The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-11


All other questions sink for the time being into
subordinate importance in view of the events that
are now transporting in Europe. The consider
alton of matters of domestic policy; the feud be-
tween the ultras of the North and of the South;
the points of difference between political parties;
the commercial competition carried on between
rival cities; Kansas troubles and Mormon treach-
cry and hypocrisy-all these things sound tame
and commonplace, and-temporarily at least
lose portion of their ordinary interest while ar
mics are marshaling on old historical battle
fields, and naval ornaments darken with their
awful freights the waters of the Mediterranean and
the Adriatic. 1t is principle in human nature
to be fascinated with 'the pomp and circum-
"stance of glorious war" In popular estima-
ton no man truly rises to the height of the he
roc who has not been baptized in blood and
thus it is that we elevate the successful soldier
above the station we assign to the philanthropist
But to feel an interest in any war we must know
something of its orgn-of the parties enga-
ged in the conf1ict-and the purposes
it is designed to subservc. Remoteness
blunts our smypathies. There is a
widespread rebellion in China, but we care little
or nothing for the rebel chief, TAPPING. The
combined forces of the French and Spaniards are
engaged in a war in Cochin China, but whether
they succeed in capturing Here, the capital, are
driven back TO their ships, is not matter of much
moment to us. Even the gallant defence of the
Circassians against the power of Russia, scarcely
moves our admiration. To have our feelings
deeply enlisted in cause it must be near to u.s. if
not in neighborly sense, yet in a historical one
We must know something of the chief actors en-
gagged in it; the probable motives by which they
are governed, and must have, at least, some ac-
quantance either through the medium of books,
or from personal observation, with the field OF
operations. In the war which, from the tenor Of
the last advices from Europe, may be assumed to
have broken out in Italy, we have, as is well
known, France and Sardinia arrayed on
one side against Austria on the other;
the object of the former being, without
doubt, not merely to compel the latter to abandon
her secret treaties with the minor Italian States,
but to put an end TO her dominion in Italy But
TO understand how this quarrel has arisen, and
the circumstances attending it, we must 90 back
nearly half a century. Prior to the conquest of
Italy by NAPOLEON, Austria held the Duchies of
Milan and Mantua which she had wrested from the
Spanish branch of the house of Austria during
what is known in history as the war of the Span
ish succession. These two Duchies constituted
Lombardy proper, until they were detached from
Austria in 1877 by the treaty of Campo Formio.-
Milan and Mantua, or Lombardy proper were first
constituted as Csalpine Republic, then as an
Italian Republic with BoNAPARTE as President, and
were afterwards formed into Kingdom. of which
NAPOLEON made himself King in 1905. Subse.
quently they were incorporated with Venice, Mode
ma and other States into the Kingdom of Italy,
In 1914 after the fall of NAPOLEON, Austria again
took possession of Lombardy proper, and also of
Venice, and this measure being subsequently con-
irmed by the Congress which met at Vienna, the
following year, for the purpose of reconstruct
ing the map of Europe, the territory of Milan,
Mantua and Venice were formed into Kingdom
styled Lombardo-V enetia, which was annexed to
the Imperial Crown of Austria. Not content, how
ever, with exercising despotic authority over the
States, whose possession had been confirmed to her
by the treaty of Vienna, Austria sought TO extend
her influence over the whole Of the Italian penn-
sula and in this she so far succeeded by means of
secret treaties with Naples, Parma Modena and
Tuscany, and by an armed occupation of the
States of the Church, that every attempt which
was made by the Italian people to coerce their re-
spective governments into establishing liberal in
situations was crushed out by the armed legions of
Austria The first effort which was made by the
italian people to shake off their oppressors took
place in 1891 the success of the French Revolution
in 1880 being followed by an after-swen of popu-
lar Instruction in Italy. At that time the secret
society of Carbonari, which had for its object the
liberation of the peninsula, had enrolled among its
members not only the names of the noblest
families in Italy, but of many other men of high
birth. Among the latter were LOUIS NAPOLEON,
then in his twenty-third year, and NAPOLEON, his
elder brother, the former of whom was passing
the winter Of 1880 in Rome with his mother
Failing under suspicion of the Papal Government
he only avoided arrest by precpitate flight TO
Florence, where his elder brother resided. In
1881, the Instruction broke out in the Romagna,
and the two brothers Immediately Joined the
ranks of the patriots. The object of the rising
was then, as it is now-to overthrow Austrian
But the energetic measures which were taken by
the Austrians, and the temporizng measures
adopted by the insurgent leaders, soon paralyzed
the revolutionary action. In sharp action
which took place at Bologna both the brothers
greatly distinguished themselves But the in
surgents were compelled finally to retreat TO
Forll, where Prince NAPOLEON was attacked with
the smallpox, and expired in the arms of his
younger brother, the present EMPEROR of the
French. From Forli, the patriots retired before
the victorious Austrians to Ancona; and at the
latter place, after failing to receive the expected
assistance of France, they abandoned the struggle
as hopeless. For LOUIS NAPOLEON the Austrians
made the strictest search, and offered reward
for bis arrest but through the active exertions of his
mother, he succeeded in Guiding his enemies
Thus ended the first italian instruction. The
second took place in lS4s. If the first rising had
been distinguished by the part taken in it by the
two brothers BoNAPARTE the second was not less
conspicuous for the support il received from CHARLES
ALBERT, the King of Sardinia. Imbued with lib
eral views, and ambitious of expelling the Aus
TRANS from Italy, CHARLES ALBERT after promul-
eating Constitution for his dominions, grant
lug pOPulu d Tree press, anu OIiler
reforms Joined the insurrectonary Italian States in
opposition to Austria. But the patriotic party was
weakened as usual by internal Discussions; and after
a succession of skirmishes, CHARLES ALBERT being
signally defeated at the battle of Novara, abdica
ed in favor of his son VICTOR EMMANUEL with whom
Austria consented to treat for peace. Ten years
have since elapsed. The Constitutions conceded
by all the minor governments of Italy, at the out
break of the rebellion, have all been annulled at
the instance of Austria, with but one exception
VICTOR EMMANUEL has been faithful to the pledges
OF his father, and the prosperous condition of Sar
dinia indicates not only the capacity of the Italians
Tor seif-govenment, but also what Italy MIGHT be
come under constitutional King. But the insur-
rections of 1881 and l84s have neither Gpbtened
the hand OF the Austrian oppressor, nor rendered
the Italians more contented with their rulers
Austria garrisons the Papal observation-disclosures
the right to enter at any time the Duchies of Par
ma, Modena and Tuscany, with her troops-and
dictates to those governments and to Naples
the policy they shall pursue. 1t is to break
down this influence and to compel
Austria to fall back within the limits of
her Lombardo-Venitian kingdom, or to expel
her altogether, that the alliance between France
and Sardinia has been formed. The dream of
LOUIS NAPoLEoN's early manhood was the lib
T4,1,o l.: