Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-26
The European War-Position Of the Con-
tending Powers.

war as now threatens Europe. That it will
lntiict lncalculaUIe misery upon millions Of men,
is inevitable. That it may upro0t existing
dynasties, destroy political divisions that have
been the work of centuries, and reconstruct
the mapOf Europe, is not improbable. That
it may give to the dOwn-troddcn nations Of the
Old World extended political liberty and Snb-
stantial rewards fer the terrible evils which the
strife, let it result as it will, mn>t entail upon
them, is possible. If the latter end is accom-,
pliShed, the war will serve a useful and bcue
ficent purpose if it is not, it will prove, like
many bloody struggles which have prccededit,
but another carnival Of fiendish carnage, dis
graceful to the character, anf unworthy Of the
dignity, of man.
The. immediate parties to the war are France,
Sardinia, and Austria, and the immediate pre-
text for it is the Italian policy Of the two lat
ter Powers. Italy, long the cynoSnre Of the
world-thOu9h she has given birth to the
greatest giants of the human race, and eXcrcS-
ed agreater influence upon human destiny than
any other portion Of the globe-now lies bleed
ing, PROSTATE and helpless, u mere dependant
upon the whimS and capriceS of nations which
were once her ahject provinces Among her
States. Sardinia has for some years past shone
pre-emincnt for the wisdom and libcraty of
her government. 70 all her Just popular con-
ceSsionS Austria has been strongly opposed
She has ruled her italian domnonS by deSpo-
tic power, and curbed the aspirations of her
oppressed subjects by the stern hand of military
rule, and by savage crucltieS diSgracefu 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 4 eSpotiSm in the
Italian States, endangCr the Continuance OF
Austrian control over It's victims. The Ans
trian monarchy has always been distinguished
for the tenacity of its hold upon its possessions.
1t clutches every inch Of territory that it can
acquire by force or fraud, with the dctermna-
ton of an old mSer in boarding mp his prCciouS
gold and the feelings, or the rights of the
people who nhabt its provinces, are no more
respected than if they were mere beasts upon
the fields over which it holds dominion In
the present war, the whole royal family OF
Austria is said TO cordially concur.
In Frame, the war is the most popular move
ment that Lonis Napoleon ever made. With
him war of some kind is to some extent,
necessity, to crafty the martial pride Of his
country and he certainly could not have en-
gagged in one that would have been more con-
genial to the feelings Of his country. As the
French troops are marshaed to the seat of
war the recollection Of the triumphS of the
great Child Of Destiny upon the same theatre
is recalled, and their renewal eagerly and con
fidenty anticipated. in the war of France
and England against Russia, Sardinia, Instead
Ofactingthe selfish and cowardlypart of Austria,
actively participated in the struggle, and her
brave troops shared in the glories of the me,
morabe campaign in the Crimea. This claim
to French sympathy has been further strength
ened by the matrimonial alliance between the
daughter of the King Of Sardinia and Prince
Napolean. Thus, France is in an admirable
position to command the SympathieS ofhrr peo-
pie, and to excite her troops to the display of
those mighty energies, and of that wonderful
military skill, which have repeatedly elected
the astoniShment and admiration Of the world
Russia naturally feels anxious for revenge
against Austria for her duplicity during the
Crimean war, after the Russian troops had as
sisted to crush the Hungarion rebellion and
she also, probably, has ulterioT objects
In SPAN, the Influence of Louis Napoleon
has long been of dominant character. 1t is
scarcely possible that she could 10y any means
be induced to enlist against him in the present
conflict. II she acts at all, she will be more
apt to exert herself in his favor than against
him f; indeed, one of the prevailing fears in
England is that she has already entered into
a secret compact with France and Russia.
In England, the public mind has been ter
ribly exercised by recent events The popu-
lar sentiment OF the country demands neutrali-
ty in the contest and when it is recollcctcd
what an immense debt she has incurred by her
former interference in continental politics. and
how little benefit has been realized by her peO
pie from the extraordinary expenditures to
which they have been subjected, wisdom seems
clearly to dictate that she should not become
an active participant in the struggle 1t is
natural that her statesmen should have made
efforts to prevent the war, for it is one in which
she can gain but little, while she may lose
much In no quarter Of the world has a more
active sentiment against Austrian crueltes and
barbarities in italy prevailed, yet the same
time have long regarded the preservation of
the Austrian Government as necessary safe
guard to the balance OF power in Europe, and
many Of them consider a combination between
two such powerful natiouS as France and Rus
sia, inmcal to the safety Of their own fast
anchored isle. e."-Phiiad Press.