, 1859-06-07
AUSTRIAN RULE IN LOdRARnv.
1.-THE FORCED LOAN.

Ut. ffanklln's anccdote, told at the con-
mencement Of the Revolutionary war, in Illus
tration Of the proposition Of England to tax the
colonies Tor tue expenses growing out Of the at-
tempt to execute upon them oppressive and
unconstitutional enactments-the anecdote of
the Frencbman who rushed into the street
brandishing hot poker, and demanded the
cost Of heating it from tho pacific gentleman
who refused to have it inserted between his
1lbs-night be repeated to illustrate the treat.
mcnt Of Lombardy BY Austria There is this
difference, however, in the two cases. Aus
tria has for years had tho hot iron seethipr in
the Fitals Of that doomed province: and sha
now demands forced loan Of seycnty-fyc
millions Of forms, rs guaranty that she will
never take the poker out The loan is tn kc
divided among the principal cities, and the
penalties which are Threatened in tue event Of
noncompliance with The imperial oxactions,
are so horrible, that the money will doubtless
be forthcoming, unless By some providential
interference, tho French and Sardinians should
come to their relief before tho iniquity is com
plets.
The London Daily lNesat, in discussing the
matter, gives the following almost incredible
account Of the oppression to which the Lon-
bards are subjected:
rs we'll as the object Of This forced loan. mafe Il
measure Of peculiar aud eren refined cruelty.
UuFlng the Last ten yeara the inhabitants Of LON
hardy hare been subjected 10 Z series of fnes
taxes. and forced loans Of the most Oppressive
and aniquit'ous kind. In this respect they have
IN laet. been treated IS Slaves, having no right,
Whatever, to the produce Of the soil TINT they
titled, but only at most TO bare subsistence.
Just enough to perpeiuate the round Of hopeless
labor TO which they we're condemned The land
ta1. ior example, in this province, being more
than double the amount levied in other parts Of
The empire, absorbs all the profits arising from
Tue cn!liTatlon Of the soil In one year a1ona.
cent IN extraordinary tax Of &70.0oo, 900 md
forced loan Of 120. 900 of Austrian Lures
we're lAh on the people Of Lombardy. What
has been the natural result-a result not onlv
Known. put notorious now throughout Europcs
Ihe land il gradually growing out Of cultiva.
t'on. huts1tudes. both in town and country.
have not only been impoverished, bat absolute.
y ruined, as the annual number of forced Or
''d1sfress sa}ss absolutely proves Many citi-
xcns, once well TO do, have died miserable and
lingering death, while many others isngthcn
out xretched existence by the sale Of family
jewels and heir-fooms dearer than life itself.
The real character Of Austrian oppression in
Lombardy may be gathered from The si0nificant
fact that the taxes, rarely less than forty per
cent, sometimes rises TO the enormous -aun1. nj
seventy live per cent Yet this i the Province
on which the Austrian government, in its pa.
ternA sniidness, proposes 70 lay tbs heavy
burden Of the present war. This is piece of
wantoo tyranny which will tax the friends Of
Austrian rule in thiA country to soften and ex-
tenuste 70 d not to rerolt their readers, and
shock the national sense Of justice anopR the
EnGiGh rsoph- j.,
Is it any wonder that we should b. tnld
among the items Of news brought By the Cuu
q Washington, that Revolutionary movements
in Iotdoardy arc repotted?n