Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-01
The STATE OF Europe.

The state of Europe.
0nr latest kilograms Of European news, ex-
tending down to February 11th, and pub
Iished by us on Saturday, are, as it will have
been seen, Of very conflicting and uninteili-
gible character. Pacific rumors had pre-
dominated, but the later advices were more
warlike, and warlike preparations continue
on large scale! The effect of the French
Emperor's speech at the opening of the
Chambers was unfavorable, notwithstanding
its pacific characterl These contradictory
statements go to show that, down to the 18th
ipst., the question OF peace or war was still a
matter of exceeding doubt in the minds of
European statesmen, and very possibly in the
inscrutable mind of Lou NAPOLEON himself
Under these circumstances, the speculations
of the very intelligent London correspondent
of the New York Tribune. though week
older than our latest telegraphic adyices. will
perhaps be not devoid of interest. Writing
under date of February the 4ih, he says:
The Queens speech, insignificant as it is.
has vet led to decline in consols. | need
not say that it is not the threatening para
graph against Mexico that has frightened the
snrance that there will be no war in Italy,
AS to the speeches in Parliament, all the
aristocrat;c party leaders were unanimous in
branding the actual government of Naples
with expressions of Unconditional disgust
in describing the state of the Papal do
minions as unbearable, in excusing Aus
tria, but still thinking that she would not
lose strength by abandoning her dominions
beyond the Alps. and in warning Sardinia
f,.r oh nj n I.nr
limited that even some new territorial ar
rangement might he entered into in central
Italy. Lord john RUSSELL thought Austria
ought to give up portion of her Italian pos
sessions Every one of the members who
spoke about Italy deelared that Austria had
no right to occupy any Italian State beyond
the Pc, but all concured in the sentiments
expressed by the Queen, that treaties are to
be held inviolable and that mal-adminstra-
ton gives no right OF aggression To the neigh
boring States. What pity that this just
and uneXceptionablc sentiment was so uttrrly
disregarded by these very same members m
TIE case of Onde! The result Of the discus
sion is, that war appears still more probable
than before, but il is officially stated that
:. Her Majesty's Government have done every
thing in their power to avert the Formidable
calamity of war;" and that a they stand IN a
position in which. with regard to their own
course, they would be bound by no obllga-
ton. by no engagement, treaty or understand
ing, but be free to take the course which the
interests of duty and honor may demand"
In other words, England declares that she
has not entered into any alliance with Aus
tria and intends to remain perfectly neutral
as long as possible. If Lam not mistaken.
the Vienna public will not regard this decla-
ton as of a very satisfactory nature, since
they expected the aid, and, at least, the moral
assistance of England. in case of an aggres-
sion by the combined French and Sandman
armies. 1
The intended marriage Of King Victory
Emmanuel with the widow OF Prince
Leuchtenberg sister TO the present Gar and
cousin to the French Emperor, will not fail
to create still greater apprehension at
Vienna; and it is natural that under such
auspices the Introduction of the Austrian
loan into the London money market should
prove failure.
As to public opinion in France. Italy and
Austria can give you some curious informa-
ton, founded upon the most authentic OBJ
sprvations. In France war is precated by
the Republicans. because they fear that
Napoleon might establish himself more firmly
on his throne by a successful Italian cam
paign. All the moneyed interests. and the
educated class are avcrse to it on account OF
the disturbance of the material interest OF
the country. But Napoleon cares little for the
Republicans, Orleanists. and the moneyed
middle class: he knows that they hate him,
and that it is not to them that he owes his
position. He relies on his army and on the
ignorant agricultural population. with
whom he is as popular as in lS49. In
Sardinia the aristOcracy are inclined to peace;
they do not care for Italy nor tor the increase
of the kingdom, since they fear that they may
lose the monopoly of court Offices, by the
competition of the weather. and better
educated Lombard and Tuscan nobility. The
Mazznians detest the alliance with France,
but both these parties are powerless at the
present moment; the bulk of the rural.
as well as of the town population are
thoroughly mad for war; the idea of
Italian unity daZzles th"m so mnch that
even Genoa. the stronghold of MaZZinianism.
is now entirely converted to the political
creed of count Cavour and the French al
lance. AS regards Austria, Vienna repre-
sents nothing but the Exchange, and accor-
dinghy that city deprecates war; but the Ger
man Provinces. and especially TyrOl, are
strongly excited against France. and have no
objection to trial of the respective forces:
as to Hungary she is unanimously warlike,
and wishes "a conflict most ardently, fully sa-
tisfied that the Austrians will be defeated
and, and that such defeat might lead to
greater regard for the nationality and polite
cal aspirations of the country. The Vienna
press mistake this policy altogether though
some of the Hungarian papers speak pretty
clearly about it. and the Ministerial organs
are positively delighted at the loyalty of the
rebel province. The Emperor of Austria is
at loss to see how war can be brought
about since there is no casuS belh and he has
given the most stringent orders to avoid any
cause for offending France"