The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-05-09
Kings and POtentstes - The Austrian
Side

Kings and POtentates - The Austrian
Side.
There are two several media through
which we may examine the state Of things
in Europe, with a view to determine the
character and value of the present causes
of International disturbance; each Of
which will give product varying greatly
from that Of the other. 1t is a common
assumption of journalism-and especially
of American journalism-and one that is
not without its influence upon all writers,
and, through them upon the popular
mind, that monarchs are tyrants, the end
Of whose aims is to enlarge their power
and crafty their desires; and that in the
pursuit of these darling objects, they are
net simply Indifferent to the welfare of
their people, but prefer - other things
being equal pursue such course of
conduct as shall render them discontented
and miserable.
We suspect that this is q mistake. We
would greatly prefer to believe that mon
archs are like other men, made up Of
good and evil, fond of power, but des;-
rous of the love Of their subjects, and of
the reputation of having acted well their
part oftener mistaken than wilfully
wrong, and not totally oblivious to the
idea that the people are not made for
them, but they for the people. 1t is prob
able that the average Sovereign of Europe
is as good a man, as faithful an admins
traitor, and as generally useful to his sub.
jects and country, as the average Presi-
dent of the United States; and it is not
easy to give & reason why our judgments
in respect to the character of the one
should be formed upon any other hypothe.
sig, or should take in any other ele-
ments than our judgments in respect to
the other.
LEN are generally faithful in sentiment,
to the trusts that are reposed in them /;
and there is no reason to suppose that
kings are an uniform exception to the
rule. The average king has been, in all
ages Of the world, far greater man than
the average subject; and probably far
less vicious: at least no more SO. His
vices have been no unheard-of enormities
but the common sins OF his day and peo
pie. Standing the highest, he has pre-
sented mark for attacks, both by truth
and caluInny, which others have escaped
1t is better way, we are convinced, tc
believe that the potentates Of Europe are
well-meaning personages; and-althougl
such abelief would work surprising rev
olution in our current literature-to predi
cate the judgments which we form o.
their policy and their personal merit.
upon that idea.
In treating of European policy and
events, it would certainly be more conve
nient to assume that the Emperors o.
France and Austria, and the King of Sar
dinia are wellmeaning gentlemen, with
no wish to 60 to war for the sake of th'
doubtful glory that would accrue from
success; but rather sincerely desirous t.
preserve the peace of Europe if it can be
done upon terms fair to themselves. 1t il
not probable that either of them is totally
free from prejudice; nor that feelings Of
ambition and rivalry do not enter in tc
complicate the real causes of difficulty
Each looks upon the case from his OWL
standpoint; and, doubtless appears tc
himself to be in the right; and thus ques
tions which any fres-born American citi
zen with nothing but the Immortal Dec
laration Of Independence" for his text
book, would take it upon himself to decid,
in half an hour, may, consistently will
the entire faithfulness Of the interested
but less enlightened parties, become tn
cause Of protracted and lamentable ho'
tilities.
1t has been the custom in the Unite
States, for several years past, to look upol
the government of the Austrian Empir
as excessively harsh and arbitrary. Wit
our American notions of popular freedom
and the memory Of the late insurrectiol
in Hungary, this can hardly be otherwise
and yet there is no reason to doubt tina
the ruling powers of that country desire t.
render their administration kind and pa
rental, and think that they are successful
"our policy" said MErrERNIcH, when a
the head of the Austrian State, "is to ex
tend all possible happiness to the who'll
population; to administer the laws patri
archially; TO prevent their tranquility
from being disturbed. If they are in
jured in persons or property they have
immediate and unsxpensiye redress be
fore our tribunals; and neither l nor any