, 1859-04-04
THE war QUESTION IN EUROPE.

tics show high probability Of wnE, and fur
ther than this, war Of almost certain success
10 Louis Napoleon and his coadjutors in Italy.
It is seen that the preparations SO vigorously
prosecuted for moro than three months, are
lcing carried forward more vigorously than
ever These movements are costing more
money than auy potcntate can afford to spend
in chiid's play Furthermore, they have reacls.
ed that point where neither party can withdraw
without degradation in their own eyes and thu
eyes Of The world And in addition to all, the
revolutions Of the past few wecks disclose thu
fact that Napoleon has intended war from The
beginning, and that rather than accept any
arbitration which docs not concede nli lis de-
1uands he will make bis own terms on tie
plains of Lombardy.
Whatever may be said Of this mans moral
qualities-in fact he has nouc-currcnt events
are showing him to possess high degree Of
political sagaciir. he essays the task Of cz-
pell'ns al foreign rule but his own from Italy.
He proclaitns the nationality and independence
VI A4ht9l AAlsEDtG4AtA oAtIsE LII ElUtCIltul
is popular one. 1t enlis,s in dcgrcc the
.sympathies Of the masses Of Europe. Though
purely selfish and unworthy III its originator,
it takes hold on the people, The only power
with which lie has tn cope is the despotism Of
Austria and such petty dcspotisms Of Ger
many as may be encouraged or drasooned into
the fight by Austria England, rs Lous Ma
poleon well knows will never enter heartily
into war whose end is tile strengthening Of
Austrian tyranny in Lonlbardy and Venice.
Papal tyranny in Rome and Bourbon tyranny
IN Naples. 1t is more than doubtful whether
Lord Derby would stake his Ministerial
dignitlcs on the issue Of carrying Eng
land into such strife. 1t il more th,n
probable that Palmcrstou would turn the
tables on him at the first division in tie
House Of Commons Tho port Of Chcrboure,
whose enormous defcnecs frown aeainst
southampton across the channel was not for-
tilted last summer for tho idle purpose Of IN
aggressive war upon England. Its guns
though pointed to the 1slc Of Wight were ac-
tua1ly ranged upon Lombardy. They were
planted as hostages for the neutrality Of Eng
land in conflict which was then hidden iu
the breast Of the imperturabble master Of the
Tu1leries. While the London Times Was pre-
saging havoc On the English coast from this
vnst roadstcad, its builder was planning havoc
beyond the Alps. 90.
The only remnining power in Europe enti-
tied to be consulted, was Russia-all Of whose
anteccdcnts pointed 70 corporation with Aus
tria against any democratic tendencies in 1talr,
Hungary or elsewhere. But strangely enough,
Russia seems to bo either neutral in
the premises, or openly favorable to
France and Sardinia. Neutrality in
that quarter is equivalent to IN alliance
with the enemies Of Austria While tue lat
ter is straining every nerse to put her ormy
on war footing, Russia cripples her by for
bidding The expiration Of 1l@ees sinrilta-
neous1y the leading Journals Of tho empire cx-
press doubts whether the assumption that the
Cabinet Of st. Petersburg a:e prepared to as
siBt the Germanic powers in the present emer-
goncy, is well founded. Thus to al appear
anees the batde is between France Sardinia
and the Italian people, with the mconccaled
sympathies Of the masses Of Europe On the one
hand, and the House Of Hapsbugh and half a
dozen Of its German branches on the other.
Who can doubt the issue Of such conflict?