New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-06


assault BY taking the offensive. Her purpose is
evidently to conquer Piedmont before the French
armies can arrive on the scene OF action, and then
TO attack and crush those armies in succession
without giving them time to concentrate
their forces. IL We may reason upon the
experience Of Nortars and Novara in lSi9. when
the campaign listed only three days this cslcula-
ton is not III grounded, far, at least as regards
the conflict between the Austrians and Pied
montese. 1t is thus not improbable that the war
will open with series Of rapid and brilliant sue
cesse. on the Austrian side. and that Francis Jc-
seph may be able TO repleni,h his vacant Golfers By
var taxes levied upon the conquered country.
But such triumphs must be short-lived. All the
spoils Of Piedmont cannot furnish means for carry
ing on such war az this is likely 10 prove Besides,
Austria has no friends She ia perfectly isolated
to-day as Russia was at the beginning of the
Crmean struggle. Even England, the only one
the great Powers which has natural and trad
tionary friendship for her. has protested against
this meBaced declaration of war; and German
sympatbies must also be diminished by the fact that
she appears as the oggressor in contest repiste
with domestic peril to every German Government
The position which Russia has taken in this preg
nant drama also seems full Of danger for Austria
The House Of Romsnof OWES to the House OF
Hspsburg debt of bitter humiliation which will
not soon be forgotten or forgiven. The indications
that it will now be paid striking. Take first
the fact that in the western dependencies
of Turkey. where Austria has hitherto jealousy
guarded her influence, the hereditary policy
of Russia has just been prodigiousy advanced, and
that too with the cooperation of France-by the
election of COuza as hospOdar of both Moldasis
and Wallachia, while Mosh ObrenOyitch, p0liti-
cslly Russian, has supplsnted Karageorgeyltch,
the friend of Austria T. the reigning prince Of the
Slavic province of Servia. Then consider that the
proposal of Congress, by which Louis Napoleon
has both gained time and put Austria in the wrong,
proceeded from Russia. and was forced upon the
great Powers in the place of the English attempt
TO settle the quarrel through the agency OF Lord
Cowley With these facts in mind, it seems diff
cult to avoid the conclusion that the present com
pIications set on loot by Louis Napoleon with
the consent, at least, of the Russian Government;
and that the purpose of the parties is simply to re-
duce Austria to secondary place in Europe And
there is certainly great possibility that tney may
succeed.
1t is impossible to Judge how far the representa-
tons of the Hungarian emigrants are to be relied
on, but according to these the Austrian army still
retains the spirit Of the revolution of 1S4S, and is
liable at any moment to fall to pieces. We suspect
that this view of the is much exaggerated, but
the former Hungarian rebels, of whom great num-
Der are ncorporated in the Imperial forces must still
be more less influenced by the Revolutionary eav-
en-. At any rate, the population which followed
Kossuth in la49 must still BE- of danger to
Francis Joseph; and French army in Hungary
would easily reyolutionize the country. We are
also assured from Trustworthy source, that the
middle classes aud working people of Velna re-
gard the Imperial house with feeling Of hostility
quite as bitter as that which led to the revolution
of 1S4S. Under such circumstances how can Aus
tria endure a serious reverse And how is the |
Empire, with its finances ruined. its people disai-
fected, and its allies alienated, to come whole out |
of u war against such opponents
We know well with what sounding phrases
Louis Napoleon DISCUSSES the motives which have
led him into this momentous enterprise. lie calls
it defending just cause, promoting civilization,
oppressed nationalities, and so on.
But no sober man can be deluded by such preten-
sions, when Napoleon iii. puts them forward; nor
can any thoughtful observer expect from him the
release of Italy from the subsection ofcenturies and
her elevation to an Independent place in the family
of nations. The ruler who has put chains on his
own country will not sincerely attempt to give
freedom to another Between his despotism and
Austrian despotism there is intrinsically little to
choose; and SO far as he and Francis Joseph are
concerned, We can look upon the conflict with as
much Indifference as is possible where all the |
crimes and inhumanties of war are let loose,
where hundreds of thousands of men are immo
lated and the farest countries are devastated aud
blackened. But there is one consideration which |
seems to give Proyidential use to the ambition |
and selfshness of Napoleon. As his armies cross
the Alps Revolution once more stalks forth over |
Europe, and what he begins for his own personal
ends the People will have opportunity to finish
for theirs. Let US hope that they may be wise
enough and strong enough 10 seize il and make the
most of il.