The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-12
Old Saws and Modern COncIuslOns-War ar
Agent OF Political Development.

Old Saws and Modern COncluslOns-War an
Agent OF Political Developement.
War is undoubtedly great scourge, but
| it must be admitted that it is also great cor
receive 1t exercises over the political atmos
phere the same purifying influence that a thun-
derstorm produces over the air we breathe.
No sooner does the treaty OF Villafranca afford
time for reflection to Francis Joseph on the
causes that led to the late struggle, than we find
him proiting by the lessons it has taught him.
We hear already Of his devoting himself to the
reform of the internal abuses of his empire, con-
WINGED that in that lie at once the means of es
Gaping the errors that have cost him one of HE
iairest provinces, aud the future strength that
will enable him to regain the political influence
that he has lost. He has convoked, it is said, the
provincial councils of his empire, that he may
receive their suggestions as to what they think
necessary for the internal government Of his
States. They are to have full liberty of speech
in their deliberations, in order that the Emperor
may be made acquainted with the wants and
wishes Of the populations. If Francis Joseph be
sincere in the purpose which this announcement
would indicate, there is ground for rejoicing, not
only on the part of his own people, but on that
of the Italians. The man who, after such hui
initiation as he has just met with, eau thus
frankly and promptly, in the face of Europe, ad-
NIT the mistakes that he has committed, must
surely evince something of the same good sense
and magnanimity in the adjustment Of the condi-
tions by which the independence of Italy is to be
secured.
Whatever may be the course, however
which the Emperor may choose to pursue
on that question, it is satisfactory to find
that the sacrifices made by Austria in the
late war will not be entirely profitles to
her. We are satisfied from what we know of
the internal condition of the different provinces
of the empire, that it will require but the mani
festation of sincere desire on the part of
the government to reform existing abuses
and to pursue O course Of common humanity and
justice towards the populations placed under its
charge, to revivify amongst all Of them the
ancient spirit of loyalty which, in Hungary
under worse circumstances Of encouragement,
rallied around Maria Theresa the best blood of
the country. 1t is in that quarter principally
that the future perils Of the Austrian monarchy
lie; and if Francis Joseph will only out-ma-
n9uvre revolution on the Napoleonic plan of
anticipating its grievances, we believe that it
will not lie in the power of Kossuth, Klapka, or
others agitators of the same stamp, to sever the
ties which bind the Hungarians to the imperial
dynasty.
| 1t is not Austria alone, however, which
has benefited by the lessons that war iucul-
Gates. When Russia discovered in the Crimean
campaign the error that she had committed in
supposing the resources which she had accumu-
lated during forty years. peace to be sufficient
to enable her to cope with the combined
strength of England and France, she hasten
ed to repair it by just such an armistice
as that which has been concluded at Villa
frarca Then Withdrawing herself altogether
from diplomatic contests and intrigues, she ap
piled herself to internal improvements, the con-
struction of railways the Development of her
manufacturing interests and the perfecting
of those branches of her military service her in
feriority in which the war had proved. But, fur
ther than this, she entered on path of political
reform so sweeping and extensive that it en-
Uer 10 VI Ouc VI ulOst pio-
gressive nations on the face of the earth.
And England herself, which boasts Of being
foremost in the ranks of progress and enlighten-
ment did she not acquire lessons as invaluable
from the experience of tina. campaign? The sa
cIifce of some Of her best troops by the defcien
cies of her Commissariat, and the general
laundering of her War Department. brought
| home conviction to the mind of every
one that the principle of aristocratic mo
popoly in her government was radically
wrong, and that unless Office was thrown open to
general competition her ruin must ultimately be
the result The Indian mutiny contributed its
share to these conclusions, and now for the first
time in the political annals of Eogland we find
the old family and party federations humbly So
Letting the official aid and cooperation of the
popular leaders as the only secure basis Of ad
ministrative power.
Although the Italian campaign was protessedly
undertaken for the liberation of gallant and
long suffering people from the yoke of Austria
there can be no doubt that Napoleon was urged
into 1t by the necessities Of his own personal po-
sition. BE had arrived at crisis in his career
when the system ofintellec.ual repression which
be had been at first compelled to adopt for his
security had become source Of danger instead
Of strength to his dynasty. By undertaking o
war Of liberalism he hoped to crush out tht
snake that he had merely scotched
to be enabled to relax the restraints
which be had imposed on pnblit
opinion, and perhaps even to enter on the patti
J If constitutional concessions When the result