New-York daily tribune., 1859-05-18
FAIR PROFESSIONS.

The circular of Louis Napoleon Of the 9th OF
April addressed, through his diplomatic agents. to
the Governments Of Europe also his address oi
the Sd Of May to his Corps Legi'latif, show the
Emperor fully conscious of and exceedingly anxious
10 say the suspicions 50 generally entertained as
to the motives and ultimate objects Of lis uteryen-
tion in ths affairs of Italy In the circular he en-
deayors to make out that in the matter OF tins m
terycniion he has all along moved only IN cooJnnr-
ton with England, Prussia aud Russia, all OF
whom he represents equally dissatisfied
with himself at the condition Of Italian afiirs,
equally convinced Of the dangers arising
from the discomfort and underhand agitation
prevailing there and equally intent upon prevent
ing by prudent precaution, an inevitable Crisis.
But when he refers, as proof to Lord Conveys
mission TO Vienna the Russian proposal Of II Con-
grcss. aud the support given by Prussia to these
movements, be- seems to forget that, instead OF
having Italy for their priular! object, what those
measures locked TO and what originated them was.
the threat, ned breach bet aecn Austria and France,
compared with which, Italian discomfort and sgi-
tion sal into insgnifcnuce.
Ii was only the sudden development OF peculiar
interest Oh the part of Napoleon i'll Italian affairs
that gave the Italian question any pressing impor'
lance in the ewes Of the other European Powers.
Though Austria has been the first to commence
hostilities the fact still remains that but for en-
couragement given by Napoleon to Sardinia, IN
Which neither Prussia nor England concnrred, and
the steps taken by her in consequence, there Is no
reason whatever To suppose that hostilitlcs would
have commenced So far from merely offering
the cooperation of France 10 settle amicab. III con-
junction with the other Powers the matters in
dispute between Austria and Sardinia, the fact can
not be got rid of that 1t was not tili France
had made herself substantially party to
that quarrel that the other Powers felt
themselves called upon tu take any deep IT.
and then not as an Italian but as Il European ques-
ton. The very circumst ,nce that France alone
feels called upon 10 protect Sardinia against Aus
trian attack cuutradicS the position which 1t Is at
tempted to establish. that upon this question OF
italian affairs France has only been acting IN coop
Grafton with the other Powers. Both in this DIS
patch. and in his address Ia the Legislative Corps,
the French Emperor dscaims with great earnest
hess all personal ambition, all desires oi conquest
apy wish to establish French influence in Italy.
He would have it believed that he deyotcs himself
excusi,el, to the establishment of Italian indc-
pepdebce and 10 the Ietsiablishment OF that bal
ancc OF power disturbed by the prePonderance of
Austria. Those who remember the professions
which the Emperor made and the oaihs which he
took as President of the French Republic, will
harcly be inclined to place implicit confidence in
his mere declarations: and even these very at
tempts of his to quiet the fears and disPel the sus
piciops of Europe contain suggestions well calcu'
lated t. have a contrary effect.
That Louis Napoleon is at this moment sincerely
desirous 10 prevent, on the part oil tngiand anu
Germany, any interference with his war against
Austria, nobody can doubt; but that is very far