The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-03-05

neral war, in which all Europe may be IN
volved before it is done with. Few of our
readers, however, we presume understand
who it is that proposes to fight, and what
the fight is to be about. On this subject we
shall attempt to throw little light.
That division of Europe embraced under
the general name of Italy, is subdividcd into
half dozen or more different petty king
doms or principalities. In the south is the
kingdom Of Naples, under the rule of the
infamous Bomba; next is Rome, Of which
the Pope is the temporal sovereign; then is
Sardinia, en- independent kingdom, under
the gallant Victor Emanuel; and finally is
Lomhardy, with Venice, Padua. Verona, &c.
noa, and other smaller principalities or duke
doms, which are subject to the overshadow-
ing House of Austria.
The King of Sardinia, besides being an
able man and gallant soldier, is very ambi-
tieus, and the climax Of his aims is to unite
all I.aly into one kingdom, and place him
self at the head. To accomplish this, be
must Of course Sight Austria, Rome, and
Naples, an undertaking in which he is toe
shrsvd to engage single handed. An ALI
anee with France, however, would give ve-
~ different phase to the probabilities oil
success, and there were many reasons to in
cline Napoleon to look favorabiv on the pro-
pssal for such an alliance. France had ma
nv reasons not to love Austria. Tie French
occupation OF Rome was not calculated to
Then France, ever since the fall Of Napoleon
in 1915, has been jealous of the loss of her
power in Italy and the absorption of so
great share Of it by Austria. Besides in
the conflict with Russia, few years ago,
Austria stood aloof, afraid to declare on Ell
Their side, while Sardinia joined the Anglo
French alliance, and sent large contingent
of money and troops TO the Crimea.
But whether for these, or fer whatever
reasons, there is no doubt but the Sandman
Court have succeeded in obtaining the pro-
mise of sympathy and aid from France
What the details of the bargain are, Is not
known; but the recent marriage of the
Prince Napoleon, man of nearly 90, ttas6
and enervated by life Of indulgence, with
the Princess Clotlda, only child of the kirg
of Sardinia, girl Of fifteen, was dictated by
considerations having little to do with the
tender passion. 1t is evident there must
have been high inducements Of political
nature on both sides. The solution proba-
big lies in these facts. Sardinia is under the
Salic law, which prevents females succeeding
to the throne; Victor Emanuel has no son
who could succeed him and nothing pre-
vents him from appointing the husband of
his daughter heir to his throne
The aims of France and Sardinia thus ca
silly harmonse. Victor Emanuel would be-
come King Of United Italy, and the success
sion would be secured to a Napoleon.
As to the success of the scheme, the
chances are certainly in its favor. The pre-
sent military occupation of Rome by the
French leaves little to be done in that i'm
portant section of Italy. Naples would fol-
low Of course, not only with the concur
renee OF its own people, who are ripe for re-
volt, but with the hearty consent of all civil
lied nations And 1.-THE Of the army
France can at any time place in the field at
a days notice, if sent to the aid OF the King
OF Sardinia, would soon enable him to drive
Austria out Of Northern Italy. England, in
the present state Of her relations 20 France,
would in all probability stand neutral; while
Russia, it is believed, would sooner aid
France than Austria. Thus with none of
the great powers to interfere, and with the
long smothered national spirit of Italy.
see,hing and anxious to throw off the Aus
TRAN and Bourbon yoke and join the stand
ard Of Victor Emanuel, the war would pro-
mise TO be one of short duration. The only
danger of a general European war arising
out of the conflict lies in the chances of
rising in Hungary, Sclavonia, and some of
the German States, which might lead to ma
ny important complications.