The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-08
European OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and Austria
Drifting Into an italian War.

DIutAnS kntO uh At0llan war;
. be political relations of Europe have arrived
at stage Of complication from which it is diff
cult to foresee peaceable issue. It is not that
the Immediate causes Of misunderst anding are
impossible Of adjustment, but because there are
weightier interests in the background which ad-
NIT of no milder arbitration than the sword.
The pretext put forth by Louis Napoleon for
the immense military preparations which he has
set on foot will deceive no one who has attcn-
lively watched his course since 1852. With him
the nationality Of Italy and the independence of
the Moldo-W allachian provinces are but synony-
nous terms with the integrity of the Ottoman
empire. In principle be sympathizes with none
of them; for how can the man who treads under
his heel all the safeguards by which individual
liberty is surrounded in his own domnions, enter
tain any great feeling of concern for the suferings
of Italian patriots, the anomalous condition of the
Roumains, or the progress of liberal institutions
in Turkey. He uses them merely as means to an
end dictated by his own interests and those of
his dynasty. BY aiding the cause of liberalism in
those countries he secures three objects: he dverts
attention from the despotism Of his own political
system, he draws closer the bonds of the English
alliance, and he constitutes himself the political
afbiter Of the Continent. His course in regard
to Italy is but the natural sequence of the in
trigues which provoked the Crimean war. By
securing the alliance Of England on the one
hand, and neutralizing the power of Russia on
| the other, he has become the great controlling
influence in Continental affairs. In this he is
steadily pursuing the policy of his uncle, with
one important difference, however: that be
gains more by his diplomacy than the latter ever
to bully England into concurrence with bis
ambitious views, and fell in the effort His sue
| cessor, made wise by his example, contents him
self with appealing to the liberal sympathies of
her people; and notwithstanding the inconsis-
tency of his foreign and domestic policy he has
managed to do that which the great Emperor
would have given half his military triumphs to
effect-secured their friendship and support.
| With material people like the English, how
ever, liberal aninities would have but small
weight unless sustained by more selfish conside.
rations. What are the wrongs and suIerings of
Italy, what the oppression Of the Sclave popula-
ton, compared with the Importance of Great Bri-
tain's colonial and other foreign interests? 1t is
by consulting their views and wishes in these
latter respects hat Louis Napoleon has attached
the English people to bis fortunes. The under
standing seems to have grown up between them,
that so long as he concurs in their policy in the
| New World and in the East, so long will they
abstain from interfering with his movements on
the Continent.
1t is in this tacit compact that lies the danger
of the presen: complications in regard to Italy.
We know that vast military preparations are
being made in France, Austria and Sardinia:
that all efforts to arrange the causes of misuu.
derstanding that have led to them have as vet
proved inefiectual and that neither Great Bri.
tain nor Russia, the only Powers that can I'M
pose check on the designs of France are dis
posed to interfere Matters have, in fact, arrived
at the same critical point which, just previous to
the Crimean war, held the whole world in sus-
pense There is this difference however In the
aspect Of the two questions whereas at
that time the Emperor Nicholas might have re-
treated with honor from position which was
one of unprovokcd aggression, the Emperor
Francis Joseph cannot yield point of the de.
mands sought to be enforced against him by Sar-
DINA and France without abdicatng the rights
confirmed to him by the Congress of Vienna, and
by special treaties growing out Of that Congress.
If, therefore, the political and family alliance
between France and Piedmont, and the energetic
declarations of Count Cavour at the opening of
the Sandman Chambers, mean anything, nothing
can avert from the Continent the pers of war
which may change the whole face of its political
institutions
CONGRESSIONAL Observation-Disclosures existing
arrangements the elections for new House of
p...onona.ai..oa MorlL aud g1u4L ..-, ...II--