Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-08-03
From the London Times, July H.
THE HISTORY OF THE ARMIsTICE.


At nine o clock this (MondayJ morning, the two
EmpeIors Of France and Austria are to meet at Will
aranca, Napoleon having expressly desired this
friendly interview The armistice, which took the
world by surprise on Friday, was agreed to by these
two principals without the intervention Of their
ministers, and it is not impossible that even the
outline of peace may be settled in the same I'M
ceremonious manner. 1t is a course Of proceeding
Uhich offers great adrant0ges to tie mare sngncious
anu The stronger Of the tWo negotiatOrs The arm
istce was the result of letter from the Emperor of
the French and courteous reply from the Emperor
OF Austria; but the public mind, excited by the
sudden cessation of the great din of war; is still anX
lously asking for or imagining occult Causes and
dramatic incidents in so expected an event The
cause is undoubtedly conviction in the mind of
the Emperor that suspension of hostilities is at
this moment OF time very convenient and very ex-
pedcnt to himself. With this conviction it is not
very difficult to find means of opening cores
pondence. Louis Napoleon accordingly wrote to
Francis Joseph regretting the necessity he found
himself under of bombarding Venice. Everything
was prepared, the fleet was quite ready to begin,
but the tender heart of the French Emperor could
not bear the emotion which the possibility of DAM
age to that beautiful city caused him. For himself,
his most earnest desire to spare that interesting
monument of mediGval civilization He put it to
ms Imperial enemy-Could nothing be done to avert
this dire necessity?
This was respectable excuse for an overture
from the victor, and it was at the same time de-
cent pretext to the vanqushed To Francis Joseph
must have come like water to a wounded soldier It
came at a moment when he had no longer any con-
ndence IN his army, and when his army had no
confidence, in him. He could not sue for peace and
holi his throne; but truce is different thing
Iruces are merely military arrangements, which are
sometimes followed by renewal of war, as thew
ind xrhor,
to mark the change from Austrian defeats to Aus
TRAN victories. A truce was salvation to Francis
Joseph: lie accepted it with a coyness that i'll
masked ms delight and with an attention to appear
ances which Napoleon, with future objects in his
head, might not be sorry to humor.
There are reasons lying upon the surface why the
emperor OF the French should desire to close the
first chapter OF his military career The campaign
is complete and uncheckered in its success T6e
Austrians had invaded the territory of his allv -.
Louis Napoleon has chased them out, and has reta-
lated their invasion. The German had declared
throughout all their non official organs that thew
would come to Austrias assistance Immediately the
French crossed the Mincio. Louis NAPOLEON strucl
q great blow, and then passed the Mincio in com.
Pete tranquility He has done all that he desired.
ne mas SHOWN austria that she is at his mercy, and
Prussia that he is very far from fearing her Mnch
more than this, he has sent Austrian standards r.
Paris, and has gained victories at the head of q
french army. In all his previous history he never
could be quite sure of the sodiery, for he had moi
shown himself soldier; now he is safe IN this re
spect What more natural than that the Empero,
should desire to 60 back to Paris and wear his lau
res while they yet are green. Surely this is bette
than risking reverse in that i'll famed Ouardr;Iao
ral thousand things might happen. Thes
pestilent marshes of the Mncio are rife in autumn,
fevers, and of these might prove more fatal thai
battle. Why should he wait to break his teet1