The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-22
The Important News from Europe-The
Armlsticc In Italy.

The Important News from Europe-The
Armisticc In Italy.
The rush of battle has been stayed on the
plains of Italy. Louis Napoleon has proposed
an aImistice to the Emperor of Austria, aud
suspension Of hostilities till the 18th of August
has been arranged.
There are many reasons which make this step
desirable to all of the belligerents and grateful
to the whole of Europe. Louis Napoleon was
hurried into the war without preparation, and if
it is to be decided by great and final stroke of
arms which shall drive the AnRtrinns into Cue
Carpathian Alps and reduce the fortresses of the
famous quadrangle, he requires time to bring up
bis forces, with the heavy siege trains and their
cumbersome accompaniment. Then, the atti-
tude of Germany urges him to devote his atten-
ton to the Rhine, and secure his empire from
contingencies on that side. The course of Prus-
sia, and the policy that she may develope in
case the war continues, call for his ma
ture consideration. And the voice of Eu-
rope, which beheld with alarm the progress
Of his victorious arms, calls for some proofs
from him Of the sincerity of his protested
wishes in favor of combining the war to
Italy and procuring an early peace. He
has therefore wisely chosen the moment when
the impossibility of successful resistance on
the part of Austria patent to the rest of Europe
and while she could yet accept it without the
sting of utter defeat, to propose the armistice
which has been accepted.
Francis Joseph had no less reasons than the
French Emperor for wishing a suspension of
hostilities that may lead to peace. The morale
of bis army has been destroyed by several
pitched battles; he has failed to obtain that sue
cor from Germany and England which no doubt
he had some reason to believe would rush to his
side; the ornaments of Prussia might as readily
be turned against the Hapsburg dynasty as in
It's favor; the voice of neutral Europe was
against him; Italy was everywhere rising to
throw of his rule; Hungary was already flooded
with the proclamations of the revolutionary
leaders; discomfort was rife at home; and foal
defeat on the banks of the Adige would not only
leave the road to Vienna open to the French
armies, but might be the signal for the tumbling
to pieces of the heterogeneous empire Of
Austria. With such an array of adverse inAu,
ences it was the part of wisdom to stay the strife
and to endeavor to save by diplomacy what
would be perilled and might be lost by an OBJ.
stinate adherence to the last appeal of kings
The armistice Of Villafranca paves the way
for the Congress Of Powers and Encouragement
Of Europe, which on Monday last we pointed out
as evidently to take place at an early day. We
then said that whether the torrent of blood
that has already been shed on the plains of LON
hardy will suffce to cool the war fever of Europe
time only can determine. The Congress will
meet, no doubt, at an early day; but whether it
will reportion Europe and fill it with satisfied
nationalities,' or whether it will break up in a
general war, is the pertinent question" The
defeats that Austria has sustained in Lombardy,
and the agitated condition Of the rest of her EN-.
pire, will now induce her to submit to European
Congress that Italian question which she peril
naciously refused to discuss in the Peace Con-
gress at Paris, or m the diplomatic sessions that
were proposed to pre- vent the present war.
In the coming Congress, England, France,
Russia, Austria, Prussia and Sardinia will be re-
presented. Louis Napoleon will come into it as
the giant Of Europe. His ten years rule in France
has shown him to be the first administrator: