Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-05-21
rME AUSTRIAN DECLARATION
OF WAR.
Imperial Manifesto.

Imperial Manifesto.
no MY PEOPLE.
have ordered my faithful and gallant army
TO put a stop to the inimical acts (dntsiadan- '
GEM which for a series of years have been
by the neighboring State of Sardi-
mia against the indisputable rights my crown
and against the integrity of the realm placed
by God under my care, which acts have lately
attained the very highest point (dgfthrem
hohenpunkte angelangf.) By so doing have
fulfilled the painful (schwere) but unavoida-
BILE duty of a sovereign. My conscience being
at rest, can look up to an omnipotent God,
and patiently await His award. With conf
dence leave my decision to the impartial
Judgment of cotemporaneous and future gem
erations. of the appreciation of my faithful
subjects am sure. More than ten years ago
the same enemy-violating international law
and the usages of war, and without any of
fence being given-entered the Lombardo-
Venetian territory with the intention of ac |
quiring possession oft. Although the enemy |
was twice totally defeated by my gallant army
and at the mercy of the victor, have behaved
generously, and proposed reconciliation
(reichte ale hand zW Uersohung.) | did not
appropriate 10 myself one inch of his terri |
tory. l encroached on no right which belongs
to the crown of Sardinia, as one of the mem
bers of tho European family of nations. |
insisted on no guarantees against the recur-
renee of similar events. The hand of peace
which in sincerity extended, and which was
taken, appeared to me to be sufficient guar
nntee. The blood which my army shed for
the honor and right of Austria sacrificed on
the altar of peace (dem trieden braehte Ich dds
blut meirer armee sum ooter.) The reward for
such unexample forbearance was an imme-
diate continuation of enmity, which increased
from year to year, and perfdious agitation
against the peace and welfare of my Lombar-
do Venetian kingdom. Well knowing what
precious boon peace was for my people and
for Europe, patiently bore with these new
hostilities. My patience was not exhausted
when the more extensive measures which
was forced to take in consequence of the rev.
olutionary agitation on the frontiers of Ital-
ian provinces, and with the same were made
an excuse for higher degree Of hostility.
Willingly accepting the well meant medta-
ton OF friendly Powers for the maintenance
OF peace, consented to become party to q
Congrdss of the five great powers. The four
points proposed by the royal government of
Great Britain as a basis for the deliberations
OF the Congress, were forwarded to my Cabi-
net, and | accepted them with the conditions
which were calculated to bring about a true,
sincere and durable peace. In the conscious
ness that no step on the part of my govern
ment could even in the most remote degree,
lead to disturbance ofthe peace, demanded
that the Power which was the cause of the
complication and had brought about the dan
ger of war should, as preliminary measure,
dissrm. Being pressed thereto by friendly
Powers, l at length accepted the proposal for
= general disarmament. The meditation failed
In consequence of the unacceptableness of the
conditions on which SARDINIA made her consent
dependent. Only one means of maintaining
peace remained. | addressed myself directly
to the Sandman government, and summoned
1t to place its army on peace footing and to
disband the free corps As Sardinia did not
accede to my demand the moment for deciding
the matter by an appeal to arms has arrived.
have ordered my vast army to enter Sar-
dinia. | am aware of.the vast Importance
of the measure, and if ever my duties as a
monarch weighed heavily on me il is at this
moment. War is the scourge of mankind.
see with sorrow that the lives and property
OF thousands Of my subjects are imperrilled,
and deeply feel what a severe trial war is for
my realm, which, being occupied with its in
ternal developments, greatly requires the CON
tinuance of peace. But the heart of the mon
arch must be silent at the command of honor
and duty. On the frontiers is an armed ell
envy, who, in alliance with the revolutionary
party, openly announces his intention to OBJ
tain possession of the dependencies of Austria
in Italy. To support him the ruler of France
who under futile pretexts (nichfige yorupnie)
interferes in the Legally established relatio ms
of Italion Peninsula-has set his troops in
movement. Detschments of them have al
ready crossed the frontiers of Sardinia
The crown which l receive without spot or
blsmish from my forefathers has already seen
trying times. The glorious history of our
country gives evidence that Providence, when
there is foreshadowing that the greatest
good of humanity is in danger of being over
thrown in Europe, has frequently used the
sword OF Austria in order to dispel that shad-
ow. We are again on the eve of such Pc
riod. The overthrow of the things that he is
not only aimed at by factions, but by thrones
The original cannot be rendered literally, but
its sense Is, that the present revolutionary
movement is caused by monarchs as well as
by private individuals.
The sword which have been forced tc
draw is sanctifed, inasmnch AS it is defence
for the honor and rights of all people and
States, and for all that is held most dear by
humanity.
To you, my people, whose devotion to the
hereditary reigning family, may serve as
model for all the nations of the EARTH now
address myself. In the conflict which has
commenced you will stand by me with your
oft proved fidelity and devotion. To Iyoui
sons, whom |, have taken into the ranks OF
the army, /, their commander, send my mar
tial greeting (scqfsn grass.) With pride you
with their support, soar high
Our struggle is just one, and we begin il
with courage and confidence. We hope, how.
ever, that we shall not stand alone in it. The
soil on which We have TO do battle was made
fruitful by the blood lost by our German breth-
rem, when they won those bulwarBs which
they have maintained up to the present day.
There the crafty enemies of Germany have
generally begun their game when they have
wished to break her internal power The
feeling that such danger is now eminent,
prevails in all parts Of Germany, from the
hut TO the throne-from one frontier to the
ether. speak as a sovereign member of the
Gsrmanic confederation, when call attention
20 the common danger, and recall to memory
the glorious times in which Europe had to
thank the general and fervent enthusiasm of
Germany for its liberation.
For God and Fatherland.
Given At my residence and metropolis oil
visnnA, on this 2sth day of April, 1859,
FRANCIS JOSEPH.