The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-17

ratiOns for the Coming Struggle
The advices brought by the Jura, although
they add but little that is positive TO our pre-
yio1s information, still tends to confirm the
impressions we have formed as to the immi-
nency of European war. The Danubian
PriDcipali,ies question has again assumed
critical aspect, arising out oil The independent
action of the Roumains themselves, who'
Rotcontent with electing Hospodar OF lhell
own choice, have taken upon themselves 10
declure the union Of the MoldaviGn and wal
lachan provinces. II, as is Spprehended'
Turkish and Austrian force is marched into
the Principalities to reverse these proceed
inqs, we have again raised one of the chic
issues on which Louis Napoleon bases his
complaints against the government otFran'
cis Joseph, and which has served him as
uretext for the formidable military and naVal
preparations in which he is engaged. IS
thought that England will support Turkey
and Austria on this question: butt putting
aside the natural sympathies Of her people
with the cause Of the Roumuns, it does not
appear to US at all likely that she Will breaS
off from The French alliance for such cause.
! In The course which he has taken on the
Principalities question, the French Emperor
has no doubt assured himself that she Will
not attempt to prevent his checking Austrian
encroachments in that quarter. Besldes'
the sacrifices made by Great Britain in the
Crimean war cannot be thus lightly cast
aside, and fresh ones incurred for what 10,
after all, but mere sentiment. Were the
DERBY government disposed to take such
course, it is not probable that the English
people would tolerate this second attempt OF
Austria to crush the efforts of people VINO
are CALAMITY asserting their right OF sell
government, and with whom, in reality she
has neither legal nor prescriptive right
to interfere.
But menancing as this question is to the
peace of Europe, it is but secondary in dan
ger to the exasperated state OF feeling which
exists between the governments and people
of Austria and France, and the attitude Of
France in regard to them. However adrot
NAV be the public declarations of Louis Ma
; poeon-however tranquilzing to easily sat-
isfied minds his protestations OF desire to
} maintain peace-WC cannot shut our eyes to
} the fact that every act Of his points 10 dlt-
} ferent conclusion. Whilst, for instance,
'NO'S
: has received warning, on the remonstfance
of the Austrian Ambassador, for its lulmlna'
. tions against his government, on the other
! we learn that tho French Chambers OF Conn
t merce have had notification to abstain from
expressing their wishes in favor of peace
Add TO this the fact that military preparations
: are being continued with the utmost urgency,
and that orders have just been issued to place
the whole army Of Lyons on war footing
I with its equipages de cGmpagne and other heI(
| material, and we can have no better com
mentary on the sincerity Of Louis Napoleon's
e recent professions.
Admitting, however, for argument sake
that the Emperor is disposed to prevent mat
> ters from reaching the criis of war, it is
question whether he will long be able to d'
d 80. The speech to Count Cavour in th'
i Sardinirn Legislature must have convinced
all Europe by this time that rupture VIII
Austria is an event that cannot be mucl
longer postponed. 1t is stated by the TuriI
correspondent of the London Times that TIN
olan OF Victor Emmanuel and his adviser
is to drive The Austrian troops out OF Italy
!, with the view of forming kingdom stron,
= enough TO resist Austria on the one han
:, "and France on the other" If this be ST
= then it is probable that, with or withou
France, Sardinia will provoke hcstiitieS
= trusting to the Italian national sentlInen
- alone for support 1t is not likely that Lou
. is Napoleon will remain an indifferent spec
= tator of su h events and thus, in spite
. himself, he will be drawn into the vorte1
, dragging " ith him those allied with him, {
- WHO dread his power.
Everything, therefore, tends to the col
:, clusoa that a war, and that of the most 10
a midable character, is close at hand. In spill
, of the efforts made to reassure the publ
a mind in the great commercial centres abroad
the same conviction seems to be everywhe!
!, esta bishing itself. However such an ever
,, is to be abstractedly depIored, we do NJ
: know, that we ourselves have any particulI
reason to regret it. Viewing the policy {
EnglaAd and France in connection with tn
Central and Southern portions OF this cont
nent, it is certain that, if something doe
|. not speedily occur to prevent the prosec,
k ton of their schemes there, we shall be dri,
/. en- into hostilities with those Powers for tn
protection of our own interests. If a Euro
. pean war can avert from US such necessit,
: and at the same time raise from the dust til
: down.trodden nationalties Of the Old Worlt
{ we own that we are neither sufficiently III
a selfish nor humanitarian in our notions I
whine over it when it comes.