The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-12
WASHINGTO9F CITY.
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY Ne. 1858.
EUROPEAN POLITICS THE slNEws OF WAR.

commercial classes, and one or two Of the most
powerful governments OF the European eonfederacy,
having set their faces against war, and threatened
those rulers who seemed anxious TO disturb the pub
lie peace with the punishment due to the violation
of treaty obligations and the subversion of law aud
authority it would now seem that the effort TO find
"a satisfactory solution of the difficulty honorable
TO all parties concerned" is nearly certain TO be
cessful; and that the Emperor Napoleon having
tried his strength, convulsed the courts and money
markets of Europe, startled the people from the re-
pose of peace, and given his needy courtiers OPP
portunity-of which, by all accounts, they have berr
orally ayaed themselves to fill their empty pockets
at the stock exchange is content to forego the
joyment he promised himself in CELEBRATING Italy"
The fact is, however that although France is
quite willing to bully Austria and Austria is by no
means reluctant 10 defend herself and her suprema-
cy in Italy against the nephew of 'the Corsican ban
dit, Z" aud although Victor Emanuel of Sardinia is
eager for an opportunity of distinction and the ex
tension Of his little kingdom, If France and Russia
viii support him, none of the three can afford
not be carried on without abundant supplies, and
France Austria and Sardinia of all the nations in
Europe, are the least in position TO obtain these
supplies Austria is in the market now or loan
to enable her to meet the ordinary expenses of her
government. SARDINIA was obliged to borrow from
England the money necessary to move her contn-
gent TO the Crimea and cannot now sustain her army
without resort to loans or insuerable taxation of
her subjects France is loaded with debt and can
1, Al, a,A
industrial classes need repose; they have much bor
rowed capital employed in railroads and other great
works, and they know that at the first blast of the
heralds of war all these enterprises must be aban-
dened, and therefore become almost worthless.
Thus the necessary expense of civilized warfare
becomes the most efectual check upon the ambition
of aggressive rulers AS civilization advances,
becomes more expensive In ancient times all fighting
men were required to be fully equipped with their
bows and arrows but in this age of Minnie rifles Lam
caster guns Colts revovers, and other costly materel
of destruction the equipment of an army is very
expensive luxury, which the industrial classes-the
men who pay--are strongly disinclined to afford
their sovereign unless the sacrifice is required for
the defence of their hearths and liberties when
every patriot is ready to risk his life and fortGae
on the issue of the fight, and when surrender and
disgrace become synonymous
Whether Austria displays too much interest in
Servian politics. or whether the Italian people are
down-trodden and abused bya despot who sits in
Vienna in Paris, is not subject calculated to in.
spire those who really bear the burdens of with
that spirit of selfsacrifce and patriotic devotion
which they feel when their country and their honor
are assaed. The idea of a united Iialy'-a people
unanimously determined to conquer their suprema-
cy and trusting in their strength and patriot
ism, win the freedom which they profess to prize so
much--is admitted to be chmera. The Ncapoli-
tan cannot be persuaded to consider the Pedmontese
as an Italian, aud the Roman cannot be induced TO
acknowledge that the Lombard is entitled to equal
citizenship with himself, There is no concord of
opinion as TO what government should be adopted
were the Ausrians driven out, the Pope dethroned,
and the two Siciies delivered from the blighting
rule of the Bourbons. There is party in favor of
proc!aming Victor Emanuel King of Italy there
is another party irreconcably opposed to any
such course, and strenuously in favor of
an Italian republic; and there is another par
ty in each Italian State--and this is numerically
a very formidable party--who think that each
province is entitled to declare for itself and be gov
erned as it chooses, without regard to Italian unity
war to regulate these differences overturn existing
governments and wipe out valid treaties, may well
startle moneyed men, and them, while locking
their strong boxes to excaim, Such war will not
pay. We may help to enable nations to fulfil their
honorable engagements, but we have no money for
Italian and Servian campaigns which can only lead to
bankruptcy and destruction.
If, then, Louis Napoleon or Francis Joseph be
never SO DESTROYS to draw the sword long those
who hold the purse-srings refuse to find the funds,
the explosive tendencies of these imperial gladators
viii be elfectually restrained. England says the
peace must be preserved" Prussia re-echoes this
cry, and adds, Austria shall not be dsmembered."
Under these circumstances, will Napoleon dare to OPP
pose the voice of Europe and the tendencies of
the ageY
1t is believed by large class Of intelligent Euro
peans that the movement Of Napoleon in Italy was
intended to divert public attention from other and
more substantial interests which be attained only
through an alliance with Alexander and that in
atty the Russian and French rulers arranging
descent upon Turkey, with view to early adj.
minissration upon the affairs of the sick mans
estate At this distance, regard the chances of
union of Napoleon and Alexander, with the purpose
Of dividing Turkey, far greater than the active