Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-08-03
THE PEACE IN EUROPE.

THE PEACE IN EUROPE.
That by the war now ended Napoleon Ill.
has considerably augmented his own prestige
and influence in Europe it is impossible to de-
ny though how much cannot yet BE- clearly
estimated. But that the independence and
freedom of Italy have gained anything no sane.
person can suppose. The Emperor of Austria
has, indeed, lost two millions and three-quar-
ters out of his five millions of Italian subjects
but with Fenetia he retains the four fortresses
of Mantua, Verona, Peschiera and Legnago-
a position whose strength Napoleon III. has
not thought best to prove; and these fortress
ses, and the army he has behind them, must
always render him the most formidable of Ital-
ian potentates. The territory and people which
Austria has lost Sardinia has gained; but at
what cost it is easy to perceive. She has gain
ed it at the cost of becoming satrapy of the
French Emperor instead of an independent
constitutional State. The freedom of Parlia-
mentary discussion and the liberty of the press,
which of late years have secured to that coun-
try an honorable distinction in Continental Eu-
rope, must now give way for such modes of
sspreseTving order'' and ssregulating the polit-
icsl passions OF the people as Louis Napoleon
may deem most convenient. In word, while
Italy passes under French instead of Austrian
domination, LON hardy will remain subject to
despotic system as before, and the liberties of
Sardinia will be substantially suppressed. In
deed, the Independence of Sardinia seems to
gotiations, of which, apparently, the govern
ment of Victor Emanuel knew nothing till
they were concluded. Such is the Imperial
French emancipation of Italy As for the
new Confederation, with the Pope at its head,
it is hardly worth while to discuss it until we
have more precise information concerning its
constitution. AS yet we do not know wheth-
er the Pope or the King of Naples will wish
to join it nor does it appear what disposition
is to be made of Tuscany, Modena and Parma,
all of which have recently sent off their sover<
eigns and put themselves under Sandman, or
| rather under Napoleonic protection. But,
| Judging from the success of Plus TX. in his
own dominions, it does not seem probable that
any confederation with him as its chief will
succeed in bringing about the political regen-
Grafton of Italy. However, let US hope to live
| and learn on tina. subject on others. ~
One of the London journals has remarked
that this peace is full of future wars and that
we think is true. A genuine settlement of It.
| ally, which would put an end to all foreign con-
| troll, and leave the people Of all its PROVINCES
| to choose their own mode of government, and
| their own officials, would no doubt conduce to
| the permanent peace of Europe but morning
could be more unlike such a settlement than
the one now agreed on. But peace is not what
| Napoleon Ill. aims at. He has various old
scores to settle. Russia and Austria he has
already humiliated but with Germany and
England the books of his family still show
how this balance is to be wiped off, it were
useless to conjecture /; but Napoleon III. has
now lost the power of surprising the world,
and he can make war on whomsoever he plea
ses, without exciting the public astonishment.
Of all the wars in his power, We suppose that
none could be SO popular in France as war
with England. Out of Sc, ,OO0, 900 of French
men, 81, 900, 900, to use moderate figure
would rejoice at the prospect of seeing their
eonqueriug armies in London. This may or
may not be the next act in the great drama,
on one of whose scenes the curtain has Just
| fallen in Italy; but the drama itself must go
on. The era of purely selfish war, of war for
power and glory, having been reopened, it
must be completed through all its phases. We
can only hope that Humanity may not be alto
! gether loser from the dreadful and revolving
| process.-N. Y. Tribune.
The Commercial Journal takes different
view of the Treaty of Peace. Venice, If saws.
is as much part of Italy as Lomba is and
it is further the stronghold of Austria on Ita
ly, for there are her fortified places. The ces-
sion of Venice to Francis Joseph is not uu-
qualified. 1t does not become a part of his
empire, and he is only King, not Emperor Of
Venice. She is to be member of the con-
federacy of Italy, and Francis Joseph is to
have only voice in the council with other l.
Italian rulers or princes. The Italian States
are to be formed into confederacy ssunder
the Pope as honorary President" with ssthe
States of the Church, included. This anom-
alous position, the Journal regards as a COM
promise, and that France has by it destroyed
the absolutism of the Pope-that the suprem-
acy of his temporal power is practically bro't
to an end, and that this may be regarded as
the sure forerunner of civil freedom through
out Italy.