The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-08-25

of the new Ministry, a sudden change has occur
red. The London Times, one Of the great powers
ofEngland, has entirely changed its attitude foaoafds
the beAsge, emit parties. 1t has turned its back sud
denly upon Austria, whose cause it had so warm
ly espousea, and now expresses its confidence in
the good intentions of the French Emperor,
whom it had so recently and so violently assailed.
To what this change is owing it is impossible to
determine, but it is Il sure indication which way
the strong wind is blowing; that the cause of
Austria is now regarded as hopeless. The Lon
don Times has the following significant language,
strangely in contrast with its late articles on this
theme
Amid the thousand and one rumors that have been
chasing one another since it fell to Lord Palmerston
to reconstruct the Wing Cabinet, one thing alone, so
far as we know, is definitely settled. Lord John Rus
sell has accepted the Foreign Office. This places
beyond a doubt, if doubt there could be, the policy of
England on the Italian question. Lord John Russell
has ever been known as an ardent friend Of the
Italian race, Italian freedom, and Italian unity. As
these feelings have been generally shown out Of
office, or when they had not to stand any practical
test, they have been received with as much enthusi-
asm as was compatible with Lord Johns singularly
calm and rational nature.
With Lord Palmerston's avowed belief that had
England stood by France in her negotiations with
Austria, she could have prevented the war, and that
even now we must look to the Anglo-Gallic alliance
IOr the maj ana SATISFACTORY scttlemeutO I ItaIidu war,
Lord John Russell will have as much scope and au-
tbority in his Office as if he stood alone. 1t is difficult
to imagine a disagreement between the two statesmen.
Both wish Austria to admit the fact of her defeat, her
ascertained inferiority, and the incurable disadvan-
tages of her position south Of the Alps; both are of
opinion that she will consult her own greatness better
by relinquishing territory which costs an immense
army, and still greater odium. Both see in France
n better sgent for the reorganization of Italy, and for
the creation of a federal union, which is all the unity
possible under existing circumstances.
We're the question to be confned to the present
state, of affairs, the policy TO be pursued might be
stated in a sentence. Austria Is flying homewards-
France and Sardinia are pursuing her across the
Adda-Free corps are molesting her in the North
Venice is about to be attacked Immediately on the
East, and on the South the whole Peninsula is rising
against her and expelling her armies and her garri-
son. The only advice to be given is that Austria
should accommodate herself to these painful circum-
stances just as England admitted the independence of
the United States, and France twice submitted to the
dictation of invaders. There can be no glory gained
by a stubborn or even a victorious resistance TO the
just claims of a great nation, and ii is unwise to
wage war where military success incurs a moral OPP
probrium. No doubt this and similar considerations
will be in due time urged upon Austria by the minis
tiers who have undertaken to divide the responsibility
Of our foreign relations.
In regard to the proclamation of the French
Emperor and the manifesto of the Russian govern
ment. both amounting to the came import that
they entertained no designs in the war, beyond
the liberation of Italy from Austrian bondage, the
London Times says:
1--WE must take it that these two crowned heads
(France and Russia) are sincere in the professions
they thus publicly put forward to the world. We
must believe that Napoleon, when he has driven the
Austrians from Italy will hand over Italy to the
ltalians-will unite Lombardy with Piedmont-will
secularize the government of the Roman States-win
give back to Naples its Constitution, and accord
guarantees for its continuance. We must give our
confidence to Russia that when she favors this chiv-
alrous course she also has no hidden object in view;
that she also has sympathy with Italy, and, if any
other motive mingles with her pity, it is only q
natural desire to pour some slight humiliation upon
the head of Austria, and to exalt Prussia at the ex-
pense of her rival. 1t is not to be suggested that
these State papers should speak that which is not
true. When two great Sovereigns come forward to
protest before Europe that their policy is of a con-
sentative and disinterested character, and that if they
are fighting battles and conquering kingdoms it is for
the progress of utilization, for the advance Of moral
influences, and not from selfish motives, we are
bound to believe them-not, indeed, to throw our
selves off our guard, but still TO believe them. We
cannot cease from our establishment that these things
should be so; we cannot even yet quite comprehend
why the Emperor Napoleon should wish to build up
in Italy a form of government which would be incon-
venient to him in France; still less can we under
stand why Russia should seek to give consistency and
power and material for1 TO those ideas which must
always be antagonistic to absolute rule"
In regard to the attitude which the British
government ought now to assume towards the
~belligent parties, the London Times has the fol
lowing emphatic language, which shows that that
government will soon, if it has not already done
so, expouse the cause of France and Italy.
And as a necessary sequence, there will not
only be less probability of her entering the strife,
but much less chance of the German powers be-
coming engaged in it, for France, England and
Russia combined can overthrow any European
opposition
1.-The failure of Austrian arms has rendered il i'm.
possible for England or Europe to consider the two
antagonistic Powers as being on that equality which
was assumed before the war. Then two powerful and
naughty %Emperors, each with his half million of men
were engaged in a dispute which they carried on
with sullen dignity on each side. The British Gov
eminent presumed them to be equally strong and
highly placed and susceptible of their honor, and SO
was able TO ask each TO make concessions for the pur-
pose of propitiating the other. II was incumbent on
them 10 suppose that the Austrian rule in Italy could
be upheld against n foreign invader, and, rs the
Italian Sovereigns were reigping p~eaceably in their
palaces, il was impossible to treat them but rs the
Sovereigns of their States. But it is evil
dent that these -presumptions, according to which
Lord Derby's Ministry shaped its demands and its
recommendations, must now be abandoned. We IRE
not about to foretell the immediate expulsion of the
from Italy; a great Power, put on its met
tie, and with an immense army and strong fortresses.
give many months trouble TO any adversary.
But the Austrians have certainly shown themselves
no match for their adversaries in fair fighting. We
cannot doubt, then, that Lord Palmerston and Lord
John Russell will avow their sympathy with ItalieR
freedom and a successful campaign. The only means
of procuring a voice in the settlement of the PENN
is to have been previously an ally with those
who hold the country in their hands. Austria will,
in q few months be no more an Italian
Power than Prussia, and our interests in those regions
will bring us in connection with her more fortunate
rivals The same instincts. too, which made US OBJ
POSED to France when she appeared to be seeking war
may make us opposed to Austria when she appears
O he nerelsfInO in II II ia far tho o1vop q RIO 81 tho |
world that the last great trial to which nations resort
.hould, like other trials, be as short as possible. The
British Government may think that the retreat of
Gyulai from the banks Of the Sesia, the re-
'ulse at Montebello, and the decided defeats at Pales-
70 and Magenta are sufficient indications that the
Austrians are inferior to their antagonists, and that
hey ought to a~cquiesce in the decision of fortune.
md give the world peace by retiring from Italy. If,
ndeed. il be made evident that fhex mnst saua dow