Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-26

chained up. and that half million of men
have ceased to fly at each others threats.
But this first congratulation felt aad uttered.
we consider more closely the circumstances
of this sudden halt of a conqueror in his tri-
umph, and ask ourselves whether this armis-
tce is really the prelude to a peace, or
whetherit is but stop to take breath for a.
further race ofconquest.
The position of the two parties is not of
that equal character which would enable us !
to hope that both are in the same degree de-
sirous of lasting peace. Austria has hitherto
lost everything that she could have lost She
has been beaten in every battle. she has been
driven back from every position. All the
prestige of her arms has been destroyed. aud
her troops are demoralized less by defeat
than by profound distrust of their leaders
and their military organization. She could
not be in a worse position than she now is.
If she had lost another great battle on the
Adige, if Peschiera had fallen. if Verona had
been taken, and if Mantua had been stormed,
il would not be more apparent to the world
than it is at this moment that Austria is un-
BILE to cope with France as military Power.
To her. therefore, a cessation of hostillties is
but the surrender of all hope of retrieving
her military honor. In consenting to it, she
must have abandoned all her pride, and must
have embraced only the last hope of safety.
She must mean peace, and she must mean to
pay the price of peace, if this step is any
other than an ill-advised monetary expe-
dent. To France, on the contrary, either
for peace or for war, this aTmistice is worth
another great victory. Paris may illuminate
for it as for victory on the Adige, or for the
storm of Mantua. Austria is at home, with
her resources behind her, and with Germany
mastering in her rear. France is far away,
reduced by her hard fights, requiring reen-
forcements, anxious to bring up her supplies,
and DESTROYS of time to enable her combina-
tons from the seacoast to develope them
selves. Every moment of delay conceded by
Austria is a confession of exhaustion. If this
armistice is but a truce, like that concluded
ten years ago between Radetsky and Charles
Albert, then it is fatal concession on the
part of Francis Joseph, iorit will but enable
the enemy to repair his strength.
We will hope, however. that in consenting
to this armistice the Emperor of Austria has
made up his mind to the necessary conditions
of a peace. The nature OF those conditions
cannot but have presented themselves to him.
On the evening of that day of Solferino all
hope of re-establshing the authority of Aus
tria over any portion of Lombardy must have
passed away like dream in the morning.
He must have felt that the moment was come
either for absolute submission or for another
obstinate and hopeless fight. He has chosen
the former alternative. He has submitted.
Well, what will be the termsH The progress
of this contest has done much to disclose to
us the character of the man who has brought
this campaign to so speedy termination.
He never swerves from his formed design,
but he is never elated by success. and is con-
tent to march step by step, and by short, GER
tain advances, to the objects he has proposed
to himself. He may be expected to be mod
crate in the hour of his triumph. But. how
ever moderate he may be, Austria can scarce
ly expect more than to be allowed to enjoy
what she has for the moment preserved. LOm-
hardy is gone. and the fortresses which
enabled her to dominate Lombardy cannot be
expected to remain Internationally in her
hands. Venice is not yet part of the French
conquests, and she may stipulate that the
Queen of the Adratic may be allowed to re-
tain an independent character under the
most popular of her Archdukes. Lombardy
however has fallen beneath the sword. and
the coDqueror must dispose of it according to
his will.
The House of Lords was about this even
ing solemnly TO debate the propriety of utter
fering by mediation between the warning
Powers. They have themselves saved us
this humane but very delicate enterprise.
The 'just and comprehensive terms" which
Lord Strattord de Radcliffe wCs prepared to
advocate in the House of Lords will no long
er be at the suggestion of England, or of
Germany, or of Russia. Austria has chosen
TO take the sword, and by the fortune of the
sword she must abide. Any recommence-
ment of hostilities is out of the question.
Her enemy is now in the position which she
herself held when a similar armistice was
made and broken, and when seven days suf-
feed for Radetzky to finish the war. Before
this truce is ended the French army will be
| refreshed and REINFORCED. a feet of gunboats
will be ready for launching upon the lake
that surrounds Mantua, and a great army
will be ready to make its descent upon the
shores of Northern Italy. Broken and dis
| piritcd as Austria now is, she is yet better
| able to fight at this moment than she will be
at any future time. We believe, therefore, in
peace, and we believe that the path to peace
will be made smooth to her, for the En-
peror has won the advantage which for the
| moment he proposes to himself. He has
climbed his days journey, and he is probably
| inclined to halt and rest and recruit his
strength, and to measure the altitude above
| him. If this should be so, and if this war
between France and Austria is ended, France
| comes tremendous in power out of the con-
iict. and Europe will look on with still in
creasing interest, much meditating upon the
future, while she rests upon her arms