, 1860-06-01
The Shadow Of Coming Events in Europe

, The Shadow Of Coming Events in Europe
Never since the termination of the great
war in 1915, SAYS the London Chronicle
: has the political horizon been so gloomy
and so threatening. Daring our forty years
peace clouds have, no doubt, sometimes
lowered; but they never quite obscurcd the
sunshine. The danger always seemed 10,
Icalized, and never portended general dis,
turhauce. A ntuouS obstiuacy and wild
ambitionhare unhapPiy conspired to change
all this. DiSlrust reigns everywhere
From the merchants counting house to the
minister's cabinet it is all the same The
Ialock markets throughout Europe, those
sure indicators Of public feeling, beuay the
general anxety-not to say the alarm-ol
I the commercial world We must confess
that we are not justified in attributing this
unhappy, state Of things to any unfounded
panic. The mouied classes are too in,eli-
gent to be duped 10y the manGuvres with
which mobs are sometimes captivated -
Their judgments are founded on the logic
of facts, aud facts of evil omen are Just
now rather abundant.
The rapproeheB,eat Of Austria to Russia
at first so positively denied, and now so
entirely admitted-canot be regarded as
very favorable to the peace of Europe
We ask the doubiers-the men of little
/ failh-the meaning Of the last \diSpatches
from Constantinoplc We learn that the
Porte has appealed to tue Western Pow
ers, and requested treaty of alliance
with them for certain emergencies" What
are these emergencies-whata are these CON
plicatons Can it be that any one is look
ing after the sick mans possessions Has
Russia offered to help Austria to get up
again on the back Of Lomburdy! F! Has
grateful Austria in return promised to let
her kind ally help himself to slice of the
Danuban Priucipalities !
These are questions which the Sultan can
answer. He certainly is conscious of a
danger which threatens him; and, we ask,
whence can that danger arise save from the
union of Austria and Russia But is there
anything improbable raPprOchcReat so ad-
vantageous to the interests Of both =
Would it be good policy in Russia to refuse
such an alliance? Will she hesitate to re-
venge herself SO entirely upon the confed-
cracy which lately 50 deeply humliated
her? BY uniting now with Austria, she
strikes Sardinia, France and England at
the same time. Nor does the time for a
deep revenge seem very Inappropriate
We are certainly in no very warhke mood
Has Russia calculated that while we want
our brave soldiers at home, it is not likely
that we shall send them again to riot in
Crimean bitches, 10 the maintenance Of a
hopeless QUARREL Have her statesmen
judged our temper rightly? Have they
reckoned without their host in believing
that, by q union now with Austria, Russia
will gain all, and more than all, that she
has lost? Ii may be well to remember
that it has been.the character Of Russia to
reconquer in the cabinet what she has lost
in the field; and If her statesmen believe
that they have estimated justly the strength
of the Peace party in England, they will
have well chosen their time for a revenge
at once bitter and complete.
Nor are the prospects of Italy better
than those Of the Porte. The wild ambi-
tion," which 81 loves to slide, not stand" "
aud which prefers risking its neck on For;
tunes ice" IS drlFlhS away tne lIlehuS Hpo
have been tried, and who have been found
true and steadfast. The treaties Of Villa
franca and Zurich tied up the hands Of
France. She was bound, as fur as posi-
BILE, 10 carry out the principle Of those
treaties; but above all things, she was
] -bound to abstain from any arrangement
which would snbvert them. France may
be thus placed in situation where all her
sympathies would be warmly With Sardinia,
although she might feel herself restrained
from giving them effect. Sardinia seems
beut GU perseyering in course 'dnjustilia-
bly, aggressive, il not revolutionary, in its
prluciples. The French nation might grleye
to stand BY and see the Austrian eagles
once more flying 10 the plains of Lombardy.
1t is possible that such an eyentuality may
not arise. Sardinia may still prove that
events have not grown too rapidly for her;
that she is still able 20 control them, and
mark them with the impress Of stability
France will not willingly stand by and see
her total destruction, If 1t is possible TO save
her, consistently with the faith OF treaties
aud the recognition Of great principles.