The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-25

ness, her aspirations in behalf Of a constitutional
form of government throughout the Italian provn-
sula may yet be satisfied if the Italian people evince
determination to free themselves from Austrian
rule. The withdrawal of the foreign legiops
from the Papal States cannot be effected with
safety to the local government unless popular dis
affection is conciliated by the introduction of those
reforms which have been so long demanded but
which, through.the paramount influence exerted by
Austria, have been hitherto persistenty withheld
This change in the administration of affairs would
of itself: compel Austria to adopt more liberal
course of policy in Lombardy and Venitia, and to
counsel the independent Italian Duchies to make
similar concessions. If no other advantages than
these were gained by the stand which has been ia
ken by France, and Sardinia on the Italian question
they might yet claim to have achieved solid tri-
umph. But the fruits of such victory ripen still
more effectually in after years For Austria to
have succumbed, at all either indicates sense of
weakness or a consciousness that even those who
were most friendly towards her were not disposed to
sustain her in her pretensons. In either case she
has lost prestige by eecng to retrace her steps, and
to surrender portion of the prerogatives to which
she has been accustomed to lay claim, rather than
confront the Powers arrayed against her. 1t has
been the good or evil fortune of Austria to have
built up large Empire chiefly by diplomacy; but
it is an Empire which is composed of such dscord-
ant materials, and is therefore, so utterly lacking
IN all the essential elements of nationality that its
power of cohesion is but slight, and its segregation
comparatively easy. Seventeen Millions or nearly
onehaf of her population is of Savonic origin and
six distinct races have been brought under her u-
risdiction. How formidable civil war becomes
under such circumstances, she experienced in
lS4s, when the victorious Hungarians advanced
to within six miles of Vienna and might have
dictated terms within the walls of that Capital,
if the armies of Russia had not FASTENED to refill
state kindred despotism. But Russia and Aus
tra are no longer on the old friendly footing and it
is not improbable that the appearance of Russian
corps of observation on the frontiers Of Gallica-
Austrian Poland-f,cilitated Lord CowLEY s recent
negotiations at Vienna. A correspondent of the
New York Herald writing from Vienna processes to
foreshadow the policy which Austria would have
adopted in the event of being forced into war
in defence of her Italian possessions That policy
we are told looked to declaration of the indepen-
dence OF Poland, and reconstruction of the old
Polish monarchy But for what purpose? To
hold Russia and Prussia in check during the pro-
gress of the war in Italy, says the Herald in its
comments upon the letter. Nothing could be more
absurd. Austria could not encourage the Poles
to raise the standard Of revolt without in
citing the Hungarians once more to assert their
independence. That the possession of Galcia
has been a source of weakness to Austria her
wiSest statesmen have acknowledged. On
more than one occasion they have expressed their
Willingness to restore the ancient Polish monarchy,
if it could be accomplished with the consent of
the European Powers, and by their agreeing to
exercise over the kingdom thus re reconstructed
joint protectorate. Under such an arrangement,
and justified by such guarantees, Poland would
be an effectual barrier against the westward ad-
vance of the Muscoyite. A declaration of Polish
nationality by Austria, alone, and at the outset
of war which might possibly have resulted in
her expulsion from Italy, could certainly never
have been contcmplated-for the moment such an
idea was seriously entertained, the Russians would
have swept across Gallicia, and extended their
present boundary to the Carpathian mountains
| But in times of great excitement, the most ex-
travagant rumorS obtain credence, and pro-
jects which were rejected as impracticable
under the most favorable circumstances,
are regarded as perfectly feasible when additional
difficulties are interposed. Austria unqueston-
ably has serious cause to regret the partition
| of Poland; but with all the repugnance which
MARIA THERESA is said to have evinced when the
proposition was first preached, she consented to
participate in the spoils. In 1895 FRANCIS II &C
cepted second portion of the dismembered King
dom and in 1916 FERDINAND l seized upon the
little Republic of Cracow, and incorporated it into
the Austrian Empire. From these repeated acts of
aggression it is evident that, although Austria re-
garded the original act of partition as grave err
ror, she was willing to soothe her grefs by extend
ing still further her jurisdiction over the devoted
territory, whenever favorable occasion enabled
her to do SO with impunity