The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-11
The War Question In Europe.

The War Question In Europe.
We learn by the Arabia's advices that Lord
Cowley has been sent on mission of Cancellation
to Vienna, Or in other words, to back up Lord
Mamesbury's note recommending the evacua-
ton of Central Italy by the Austrians. From
this we conclude that the announcement that
Austria had agreed to submit this point to a
conference was premature, and that notwith-
standing the ministerial belief expressed in Par
Lament IN her concurrence she has not as yet
yielded formal assent to the proposal
We can readily understand why the Cabinet of
Vienna should exhibit so much reluctance to
accept this alternative. 1t touches the honor as
well as the interests of the empire, and consti-
tutes an admission of the charges made by its
enemies for their own purposes, and to some
extent in defiance of historical truth. But it is
not unlikely that the pressure from the other
Powers may induce her to take this step at this
time.
No one will suspect us of desire to defend the
system OF military terrorism pursued by the Aus
TRANS in Central Italy Its only excuse lies in the
peculiar position which they occupy in relation
to the Pontifical government, for in regard to
the security Of their Italian provinces ne
cessify affords no moral justification for it.
IT, independent of the former consideration.
they cannot preserve Lombardy without VIC
lating the faith of treaties and inaictng oppres-
sion upon States over which they have no politi-
cal rights, then the other Powers are justified in
calling upon them to retire within their own
boundaries. With regard to the grievance COM
planned of by Sardinia, that the positions which
they occupy on her frontier constitute perma-
nent source of danger for her, we dismiss it as
undeserving of a serious reply. All the world
appreciates the motive with which it is urged,
for it is obvious that the presence of the Aus
irians on those points forms one of the chief OBJ
stacles to the prosecution of schemes which are
as aggressive as this violation of territory.
When, therefore, we find Austria charged
with the continuance of this occupation
solely from selfish motives-when. further
more, we see her accused of being the
mainstay of the ecclesiastical despotism and
corruption which prevail in the Roman
States-we think it but fair to clear away some
of the misstatements industriously circulated
on this subject Austria is, as it is we'll
known, the only Catholic Power on the Con-
tinent to whom the Pope can look for protec-
ton which is not entirely interested So far from
looking favorably on the abuses of its civil sys-
TEN, she was one Of the five Powers who. after
the insurrection of 1881, concurred in memo
randum to the Pope suggesting an entire change
in fha J,,,;c,
to administrative and judicial functions. 1t was
only when compliance with these recommended
tons had been promised by Cardinal Benefit
that she withdrew her troops. The avowed OBJ
ject of this instruction was to put an end to the
temporal authority Of the Pope; and it is a fact
requiring no commentary that the present EN-
peror of the French and his elder brother bore
arms in it.
With regard to the last occupation, the circum-
stances which brought it about are too fresh in
the memory of our readers to render it uecessa.
ry for us to recapitulate them. But for il. II
need not be said the Papacy, as temporal insti-
tuition, would have been expunged from the list
of sovereign Powers Then, as now. the aid of
Austria was invoked by the Pope, and French
army was Immediately after sent to Rome. not
TO protect the Pontif, but to counterbalance the
influence which that proceeding was supposed to
give TO the first named government in italy
Of the sympathy of France with the critical
position Of the head of the Catholic church. or of
its desire to secure to him his sovereign authority
of course no one was for a moment the dune.
The sentiment expressed by the first Napoleon
to Pope Plus, in 1905, bas been in fact the pre-
vailing feeling, in modified sense, of every
French government since that period. "AIl
italy" he said, must be subject to my law
You are sovereign of Rome, but am its En-
peror."
Who can doubt, from the conduct of Louis
Napoleon in 1881, when he personally took
arms to aid the Italian revolutionists,
mat In his recent arrangements with Sardinia he
has in view less the independence of Italy than
the traditional policy of bis uncle? Who can be-
ieve in the sincerity Of professions which are
belied, not only by that policy, but by all his own
actss And yet it is projects thus plainly indi-
Gated that France and Prussia are engaged in
furthering by withdrawing from the Ponti6cal
government the only remnant of defence which IL
possesses. They believe, no doubt, that they are
aiding the cause of liberal government, and pre-
venting an interruption of the peace of Europe
by so doing; but very little time will suffice to
show them that they have only multiplied
their anxleties. Let the Austrians withdraw
from Central Italy and the flames of rcvou-
ton will instantly spread from one extremity of
the peninsula to the other and extend, as in lSis
10 other portionu of ba Cont;nopt ou;o Na,o