New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-26
UNITED ITALY

There is not perhaps recorded IN history
course of events more remarkable than that
which within so short period, by such une1-
pected means, and with such an uninterrupted
course of success has realized the idea of Italian
unity by calling into existence Victor Emanuels
new Kingdom of Italy.
The sudden interest in Italian affairs which led
the Emperor, Louis Napoleon, to form family
as wen as political alliance with the King of
Sardinia took Europe entirely by surprise and
still remains a subject Of conjecture. Was it
the explosive bOmb-shells of 0rsiui and his fell
low -conspirators that first suggested to the
| French Emperor the idea of putting himself for
ward as the protector of the Italians against the
domineering interference Of Austria! Did he
intend by the encouragement and support which
he gave to the remcamatiOns of Sardinia and to
the attitude of armed preparation which she as
umed TO provoke o collision with Austria, and
hereby TO inaugurate new era, not merely Of
Italian, but of European warfare!
The demands of Sardinia and France set
forth in reply to the warm remonstrances of Great
Britain, Prussia, and the German States against
the threatened interruption of the peace of Eu.
rope, did not even hint at Italian unity. They
asked only the withdrawal Of the garrisons which
Austria in order to support the Italian princes
against the camOrs of their subjects for political
reforms, had placed on the south side of the Pc,
aud the abandonment of the pretenslOns maintained
BY Austria in substance, if not in words, 10 .
experimenting control over the political nstitu-
tOns of Italy. They were ready, or protested to
be, to submit these questions to the decision OF
European Congress. Had Austria con-
scented to such Congress, instead OF the
recent rapid course of events in Italy, we
might have seen only lOng-spun diplomatic dis
cushion resulting at last in little or nothing.
Even if 10 such Congress had ever met, Sardinia
would hardly have dared to strike the first
blow against Austria, unless encouraged to it
bv France; and Napoleon would scarcely have
ventured to give that encouragement at the risk
of thereby securing to Austria the aid and sup
port of Great Britain and Germany, who con-
sidered themselves bound by the treaty Of 1916
TO maintain Austria in the possession of the
Italian provinces then awarded 10 her. Here
was another probability Of the postponemcnt Of
any decisive movement in Italy for an indefinite
period, but this was cut short by the rash
and sudden invasion by Austria of the territories
of Sardinia. The war thus unexpectedly begun
ended as suddenly in the peace of Villafranca,
by which the two EmperOrs undertook to regu-
late Italian affairs. The Italy of Nilafranca was,
however, totally different Italy from the Itayjust
constituted by Victor Emanuel and Garibaldi.
The only territorial change which the treaty of
Vilafranca proposed was the transfer of LOm-
hardy TO Sardinia. The Prncipalties south of
the 20 were 10 remain as they had been before
the war, receiving back their old Princes, while
the general superintendent and control OF the
Interstate and external relations of Italy were to
be placed in the hands Of National Conledera-
ton. a which the Pope was to be President and
in which Austria and Naples would have held
the eliminating influence. There was, however,
a stipulation of this treaty, understood between
The Emperors, ii not expressed IN terms,
namely. non-intcrvontion on the part of
both Of them in the further prog
ress OF Italian affairs, which completely null
lifted all these arrangements. This stipulation
gave 10 the people OF Italy power to regulate
for themselves their own political institutions such
as they had not enjoyed for centuries. The efforts
of France by means of persuasion to carry INTO
effect the Yillafranca programme proved utterly
All the provinces south of the 20
which ct the breaking out of the war had re-
VOTED against their princes, established 'Provis-
ional governments and joined the allies, now one
after tbe other annexed themselves TO SARDINIA.