The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-17
The War In Eur0ps-EHect Of Napoleon,s
Presence In Italy.


Presence In Italy.
The arrival Of the Arago Off Cape Race. and
of the Nova Scotian at River du Loup, places us
possession of one days later intelligence from
Europe. lis chief feature is the proclamation of
war by France in the Monteur of the Sd of Nav
with the accompanying announcement that Louis
Napoleon would place himself at the head of the
army.
The presence Of the Emperor on the theatre
of war will give an immense impulse to the
revolutionary movement throughout the PENN
sula. Already before the French troops have
had time to arrive in sufficient force to afford
them support, two Of the duchess Tuscany aud
Parma, have unfurled the standard of Italian in.
dependence, and expelled their puppet soye
| reigns. Thus Louis Napoleon takes up the ball
Of revolution at the point where it was arrested
by Lamartine's famous manifesto in 49, and sets
| it again rolling Lamartine killed the French
republic and crushed the hopes of the friends
of Italian freedom by that suicidal proclamation.
Accustomed only to the language Of sentiment.
and inexperienced in that of olitics, he did not
perceive the full force of the phraseology which
he employed. In declaring tina. France respect
cd the rights Of existing governments whilst it
proclaimed the brotherhood of oppressed nation
alities, he virtually told the world that the re-
public did not mean to disturb any of the terri.
torial arrangements which had produced the
| evils with which he and his colleagues pro.
fessed to sympathize. Such declaration. ema
mating from government which was in itself
one OF the first fruits of the upheavincs of that
memorable year, could not fail to exercise a
discOuraging influence on the movements I'M.
tiated in Italy and Germany. Their authors all
looked to France, the great focus of the reyolu-
| tionary sentiment for moral countenance. if not
for support; but instead Of that they were met
10y the cold shoulder and phrases which, if thew
meant any thing, were intended only to convey
tranquillizing assurances to the mind, of the
European despots. The result, we need not add,
was to destroy the confidence and paralyzc the
energies of the liberals all over the Continent
Before the revolution had half run its course re-
action had commenced and this was completed
by individual cowardice and treachery
Had the provisional government in France re-
manned true to the instincts which gave it BIRTH
there can be no doubt that the movements of
1913 would have led to sweeping changes in the
political arrangements of Europe. Conducted
however, by poets, philosophers and sucking
statesmen, their only result was to adjourn for
while the decision Of the struggle that was then
commenced.
The present ruler Of France comnrehends
better the necessities and duties of bis posit;on
A practical statesman, instead of poet and NH.
losopher, he has carly seen the advantages that
were to be gained to French interests and to his
own by advocating the cause of italian liberty.
From the Italian revolutionists, or rather from
the red republican portion of them, arose one
Of his chief dangers; for 20 long as he was sup
posed to sustain misgovcrnment in the Roman
States he might expect that the knife of the as.
sassln would be at his throat To crush out the
hopes OF the Mszzini party and to render his
death valucless to them as a political object it
was obviously his policy to support the move