Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-17

The War IN Europo---Probablo Results,
The match has burnt down to the powder in
Europe, and the conflict has begun. That lt
rillbc bloody struggle is certain, for immense
masses Of men, backed BY all the modern en-
pinery for killing each other, will measure arms
under the boldsst and bravest Of leaders. Many |
think it will be a short war, but thistime alone
will determine.
The following article on The War from the
National Era is we'll considered, and gives
much information Of interest in the opening Of
the European drama
Il is the universal belief, that war win not
be confined to Austria and Sardinia. Indeed,
the latter power, which is but third rate IN the
scale Of European Importance, would never ven
ture to provoke hostilites with Austria, with
out assurances Of support from some one or more
of the frst.rate Powers This assurance she
has received from France, at least, and 1t is be-
heved that she will have the sympathy, If not
the active support, Of Russia. The latter Pow.
er nlervened ten years ago to suppress the
Hungarian revolution, and thereby prevent the
dissolution of the Austrian Empire. She was
rewarded by the coalition of Austria with Eng
land and France, in their late war with Russia
In addition to this motive of revenge Russia
will now be stimulated to take sides against
Austria in consequence OF the commercial priv
ileRes granted to her in the Mediterranean by
Sardinia. Prussia, it is said will support Aus
tria, but it is more probable that she will re-
main neutral Nations are too wise to 90 to
war to prevent possible encroachmonts upon
their rights; and Prussia, certainly, has no i'm.
me late ground for complaint. France will
support the brunt of the war Next to Sardin
= 4 L.. g..t,r 80 art.p paaaff flss
epcroachments of Austria The Treaty of 1915,
between the allied conquerors of Napoleon, is
a standing insult and menece to France. BY it
she was shoru of her immemorlal territorial
rights; aud Austria was invested with foot
hold in Italy, with a view to repel the advances
of France That treaty comedies to Austria the
sovereignty over Lombardy, Venice, and other
Italian provinces and towns and she has not
scrupled to go beyond the letter of the treaty,
by assuming authority over tue adjacent prov
inces, which, by the treaty, were to be treated
as independent. These nominaly independent
provinces, as we'll as these which were cruelty
subjected to the despotic rule of Austria, in
tensely hate that Power and yearn for Italian
independence and nationality. They desire TO
| be annexed to Sardinia, and are IN perpetual
state of fevefish excitement, bordering on re-
| volt.
! Sardinia, besides being moved to resist the
| encroachments of Austria by feeling Of inse-
curity, and danger to her independence, is at
the same time stimulated by ambition TO add to
her dominions those fair provinces of Italy
which are ready to rush to her embrace
France in addition to her jealousy and hatred
! Of Austria, is melted by the desire to enlarge
! her borders on the side of Savoy. The latter is
now a province of Sardinia, but separated from
the bulk OF the nation by the Alps. 1t would
seem, geographically, to belong to France. II
| is believed that the cessOn OF this territory to
| France is tn be the condition Of the latters sup.
port of Sardinia in the approaching conflict -
/ But whether Louis Napoleons ambition will be
satisfied with SO small a slice of territory may
be doubted
Should war 90 on, the whole map of Europe
may be remodeled as the result of it. The
present distribution of territories between the
parties to the treaties of Vienna and Paris is
altogether artificial There is nothing natural
or Just in it, Provinces and peoples are par
celled out among the despots, great and small,
| as a South Carolina STAKEHOLDER would parcel
out his plantations end negroes among his
children. The voice OF the people was not
heard The most intense aud abiding feelings
of human nature were utterly disregarded, in
subiecting men Of one race and language to
the sway of despots foreign to them in these
particulars, whose whole object in ruliug is to
extort money from their impoverished sub
ects.
War s a terrible calamity, under any circum
stances but it will not be without its compen.
sations to the people of Europe, if it results in
breaking up the rule of Austria over Italy, and
otherwise remodelliDg the map OF Europe The
Continent, from the White Sea to the Mediter-
ranean, with the single exception of Sardinia,
is governed by despots, with nearly or quite un-
limited power and change for the worse, In
this age of intelligence and public opinion, is
scarcely possible.
One Of the great hindrances to progress and
improvement in Europe, particularly in Ger
many and Italy, is the multiplicity of Govern
ments Every petty despot has his separate Q
revenue system, his custom houses, and amy
of officials, to arrest the ingress and earess of
commerce and travel, and thereby to ietter the
industry Of the people.
The greatest blessing of the American Union,
and that which contributes most largely to its
prosperity, is the unlimited freedom of trade
which exists throughout its widely-extendcd
territories and the converse of the PROPOSE
tion is fully sustained by the condition Of
Europe, where the subdivisions and restrictions
upon trade have retarded progress. war which
shall break up this system, and bring each ma.
tonality under one Government, will be a grand
march in the road of progress, civilization and
]
cation ofdseordant nationalties. With Ger
man element as its base, it holds in suhecliOn
by the power OF the sword, Hungarlans, ltal.
ians Poles, Sclavonians, and we know not how
many other races all differing in language and
Institutions. The House of Hapsburg, which
il Dut synonym for austerity and despotsm,
has for centuries been laborng to assimate
these discordant materials into one hOmogene-
GUS nationality. Its instrument of assimila-
ton is simply brute force. The attempt has
been to force the German language, manners
and institutions, upon all the different nations
not by equal laws and the cultivation of re
reciprocal trade and intercourse, but by mill.
tary edicts, enforced with brutal severity.
We are no admirers of Louis Napoleon
but he will render great service to human
; ity if he aid in overthrowing this Austrian
despotism
The Government of Italy, with the excep
tion of the Sardinian portion of it, could no
be worse than it is We have already spokel
of that which is subjected to the sway Of Aus
tria The States of the Church are in still
worse condition. The iron rule of a military
. despot is hard to bear but a Government o
! corrupt priesthood sustained by foreigI
bayonets, is as degrading as it is CALLING
But the most bloody despOusm Of all is tina
of Naples, which embraces southern Italy AM
the island of Sicily, Thousands of the hes
men in the Kingdom have been imprisone,
f in the dungeons Of the capitalfor the crime o
1 breathing an aspiration for liberty, or, il
{ many instances, for being suspected of tha
. high offence, No such tyranny as that prac
. ticed by the NeapOlitan Government has beei
, heard of in southern Europe for centuries,
we eNcept the brief reign of terror in France