The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-15
' BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, JUNE IS, 1853.

Peace or War in Europe turns upon the pivot of
the Cdgliari affair. The issue may seem tritiing
one but upon its satisfactory adjustment momen-
tous consequences depend. How best to deal with
it nobody seems to know, and yet nothing can be
clearer than that the petty despot of Naples has
committed a daring breach of international comfy.
He has done even worse than that He has pratt
cally captured Sandman Mail Steamer on the high
seas has coniscated the vessel, and has ncarcer-
ated for many months in Neapolitan dungeons her
innocent crew. Two of that crew were Englishmen,
and these, though at liberty he affected to set
free not as act of justice to men who had given
no real cause for offence, but courtesy extended
to the English Government. To the demand of Sar
dinia he returns arrogant refusal, proongs the
trial Of the prisoners under various patry excuses,
and subjects them in the meanwhile to the grosses
indignities. PARK and WATT, the English engineers
were not released until the health of the one was
grevously impaired, and the other was a lunatic
England now requires that they shall be indemni-
fed for the losses they have sustained, and the
manifest injustice to which they have been victims.
King BosrEA attempts to justify the wrong he has
committed, and will make no compensation. He
argues, equivocates, shuflles Denies but will not
do right except upon compulsion. If he in
IDENTITIES PARK and WATT, he must release
forthwith the Sandman prisoners; he must
release also the Sandman Steamer and pay
to Sardinia exemplary damages. The respec-
tive claims of the two Nations are based upon the
same facts, and to admit the Justice of the demand
made upon him by England, is to admit that the
demand made upon him by Sardinia is also just.
This, however, he is by no means inclined to do,
and from present appearances prefers to fight the
quarrel out. 1t doubtless seems strange that Il
paltry Italian State should set at defiance the COM
bined powers of England and Sardinia, when the
latter alone, though smaller in extent of territory
and inferior in population, is eager to measure her
strength against that Of her arrogant adversary.
But King BoMBA knows what he is about. When
England and France admonished him Of the ne
cessity of changing his policy, he buntly told
them to mind their own business. They with
drew their representatives, but he stood firm
They mcnaced him with their war-ships; he was
more obstinate than ever He acou1d not anchor
ate the condition Of his political prisoners, and he
acoud rule his subjects as despotcaly as he thought
proper. He carried both points. The two great
Powers recalled their fleets, and left TO him the
novel triumph of n bloodless victory. He may
possibly succeed in winning fresh laurels-such as
they are-in the Cagyiari affair. The problem he
has given England and Sardinia to solve, is-how
TO deal with Naples without bringing on general
European war? If they could isolate Naples from
the rest of Italy, single well-directed blow would
decide the fate of that petty kingdom, and the des
tiny Of It's Bourbon ruler. But war with Naples
involves considerations Of far greater magnitude
and importance. The first gun fired against the
fortress of Gaeta would light the flames of civil war
in Austrian Italy and the Papal States. Itwoud do
more it would be the signal for an uprising of all
the oppressed nationalities. The beacon lights of
rebellion would flare up from peak and hcadland,
and the bloody Drama of 1S4S would be PLAYED
over again, with the whole Continent of Europe
for its field of action. If such contest was re-
newed, who can tell what landmarks would be left
standing, or what thrones would survive the
shock? The London Times threatens King BoM-
BA with hostile demonstrations but it is doubtful
whether this will prove any thing more than an
idle menace. India will absorb, for many years
yet to come all the soldiers England can raise and
there complications existing nearer home, which
may yet call for eXertions that will test her powers
of endurance TO the uttermost. Difficulties of
various kinds are accommodating around LOUIS
NAPOLEON. The financial condition of France is by
no means satisfactory. The Credit loJiEer has
failed TO declare dividend. There are troubles
lpfy nd Auc+r ~, lo+,r
the soldicry, upon whom LOUIS NAPOLEON relies
for support, and the people he has subjected to
his rule. We fear, moreover, that the entente
cor7ioie is bound together by ligaments that
are daily weakening. Mr.. D'IsRAELI recently
declared in speech to his constituents,
that when Lord Derry took Office England
was within few hours of war. The manner in
which the refugee question was subsequently set
tied, scarcely likely to have knit the two ma
lions more strongly together. There is no union
of sentiment on the question of the Danubian prn-
cipaitieS and while desire for peace and amty
continues to be expressed, there an unusual ac-
tivity visible in the dock-yards of England and
France, and simultaneously with the reception of
the news that the French fleet are to assemble for
review before Boulogne, we learn that Il similar
display of the English fleet will take place in the
channel. Such demonstrations as these indicate
how little real confidence the Allied powers are dis
posed to place in the distinguished consideration
they profess TO entertain for each other, and how
small spark thrown among such combustible ma
terial would kinde great fire. The safety of Ma
pies, therefore, depends, not upon the valor of her
Swiss mercenares, nor upon the impregnability of
her fortress of Gaeta but upon the fears and jcal-
ousies of the greater European Powers, and upon
the popular spirit of dsallection which taxes even
now all their energies to repress.