY OF AUsTRIA.

THE POLICY OF AtsTkiA.
During the preparatory diplomatic skirmishes,
and since the commencement OF the campagd
against Russia, the expectations of the Western
powers have been continually thwarted By the
manifold tergiyersations of Francis Joseph and
his Cabinet The efforts Of French and Eo-
alish diplomacy on one side, and of Russia 90 the
other have been and still are streuuously exerted
the former to drag Austria Into the alliance
against Russia, and the latter, despaifiog Of
making the Vienna Cabinet active friends, to o.
tain at least the promise Of strict neutrality. Ii
is manifest that in the great struggle now going
Cd. Austria cannot remain passive and neutral.
All her interests political, conn ercal and indus
trial, are deeply involved. The Danube is the
pIiDcDsl, in fact the only natural artery for her
commercial circulation, and the possession and
control Of its mouth che must naturally strongly
coyet Be sides this, still higher questioIs-
those even Of her future political existence-are
indissolnbly interviewer with the proloDgation of
the war In proportion to that prolongatiOn,
and the possible extension of the battle field
over Central Europe, her peril incre ises.
tits therefore not surprising that the Hapsburgs
should falter and he,tate aud fear TO take
any decided and tangible position ia struggle
where almost upihila,ing dangers frown on either
baud. The Vienna Cabinet might act more freely
we're they backed by Prussia and the eastern
portion Of the German Confederation; but these
powers will hardly take up the sword for sheir
southern neigtbor, and thus become involved in
war which, in any event. promises to them no
real benefit, present or remote. Thus. az long
as they refuse to commit themselves in favor of
Austria that power is practically fettered, aud
all the coa1iDg and threatening that may come
from St. Cloud and st. James will produce no
effect
The menace, if any such has been made, by
Napoleon, that he will stir up revolution 10 Aus
tria is but a childs bugbear. 1t is impossible
to believe that this thorough bred domestic ty-
rant can become the revolutionary standard
bearer of enslAved Europe. He is well aware,
and it is equally well OknOwn at Vienna. that
there are more and more dangerous, revolution
airy elements fermentDg under his own throne
than under the lees dazzling throne Of the Haps-
burgs. Napoleon wouli be the last man to re
the train, which, however fatal to the powers az
a distance has its source in the central magazine
around the Tueries. Arevoluticn in Italy with it's
unavoidable divergent tendencies, would be mos.
dangerous to the French Emperor. Even should his
armies invade that country, the Austrians would
not be easily driven ont; aud if they were, Napo-
leon would not establish Lombard or an Italian
Republic, but cut up the country into BonapMt-
ist mOnarches as odious aud oppressive as that of
the Austrians; or perhaps aggrandize the house
Of Savoy in case Piedmont should join HIN az iinst
Austria and against the other Italian princes
But the erection ola strong independent Italian
power will not suit the BOnspartist policy; ner
can Savoy look with cOmplacency upon new
thrones thus erected, surrounding and compress
ing her between powerful interests directly
hostile TO her existence. These facts lesye
no ground for belief in the Revolutionary
Apostolicity Of Napoleon with regard to
Italy or Germany. Piliable indeed would
be the delusion and creduli.y of the true
patriots Of any country who should side with the
French tyraHt. Areyoluton must and will come,
to reform and rsinvigorate the people of Europe;
but it must be honestly born of the people them
selves, and Graded in their own hearts and
hands. Never can il. come forth from the cor
rupt lair Of traitor and tJrsnt like Louis Boz
nsparie.
Austria, therefore, cannot be much disqueted
concerning her possessions in Italy. If not allied
with Russia she will always be able to resist any
invasion from the We,t. The same would proba.
bly, be the case should Prussia and Germany be
attacked from the Rhine. But, even if crippled
By an eventual loss Of Italy, Austria would
sill be far from total destruction On the Rus
iisn side, peace and war are equally dangerous.
The slow progress of Nicholas toward the Medi-
terranean, even in Eastern Turkey silently but
surely uDdermines Austria in the heart of her ma.
terisl and political existence. This is known and
felt at Vienna il has been for the current half
century, and they dread and hate Russia in pro-
portion. II is generally asserted and everything
comedies to confirm the assertion, that Sch war;
epberg, the savior of the Austrian monarchy in
lag, declared that Austria would astonish the
"world with her ingrsttude toward Russia. "
He had every reason for the declaration. As an
Austrian patriot and statesman, and an eminent
member of proud and naughty aristocracy, he
felt that the relations between the Hapsburgs
and Nicholas were untenable The pride of every
heightened Austrian must have been deeply
wounded by the fact that Russia had saved Austria
add preserved the integrity Of her possessions