The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-05-26
The Actors of the European
Drama.

sounding arms from Europe, 1t may be OF
interest to take rapid glance at the promi-
nent men who are connected with the crisis.
From present appearances, tie various ma
tional forces now mastering upon Sandman
soil will be under the nominal-and possibly
in time, e'real-command of their respee-
tive monarchs. Courtesy, therefore, requires
us to give them the precedence in our list.
Louis Napoleon, Emperor ofFrance-whose
reputation is to be tried in the sery furnace
ofhis own heating, mainly-is too well known
to the world to need much sketching at our
hands. He was 81 years old on the Goth of
April last. After an adventr rous youth and
early manhood, he was elected Representa-
tive in the National Assembly in 1s4S, from
which post he was soon raised to the Presi-
dency, and thence raised himself to Imperial
power. He was formerly accounted hair
Drained and Eighty but as Emperor has shown
himself as patient and inscrutable as the
stony Sphinx which stares at us from the
banks Of the Nile in all standard Biographies.
He is now anxious to add the generals fame
to that ofthe statesman.
Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria, was
born in August, 1880, and is consequently
but nearly twenty mine We rs of age. He is
son of the Archduke Francis Joseph. He
was declared Major in December, 1s4s, and
succeeded his uncle, Ferdinand l., who alb
dictated Dec 9, 1913, through the rsnuncia-
ton by his father Of tie succession. He has
shown more administrative ability than he
was supposed to possess, although it is said
that much of his success is owing to his
mother, the ArchduchesS Sophia. His per-
sonal participation in the war attracts much
interest.
Victor Emmanuel, King of Sardinia, was
born March IA, 1920. He acceded to the
throne in 1S49, on his fathers abdication,
after being defeated by the Austrians. His
reign has been eminently successful. His
action during the Crimean war, in joining
the Sandman forces to the allies against Rus
STA, and securing for Sardinia voice in the
Congress of Paris, and to settle the questions
in dispute, placed Sardinia ahead of all the
other Italian States, while his support of the
liberal cause Of Italy has won him the SYM
pathies ofthe people. .. a
Count Camille de Cavour, Prime Minister
ofSardinia, is thought to have had nearly as
much to do with bringing on the present
crisis as any other man except the French
Emperor. He was born at Turin, of an an
Gent and wealthy, but not noble family, on
the 10th of August, 1910, and is now in his
49th year. In 1s47 he had already made
himself a political uotabiity in Piedmont by
becoming editor of the Risorgimento. a jour-
nal of daringly liberal tendencies, yet perva-
ded by the aristocratic spirit as regarded
the tone "f its articles. He assisted ut the
very birth of the Piedmontese Parliament
system. In 1S49 he went into Parliament;
m 1850 he was called to the Cabinet; and in
1858 he became Prime Minister, continuing
such without rival in influence to the pres
ent day. "
Gen. La Marmora is the actual Comman-
der-in- Chief of the Sandman forces He is
an old and tried soldier. When the C,imean
war broke out, and Sardinia joined the West
em Powers against Russia, and the Sandman
contingent was raised, he was placed in COM
mand, went to the Crimea, and behaved in
the noblest manner, making himself famous
as one of the bravest Generals in Europe
Since then he has been mainly occupied in
organizing the Sandman army, which he has
brought to high state Of perfection.
General Joseph NJ. Garibaldi commands
the Italian volunteers in Sardinia. He is
about fifty years ofage, and has seen all sorts
of service in various parts of the world. His
reputation as desperate fighter is only equ-
allied by that of his integrity as man. He
will doubtless play conspicuous part in the
coming struggle.
Marshal Canrobert commands the third
corps of the French "Army of the Alps"
upon which great reliance is placed. He is
just fifty years of age, and has gone through
the whole grade of military promotions, from
a boy in the military school ofSt. Cyr, to his
present proud position. He first served with
distinction in Algeria He took part in the
first opening of the Russian war in the East,
and in the Crimea distinguished himsilf at
Alma. On Arnaud's death he became Com
mander-in-C Chief, and was in the battles of
Inkerman and Balaklava. Being unable to
agree with Lord Raglan, he resigned and
was succeeded by Pelissier, who does not
seem to be designed for the coming war; SO
long, at least, as it shall be confined to
Italy. .;,. ...r ...........s
+, paraguay d'Hillers commands the LIST of
the corps of the Army of the Alps. He is
nearly ninety years of age, and served under
thefirst Napoleon in Italy in 1867. He has
always held good position, though still re-
tanning his original name devoid of titles.
Of the other names now brought before the
public by the war movements, none are in
the first class. Events however, make won
derful changes in this resnect ,evep n, a Ea,,