Smyrna times., 1859-05-19
The Cause of the European Troubles.

the causes OF the present disturbances in Eu-
rope, remarking very frankly that " matters are
50 mixed up there, that our people are not very
well posted in regard to the origin Of the ap-
proaching war. His neighbors are not a lone in
their perplexity, as may be seen in the contra
dlctory representations Of the press, abroad as
we'll as at home. The late discussion in the
British Parliament, also reads as If the emil
nent speake were in state of sUmnambul ism,
SO vague and shadOwy is Their treatmeHt of
the question The truth is, the problem does
not lie in specific acts Perhaps our cores
pondenl has seen a small neighbOrho0d, or stIlf
worse, persons living under the same roof,
brought into downright quarrel IN the absence
of any obvious exciting cause. A harsh word
breeds bitter ejoInders-susplcion here, mis-
representation there, misunderstanding all
round-untl a fear of something worse pro-
vok"s a Slight demonstration, and then ensues
open hostility. A fair leoker-on might say -
" In one sense, all these people are to blame,
but in another, they are all more or less eXcu-
sable. They were never fitted to live together
any way, and their circumstances have been
peculiarly bad' So it is with the nations of
Europe, and without some such enlarged view,
we cannot understand the present crisis.
Now the basis of the whole trouble in Europe
is the conflict between liberal ideas and the
system of torce-the spirit of the age and the
spirit of the middle ages. This gives rise to
the {" Italian question''--for in Italy the an
tagoniSm is most severe. There we have, on
the one hand, Austria, the very incarnation of
priestly and political power, selfish covetous
and pililcss; and on the other, the indignant
masses, aspiring for something better, they
hardly know what but fully convinced that
they can exchange their present condition for
nothing worse. A few years ago the despOIlsm
Of Austria, pointed by the sword Of Radetzky,
was on one side; and the visionary youth, led
by MazZlni, were arrayed against it. That
looked like dangerous state of things. But u
worse has succeeded For, while Austria has
grown more stolid and unreasonable, young
Italy, by force of one bright example, has grown
more reasonable, prudent, and stronger. The
success OF Sard MIA has shown what the greater
part of Italy can accomplish under cOnstItu-
tiona monarchy, rising naturally from the ele-
ments already existing. Austria sees the
Change and instinctively fears it. Lomba rdy,
already hers, she fortihes and overruns with
, troops; with Naples, Modena, Tuscany, and
the Roman States, she makes secret treaties
and wherever disturbances threaten, she mana.
ges to have her troops, who know no mercy
till their work is completed. Now when a man
espouses generous ideas, all the bitterness o
2 his nature seems to find vent against mere bru
: tai force and the willy arts Of cold-blooded des
potism. This is why the Protestant world
hates Jesuitsm. But Austria has harasseC
llaly by the sword and by intrigue, using a
e will and continuously, generals, dplomatlsts
4 priests and spies. Hence matters have grown
!, worse and worse, until some issue, in the mind
of all intelligent persons, must be reached
) This is the " Italian question"
,ts,I
must be reckoned LOUIS Napoleon. He uset
to be called a foolish visionary; he is nov
called the most far.reaching statesman of tn
. age. But the latter character remains to b
l. fully verified, his most remarkable traits thu
e. far disclosed, which would earn him that repu
- tation, being the faculties of keeping his ow
= counsel and taking his own time. But, 10
some reason or other, he concluded to take
III part in directing the issue of this Italian quet
: tion. He urged reforms upon Austria IN he
= Italian dominlons and in the Papal States, toU
:, or five years ago, and has continued doing s
- ever suce-to which Austria has paid no heeC
&c On last New Years Day, therefore, he droppe
nd his famous remark TO the Austrian envoy, n
~ GREETING that the two governments (AustrI
-, aud Fravce) were not on better terms. Ih
sensation which ran through Europe attested
ei the vitality of the Italian question, and to Il
n no FOOLS play about it. Next, Victor Emman
ri. ell, King of Sardinia in his opening speech
\ the Deputies, declared that he could not he il
:" sensible to the cry of Italy, and that Sardin
ny would not falter in her cOurse-a sentiment
which thousands of volunteers have given
he significant response. If Austria did not kno
.th what these things meant, she soon learned 1t
the marriage Of Prince Napoleon with the XII
TIC of Sardinia daughter and the alliance betwe
es, the two powers. The motives of Louis Nap
VS. leon in thus taking up the cause OF Italy do n
$50 appear We may conjecture three. The I'll
as is a personal and hereditary hatred OF Austr
The second is a desire for aggrandlzement,
III adding q part of Italy to his empire. The thl
cen is personal, and is fear of assassination at
her hands of Orsini's followers, the members
, of that brotherhood TO which Louis Napoleon or
- belonged and proved recreant. The motive
'''i philanthropy we are not yet ready to ere
leir him with, except that from the force of his
eer siton as a monarch owing his elevation TO
gu. people, he must ever be found on the lIbt
au, side in any European contest.
4"' But whatever his motives, Austria apI
i' !" hended his action at once, and commenced
lch preparations. OF course, the other powers
wing likewise. The talk about the treaties Of /
bfI is nugatory. Austria has kept the latter as
as the other powers. But, with her king'
'"Ne born of force, and comPrehending the most
who cordant elements she has multiplied her Sc
treaties and turned the screws of her dcs
ism. as she supposed, in selfdefense. To ia
COM whom France threatened, would have been
war cidal. UnuckiIy, the other great powers
Ma not contribute much to impede the direct
as in to hostiIties upon which France, Sardinia
the Austria had entered England got confuse
over the Crimean War, and has never Judged c.
mental matters rightly since. Her lntu
.cob went for nothing. Russia sees that by
verv in Italy the long coveted pathway OF her
eve1 to the Mediterranean is opened-and so sh
pushed on France. Prussia has only conslt
her own safety.
c'sin Such, in general view, are our own
of the European troubles. 1t Is an orr
died trouble, and must some day result IN a.
e ,ha Observation-Disclosures one prIn