Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-05-20
The European War.-PositIen of the Cortendins
Powers.

No complication of human affairs could
be more exciting and tragic than such a
general war as now threatens Europe
That it will inflict incalculable misery
upon millions Of men, is inevitable. That
it may uprOot existing dynas,e., destroy
political divisions that have been the work
of centuries, and reconstruct the map Of
Europe, is not improbable. That it may
give 10 the down-trodden nations Of the
Old World extended political liberty and
substantial rewards for the terrible evils
which the strife let it result as it will,
must entail upon them, is possible. II
the latter end is accomplished, the war will
serve useful and benefcent perpose; if
1t is not, it will prove, like many bloody
struggles which have preceded it, bu: auo-
ther carnival Of feDdish carnage, disgrace
ful to the character, and unworthy Of the
dignity, of man.
The immediate parties TO the war are
France, Sardinia, and Austria, and the
immediate pre,ext for it Is the Italian po-
Icy of the two latter Powers. Italy, long
the eynosure Of the world-though she
has given birth to the greatest giants of
the human race, and exercised greater
influence upon human destiny than any
other portion Of the globe-now lies bleed
ing, prOstrate and helpless, mere depen-
dant upon the whims and csprices Of ma
,ioDs which were once her sbject pro-
viuces. Among her States, Sardinia has
for some years past shone pre-eminent for
the wisdom and liberality of her govern
ment. To all her just popular concessions,
Austria has been strongly opposed. She
has ruled her Italian dominions By despo-
tic power, and curbed the aspirations Of
her oppressed subjects BY the stern hand
Of military rule, and BY savage eruelties
disgrsceful to the age. Her principal
cause Of complaint against Sardinia at this
moment is, that the example of the latter,
and the sympathy she has shown to the
victims Of Austrian despotism in the I,al-
ian States, endanger the continuance of
Austrian control over its victims The
Austrian monarchy has always been dis
tinguished for the tenacity Of it. hold
upon its possessions. 1t clutches every
inch of territory that it can acquire by
force or fraud, with the determination of
an old mi,er in boarding up his precious
gold; and the feelings, or the rights Of
the people who iDhabit its provinces, are
no more respected than if they were mere
beasts upon the fields over which it holds
dominion. In :he present war, the whole
royal family Of Austria is said to cordially
concur.
In France, the wa. is the most popular
movement that Louis Napoleon ever made
With him war Of some kind is to some
extent, necessity, to crafty the martial
pride Of his country aud be certainly
could not have engaged in one that would
have been more congenial to the fee lings
of his country. As the French troops are
narsballed to the seat Of war the recollec-
ton Of the triumphs Of the great Child Of
/ Destiny upon the same theatre is recalled,
and their renewal is eagerly and confident
ly anticipated. In the war of France and
England against Russia, Sardinia, instead
of acting the selfish and covardly part of
Austria, actively participated in the s,rug-
/ gle, and her brave troops shared in the
glories Of the memorable campaign in the
Crimea. This claim to French sympathy
has been further strengthened By the ma
trimonial alliance between the daughter of
the King Of Sardinia and Prince Napo-
lea. Thus, France is in an admirable
position to command the sympathie. of
her people, and to excite her troops to the
display Of those mighty energies, and of
that wonderful military skill, which have
repeatedly elected the ast0ni.hment and
admiration of the world.
Russia naturally feels anxious for re.
veDge against Austria for her dupIicity
during the Crimean war, after the Rus.
sian troops had assisted to crush the Hun
garian rebellion and she also, probably,
nas Interior opJecIs.
In Spain, the Influence Of Louis Napo-
leon has long been Of a dominant charac-
ter. 1t is scarcely possible that she could
by any means be induced to enlist against
him in the present conflict. II she acts
a, all, she will be more apt to exert her
self in bis favor than agaius, him indeed,
one of the prevailing fears in England is,
ths, she ha. already entered into secre;
compact With France and Russia.
In EngIand, the public mind has been
terribly exercised BY recent events. The
popular sentiment Of the country demands
neutrality in the contest; and when it is
recollectsd what an immense debt she has
incurred by her former interference in con.