The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-06
From the New York Evening Post
NAPLES AND THE GREAT POWERS IN 1924
AND 1856.

AND 1856
The circular despatch upon the subject of
the contemplated intervention by the Western
Powers in the affairs of Naples, addressed, on
the I'd of September last, from Moscow, by
Prince Gortschakof, to the representatives of
Russia at foreign Courts, and published in our
issue OF the l4th instant, contains the following
significant passage:
The faisceau of those who for long years,
have supported with US the principles to which
Europe owes more than quarter of century
of peace, no longer exists in its ancient integ-
rity."
BY this, we understand that the combination
of the Powers of Russia, Austria, and Prussia,
which styled itself the Holy Alliance, but which
was, in fact, a secret and aggressive league of
three absolute Sovereigns against the liberties
of mankind, has been broken up. The prepon-
derance of power, owing to the events of the
last few years, has been shifted from Eastern
to Western Europe. The pendulum which
regulates the cumbrous clock.work of the system
of European States, vibrates no longer between
Vienna and St. Petersburgh, but between Paris
and London. new alliance-that between
the Western Powers-has taken the place of
the old one, which was dissolved by reason of
the refusal of Austria to unite with Russia in
the Eastern war, and the consequent alienation
Of these two Powers. This new Alliance, from
present appearances, is likely to exercise the
same supremacy in the Councils of Europe az
that enjoyed by its predecessor. The latter
made the first public demonstration of it's au-
thoritv and policy by an armed Intervention in
the affairs of Naples in 1921. The new ALI
ance seems disposed to follow its example,
with this remarkable difference, however, that
while the Intervention of 1921 was made in
behalf of the Sovereign and against his subjects,
the Intervention of 1856 is to be made against
the Sovereign, and in behalf of his subjects. 1t
Is interesting to compare the policy pursued at
present by the great Powers of Europe towards
the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, with the atti-
tude assumed by them towards the same Gov
eminent in 1921. Let us first, however, take
glance at the events which led to the inter.
vention of that year.
The Spaniards took the lead in the revolu-
tionary movements that convulsed Europe in
1920. Their example was speedily followed
ny the Neapolitans, among whom the spirit of
resistance had been strengthened by the tyran-
ny and corruption of the Government of Ferdi-
nand, the grandfather of the present King.
The instruction first broke out among the
soldiers, at Nols, on the I'd of July. Then
came the detection of the garrison of Avellino.
On the 9th of July, General William Pope
marched into the city of Naples, at the head OF
twenty thousand insurgents. The King had
already resigned his authority into the hands
of his son, the Duke of Calabria, who had sol
EMMY promulgated the Spanish Constitution.
reserviDg only such alterations as the Parlia.
ment, about to be convened, should see fit to
adopt. The King himself took the oath of
obedience to this Constitution. The Ministers
and other officers of Government were dismiss
ed and their places filled by leaders of the con-
stitutional party. General Pope became COM
snder-in.chief of the army. A provisional
unta, consisting of fifteen persons, was estab-
lished, wiose Office it was to direct and control
the Government. On the first of October. a
Parliament assembled at the capitol, imposed
of ninety-eight members-seventy.f -four from
Naples, and twenty-four from Sicily. This
Parliament promptly set about the work of re-.
forming abuses and ameliorating the condition
of the people. Thus the revolution was &C.
complished with but little bloodshed, and with
ont violence to the King or his family. 1t was
amply JUSTIFIED by the abuses and misgoyern-
ment that provoked it. The new administra.
ton showed no disposition to disturb the peace
OF neighboring States by revolutionary propa.
gandism. There was no occasion or excuse.
therefore, for foreign Intervention.
But the members of the Holy Alliance thought
otherwise. To Austria especially, who makes
the security of her Italian possessions a pretext
for exercising sort of protectorate over the
entire peninsula, the change of Government
In Naples was particularly obnoxious. The
Cabinet OF Vienna refused to receive or to recop.
Mise the Ambassador of the new Administra.
ton. In October, the Sovereigns of Russia,
Austria, and Prussia, assembled in Congress-
with their Pienipotentiaries, at Troppau, a town
OF Austrian Silesia, for the purpose of delibera
ting upon the course to be pursued towards
Naples. Prince Metternich of Austria, and
Nesselrode of Russia, were the guiding spirits
in these negotiations. The conclusions to
which they came were set forth in circular
note, addressed by the Cabinets of Russia, Aus
tria, and Prussia, to their several missions
bearing date December 6, 1920. They made
known their resolution to convene another Con
gress without delay, which the King of the
| Two Sicilies was invited to attend They ex
pressed their determination not to recognise
the revolutionary Government at Naples
They asserted the right of the great Powers to
use compulsory measures to bring back those
States whose Government had undergone q
change by force, within what they styled the
pale of the union.p They protested a desire
TO maintain peace, and to free Europe from the
scourge of revolution. They expressed no dis
position, however, TO free Europe from the
scourge of tyranny. 1t was evident, from the
tenor of this note, that they had made up Their
minds TO deprive the Nsapolitsns of their ibsr