New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-11
ITALIAN AFFAIRS.

The success of the Italian revolution in favor of
national unity and liberal institutions has thus far
greatly Outrun all the hopes and expectations which
the warmest friends of Italy could reasonably have
formed. Everything seems to have cOnspred to
hasten the desired result, and that, too, frequently
by agencies from which any such operation could
hardly have been expected Who, for instance,
could have anticipated that Louis Napoleon was 10
be the instrument for setting on foot the Italian
revolution and thereby extending to Italy degree
Of political freedom which be dares not allow to
exist in France? But even after, TO the surprise
of Europe, Napoleon had taken the position Of
backing up Sardinia in her complaints against
Austria. all that was claimed for Iialy was the
merest trne compared with what has been since
accomplished. What SARDINIA demanded was that
Austria should withdraw the garrison which she
bad established ON the south side of the Pc for the
purpose of unfolding the Princes in resisting the
claims Of their subjects TO representative in
stltutOns and administrative reforms. Had
Austria merely persisted in refusing these de-
mands, and in maintaining her controlling posi-
ton in the heart of Italy, it appears ex-
ceediDgly doubtful, considering the suspicious
with which Louis Napoleon was regarded by
Great Britain and Germany, and their energetic
remOnstrances against any disturbance Of the
peace of Europe whether be would have encOur-
aged Sardinia to strike the first blow. Most unex-
pectedly to all the world, Austria herself inter-
Sered TO precipta'e revolution, which, but for
her rash and precipitate action, might have been
c., Il.
not only attended by the most rapid military sue
cesses on the part of the allied French and Sar-
dhians, but it gave the first start to the Italian
revolution, by encouraging the subjects of tho
Italian Prucipates on the south side of the Po to
rice up at once against Austria and their own
exclusively by the two Emperors, and which took
Europe as much by surprise as had the war which
II brought TO close, gave a sudden check to the
high hopes which the French intervention, and its
consequences, had excited. The programme ar
ranged for Italy by the Emperor Napoleon was not
very brilliant The expelled princes were to be-
reitOIed; the national unity was to extend no fur
tier than to a confederation, which must have been
under tire Joint control of the Austrian Emperor,
as the representative Of Yenetis, the Pope
and the King of Naples, all devoted
to the most arbitrary principles, and whose
united voices would have reduced the inhu-
cree of Sardinia to cipher. As to Italian liberty,
that was TO be limited to such concessions and
administrative reforms as the restored princes and
the other potentates might, as n measure of grace
or precaution, see fit or be induced TO bestOw on
their subjects. The result, however, of the peace
of Viafranca turned out vastly more fayorably
for Italy. NapoleOns programme failed in every
particular. None of the parties to the proposed
confederation had the least inclination for it, and
this scheme for aPpessirg the appetite for Italian
unity with mere hu-ks found no support in any