Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-05-20
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON. N. c.. FRIDAY. MAY 30, 1859.
d" What is It All About 2"

France and Ausria-or to that really amounts Sar-
DINA being merely makeWeght or, more accurately,
an excuse, a blind on both sides.
Italy, which is to be the theatre of the war; contains
area of 1886 square miles, and population of 25,
100000, the British Islands have area of 12097l
square miles, and population of 28OO0000. The diff
ference therefore is but little either in area or popua
ton.
Northern Italy contains the Sandman States, and
the Austrian territories known as the LombardoV enean
Kingdom Central Italy the Duchies of Parma Modena
and Tuscany and the States of the Church. LowerdoWn
on the foot of the old italian boot is situated the
Kingdom of Naples or the two Sicies the island Of
Sicily being added to- and forming part of the Neapo
tan dominions.
OF the two divisions of Northern Italy Sardinia lies
to the West, next to France and Switzerland, Lombar-
dy and Venice lie to the East and adjoin on the
North and East the Austrian provinces of the Tyrol
and of Iuyria.
The Duchies and the States of the Church touch
upon the Southern frontier of the Lombardo-V Venetian
kingdom
Some confusion has arisen from the employment of
the words Sardinia and Piedmont to indicate the
same kingdom, and " Sardinians" and Piedmontese
to indicate the same people
The present reigning family of the kingdom of Sar
DINA is descended from the the Counts subsequently
Dukes of Savoy, who acquired the present dominion
known as Piedmont by marriage The peace of Utrecht
in l713 gave to Victor Amadeus, Duke of Savoy the
sand of Sicily, which subsequently exchanged for
that of Sardinia and with this accession of territory
came the title of King the acquisition giving its
name to the new monarchy, since which time the rulers
of Savoy and Piedmont have been called Kings of Sar
tho DnnnIa Pin1uontncn Sardinians from
the name of the monarchy from that of its most i'm
portant division, and the seat Of its government.
The Kingdom of Sardinia shared the fortunes of
Northern Italy generally under the rule of Napoleon,
but was restored to its former dimensions in 1915 and
Genoa added to it.
The claim of Austria to dominion in Northern TIA
dates back long way but without going into de-
tails it sufficient to say that in the eighteenth centu
ry it included pretty much the territory as it
does leaving the republic of Venice which thenin
its decrepude and confined to the city and the tagun
around it this historical republic was extngushed by
the French in 1871
The italian dominions of Austria were wrested from
her by Napoleon, who incorporated them into his King
dom of Italy They were restored to her however in
1915, after the overthrow of Napoleon.
We need not refer now to the history of the other
spot in Italy that has not been made bone of conten-
tion between French Spanish and Germans.
What is the ostensibIe cause of the present war?
There can be little doubt that the people of Italy are
badly governed and that desirable changes and ameo-
raons have been refused by their governors who either
acted at the dictaton of Austria relied upon her in
terventon to rpress any efforts that their subjects might
make to throw off their tyranny, exact constitutional
guarantees from them Instead Of combining herself to
her own domnions, she preponderated in every other
State. Her troops swarmed in the Papal States they
occupied and now occupy the fortresses of Tuscany,
Parma and Modena and hold themselves ready to sus-
tain the Infamous King of Naples in his oppression Of
his Subjects secret treaty to that effect being found to
exist.
Under this al-pervading Austrian dctation, the peo
pie of Italy groan so it is said 1t is certain that they
take every opportunity to rise against their governors
and the unsettled and revolutionary state of Italy is
garded as standing menace to the rest of Europe.
In 1848 Italy rose iercely, but the revoutioniss oil
Lombardy and Venice, although assisted by Charles AL
bert of Sardinia were crushed by Radetsz and Charles
Albert forced abdcate in favor ohsson Victor Eman
ue the present King Austria having thus crushed oppo
siton at home helped every petty tyrant in Italy to
maintain his system of oppression in his sphere
The unsettled and menacing condition of Italy soon
engaged the attention of the great powers but for
the time lost sight of in the excitement of the Crmean
war. When the Congress met at Paris to arrange
the terms Of settlement between Russia and the Anglo
French Alliance, Sardinia endeavored to obtain some
action in regard to Italy. Nothing was done
however and the italian question remained open.
Coming down to the present time or its neighborhood
we find that remonstrances this subject have been
addressed to Austria by nearly all the leading powers
It is said that she has not responded the powers
thought she ought to have DONE Ithas been alleged that
she assumes dictatorship over the whole of Italy
to which she is by no means entitled, under
the treaties Of 1915, that she exercises this pro
tectorate in manner calculated 10 provoke ress
lance and Justify discomfort That therefore she ough
to withdraw from her assumed dictatorship Other
Italian States, and modify her administration OF he
own Italian provinces to ranquize them and make
them safe members Of the European community.
It is alleged that it in reference to the refusal o
Austria 70 listen to the representations on this subject
that Napoleon made the remark to the Austrian Am
bassador in January last, which made much fuss
the time and which presaged the present difficulty.
Austria contends that she is forced to do she doe
by the necessity of seEpreservaton That Sardinia as
pres to the supremacy of Italy, and to this end foment
dscontents and revolutions in the Austrian provinces
Italy as well as all the other States of the Peninsula
thesemovemens being directed the italian govern
mens generally but against the Austrians particularly
with the view of driving them out That remonsra
ted with Sardinia but without avail that she has sough
to arrive at fair understanding she has don
all in her power for peace and must now resort to wa