The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-06-30
TIE PACIFIC
Commercial ADVERTISER,
THURSDAY, JUNE

: AFTER nearly a months dearth of foreign
news. the arrival of the Storm King on Monday,
with two semi-monthly mails, brings the impor-
tant intelligence that Europe is again plunged
into war, which, from present indications of the
strength of the forces of the contending nations,
augurs a long and bloody seige. The news was
expected, but vet seems to have burst on France
and England with the violence of a tornado, as
will be seen by extracts from English papers in
our foreign news columns. The depreciation of
funds in England alone amounted in three days
to $50, OOO, O0Oi During that time there were
forty-seven failures of members of the Stock Ex-
change in London.
Austria begins the war by endeavoring to coerce
the kingdom of Sardinia to compliance with her
terms. Sardinia lies between Austria and France,
and the latter nation is pledged by treaty and
sympathy to defend it against Austria. Sardinia
is comparatively a weak nation, having an army
of only about 60, 900 men. Austria on the other
hand has 1000 soldiers, while France has
about the same number.
Our readers will ask. What is this war about?
What is the origin of it, The chief cause, the
bone OF contention is Italy and the Popedona.
Austria seeks to controfapd regulate the affairs
of Italy. Sardinia and France say she shall not,
except so far as it squares with their views.
Austria evidently aims at complete control Of Italy,
and that probably is her chief motive in going to
war. But perhaps our readers desire a more tull
account of the origin of the war, and there is no
better time to get correct ideas in respect to it
than at its commencement. In HarPer's Maya
ziae for June, is the best account we have yet seen,
and we give it here:
There is no reason to doubt that the war has COM
menced, though at our latest dates, which come down
to April 80, there is no intelligence of actual hostili-
ties. In accepting the Russian proposition for a Con-
gress, the Austrian Minister said that, in the opinion
of his government, the whole difficulty lay in the sys-
tenn of foreign relations followed by Sardinia; and to
put an end TO this and prevent its return was the task
reserved to the Powers called uponto uphold social
order. The British Government, with the concur
renee of the French, presented to Austria the follow
ing four points as bases of negotiation:
"U.0 To determine che means by which peace
may be maintained between Austria and Sardinia.
o. To establish how the evacuation of the Roman
States by the French and Austrian troops could be
best effected. (3) To examine whether it is suita-
bic to introduce reforms into the internal administra-
ton of those States. and of the other States of Italy
whose administration should offer defects that should
tend evidently to create a permanent and dangerous
state of trouble and discomfort, aud what such reforms
should be. a. To substitute for the treaties be-
tween Austria and the Duchies a confederation of the
States of Italy between themselves for their mutual
protectioQ, internal and external
Xix h4c PhOAtocS " u nIiAAbk
to accept these bases, with certain notifications, but
insisted upon the immediate disarming of Sardinia.
This was unanimously objected to by the other Pow
ers; whereupon Austria proposed. as a substitute, n
general and Immediate disarmament of all the Powers.
The British Cabinet proposed that the principle of
this disarmament should be admitted, and its execu-
ton be regulated by a commission, in which Sardinia
should be represented; and that the Italian States
should be admitted to sit in the Congress of the Five
Powers. This proposition was accepted by France,
Russia, and Prussia; Sardinia also declared itself
ready to conform. Austria refused to admit Sardinia
to any participation in the Congress, but insisted that
she should at once disarm. To this the other Powers
would not agree. Austria then cut the matter short
by sending an ultimatum to Sardinia, dated the 2lst
of April, peremptorily demanding the disbanding of
her Italian volunteers; giving her three days for re-
ply, announcing that an evasive answer would be
considered a refusal; and in the event of her refusal,
threatening immediate hostilities. simultaneously
with this demand 1000 troops were dispatched to
Italy, in addition to the number already there. The
King Of Sardinia refused to comply with this demand,
summoned the Chambers, who unanimously upheld
him, and invested him with dictatorial power. Three
divisions, of the Austrian army, said to be 2 10000
strong, upon the 18th of April, crossed the Ticino
and invaded the Sandman territory. Throughout
Italy there is a strong feeling in favor Of Sardinia
Early in April the officers of the army of Tuscany
presented themselves before the Grand Duke. stating
that the only way to prevent the revolt of the troops
was for him to unite with Piedmont. The Duke, by
the advice of his Ministers, sent for the Marquis Of
Lajatico and asked him to form a new administration,
with a view to granting the reforms demanded The
Marquis refused to undertake the task except on con-
dition that the Grand Duke should abdicate, an alli-
ance be formed with Sardinia, and war be declared
against Austria The Grand Duke refused, and I'M
mediately left his dominions. Upon the receipt at
Paris of the tidings of the Austrian demand upon
Sardinia, Count Walewski presented to the Legisla-
tive body a manifesto drawn up by order of the EN-
peror. After giving an account Of the proceedings
that had taken place, the manifesto concludes thus:
elm presence OF this state of things, if Sardinia is
menaced, if, as every thing leads it to be presumed
her territory is Invaded, France cannot hesitate to
respond to the appeal of a nation, her ally, to which
she is bound by common interests and traditional
sympathies, regenerated by a recent confraternity in
arms, and by the union contracted between the two
reigning Houses
France, Russia and Denmark have entered into
q secret treaty of alliance, the object of which is
unquestionably to defeat the aims of Austria.
The London correspondent of the Panama Star,
gives some information on this, which will be of
interest to our readers
The fact, however, which looks most ominous for
Italian freedom, and for the peace and civilization Of
the world, IL that Louis Napoleon, believing he can
! nov dispense With the British alliance, has entered
into close relations with the Emperor Of Russia, and
that Denmark Is joined in this tripartite alliance,
vbich menaces alaFminely oar position - maritime
mower. The profound vjekednes Of such conductM
-: