The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-04
The Coming War.

In making their commercial or political ar
rangements for the future, our citizens would do
well to take into their calculations the war agita
ton which is now shaking Europe. and which,
ere long, will be succeeded by the dread reality
itself, destined to convulse the continent and it's
islands to such an extent and such degree
as the world has not witnessed since Bona
parte, nearly half century ago, played his sub.
lime part and made his exit from the stage. The
premonitory tremblings and rumblings of the
earthquake are already felt and heard. The
combustible materials beneath the surface are
beginning to come into collision, and soon the
terrible upheaving and the grand explosion will
astonish the age.
The present Emperor of the French will fol-
low the role Of bis uncle, under altered circum-
stances, with new generation, but with almost
the same enthusiasm which had before conquered
nearly all Europe. Popular liberty has made
great progress since then among the nations of
Europe, including England, whose old decayed
aristocracy, enlisted in the cause of the Coburgs
is every day retiring before the assaults of the
fresh and vigorous democracy; and the dnetrinn
Of Legitimacy" or the kingly right of heredi-
tary descent, by which the crowned conspirators
Of the Congress Of Vienna got rid of NapoleonI.,
who was the choice Of the people, is no longer
available to dethrone and Danish into exile the
nephew, who holds his throne by the same title
as the uncle.
The first act of the drama has been performed
in the Crimea, by which Napoleon I'LL has re-
duced two Of the great Powers of Europe-Rus-
sia and England-to the second place in the
scale Of nations. His next move-and it is o
bold one-is to bring down to the same level the
only remaining first rate Power, Austria. The
second act of the drama will open in Italy, the
scene Of the first brilliant triumphs of the elder
Napoleon. Other fields, in rapid succession, will
receive "the red rain which makes the harvest
grow" Already the parvenu is the first poten-
tate in Europe. He will soon be something less
or something more. If he has less of genius
and of the highest order of talents for q great
general which distinguished the hero Of Auster-
ltz, he excels him in tact and the art of diplo-
macy In the coming struggle he has secured
the neutrality of Russia, and probably the active
sympathy Of England, even to the removal of
her present Prime Minister from Office The
tread of his battalions will soon shake the
plains of Lombardy and Venice, the fair garden
of Italy, and the opening roarof the new cannon
which he is now casting at vincennes will spec
Oily reverberate from the Alps and the Ape
mines in the awakened ear of Europe His posi-
ton, which he so clearly defines, is the very
same as that Of Napoleon I. He stands midway
between revolution and anarchy, and levelling
proletarian sansculottism on the one side, and
exclusive class privileges Of hereditary nobility
and the divine right ofkings on the other. Hei
the great champion and exemplar of national in
dependence and Of democracy suited to the times
and to the atmosphere of Europe. He contends for
the right Of every nation to choose its own rulers
and adopt it's own form of government. And this
grand essential of human freedom is denied to q
large portion of the Italian people. Aus
trian oppression is driving them to revolu-
ton, and to extremes beyond the principles Of
moderate democracy. To prevent this sweeping
revolution, and the anarchy consequent upon 1t,
is the avowed design Of Napoleon. He will an
ticipate the stroke by striking the first blow
himself He will therefore appear in highly
favorable light to the nations Of Europe-the
friend alike Of freedom and order. This Is q
grand stroke, worthy Of the actor of the coup
d'ka.
Every steamer now, therefore, that comes from
Europe, will henceforth be looked for with great
anxiety; and those who are engaged In CONNER
cial or political affairs, who contemplate such
transactions In the future, will act unwisely Il
they do not, In making their arrangements, take
into account the tempest Of war which is about
to sweep the italian peninsula and the whole
Continent of Europe.
THE New OPPOSITION MOVEMENT IN vm-
GNIA--THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER BEFoGoEp.-
Speaking of the new opposition organization in
Virginia, the Richmond Enquirer says that this
organization is an old affair; that 1t was moi