New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-30

frost ard SHOWS Of the Great ~ Bernard bur, into the
plains Of Piedmont. and oor,rved 10 place himseN be-
tween the Austrians and their bsSe Of operations.
Defeated in the decisive battle Of Marehgo. they
had no choice but TO surrender Italy. Louis Napo-
leon, we ae told, expects also to return in three
months, after having swept the Au-trians before him.
from the Mediteranea TO the Adriatc. lie does not
come like his uncle, bounding from tho Alpine
SUBMITS, to turn the position Of a surprised and dis
heartened adversary; but lands, after a few hours
smooth sailing, in the charming barber of Genoa, amid
flowers and boughs and popular applause, such as il
filter for the warrior who puts of than for hin who
dons his harness Like the First Napoleon, he has all
Italy to conquer but has not like him, been able to
the immense advantages bich made the tirst bat
tie gained decisive. He has to deal with enemy
wary and well used to war, possessing, indeed far
greater experience in active campaigning than any
other European Power. Whether deferred by the
tremendous fall Of rain which has followed their en-
trance into Italy, by the sraegical considerations
which caution them agaiust venturiDg too far into
country which offers many opporiu nities Of throw
ing a considerable force their line Of communica
tons the Austfans have stopped short the banks
of the Sesia and addressed themselves to the task Of
strengthening their position there. IL would seem
that their object in crossing the Ticino was purely de-
febsive; they have gained the advantage Of quarter
ing Their troops enemys country, and exacting
large contributions from their towns They are sur
rounded by the most fertile part Of Piedmont-a level
plain, admirably adapted for their excellent cavalry
and artillery, aud from this position they cannot It
would seem, be dslodged until they have fought and
lost great battle.
viii the bi.torical parallel hold l. the Third Ma
pOleOn one If those extraordinary geniuses whom
Nature produces at rare intervals, 20 be the scourge
the terror, aud the admiration Of maDkind7 Have we
right even TO presume that he il General Superior
to Massena who was unable to hold what Napoleon
was able to conquer ard reconquer All THE remains
TO be tested. AT present he would be very sangune
man who ventured TO endorse the confident prognost-
cations Of the Emperor, OF his fatterers. " must
never he forgotten that the best years aid most bril-
liant successes Of the First Napoleon those in
which he commanded all army scarcely larger than q
single division Of the present French and Austrian
hosts. Indeed il would a. if the increase OF his
numbers dmmeo in degree the brilliancy OF his
genius Marengo was the last triumph which he was
fated to accomplish with small forces. The wars OF
the Empire carried with much larger armies
and much greater sste Of human life, but each sue
ceeding triumph less brilliant and less decisive. Ey
woD won at all. The enormous forces employed afthe
Borodno gave no result equal to the carnage Of the
day; and at Lepsc, where the number was greatest
of all the reverse was the most complete. Will the
mind Of the present Emperor of the French-a man
not trained in csmpsprOve equal to the fearful prob
lem of directing in critical circumstances the motions
of such vast bodies of men, which seems to have
tasked to the utmost the gigantic faculties OF that sue
cessful soldier TO whom he his name and his En-
pire ! If it does the Third Napoleon will be entitled
to even greater military renOwD than tine First, for he
will have obtained without training that skill which
his uncle only acquired after excellent military edu
nation and several years of regular service. If not
will only be another instance of the presumption
which has induced Kings in all ages to believe that
the same fortune which made them Sovereigns has
made them soldiers and that the profession of arms Is
that be acquired without knowledge and with
out experience.