Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-25

THR LATE War IN lTALY.--The weather last
night was unfaverable to "A large attendance upon
lectures or amusSments, Notwithstanding which,
large audience assembled to listen to the lecture
by HEHRY J. RAYNOsD. of the New York Times,
upon the late War in Italy. Mr.. Raymond is a
man Of medium stature, and slender form. His
hair is black and he wears black whiskers and
moustaches, his chin being shaved. His delivery
isrupid and easy. He used no written notes,--but
the lecture was made up of conversational Tela-
tons Of the causes which led to the Italian war
and to the incidents of the scenes which he saw
himself, or was conversant with. It was about an
hour and half in length and was attentively and
interestedy listened to by the audience.
We can give but brief report of the leeture,
which was intensely interesting, especially in the
narration of the battle of solferino, which Mr..
Raymond witnessed. The details of the horrible
slaughter formed the most powerful peace sermon
we ever heard.
Mr. Raymond said:
The late war in Italy had attracted, aud still
attracts much attention in the United States,
partly because We are an exeitsble people, aud
partly because our sympathies are with any nation
that is striving to recover her liberty, The war
had come and gone like the comet, aud like that
its progress aud results had been discussed and
watched.
Briefly tracing the historical incidents immedi-
ately antecedent to the commencement Of the
campaign in Italy, the lecturer assumed the ground
that the Emperor Napoleon was led TO take the
part be did in that series Of events, not from any
pOetical sentiment Of maguanimity. nor from any
peculiar sympathy with a struggling people, but
solely with view to the interest Of France. He
adveIted to the compact of the Holy Alliance, as
afordiog evidence of the inferior position to which
France had been rsduced by the Treaty Of lel5-
The Alliance had gone to work to humble France
with religious zeal The great powers had upheld
Austria in her repeated attempts to put down the
efforts OF the people of Italy to free themselves
from the rule of their Oppressor. When Victor
Emanuel assembled the throne of Sardinia, the
Italian nationslities began to take firmer tone,
and assume sterner aspect and the rapid progress
of the spirit Of Italian independence was attributa
bic TO Count Cavour, and the earnest patriotism
of the Sandman King. When the struggle upon
the field came, the military spirit and reputation of
Sardinia came to be acknowledged, and she was
allowed seat at the Council Board Of Europe
Her representative at Paris was the Count CAvOur,
and he there announced that the cause Of Sardinia
was the cause Of Italy and Of Europe.
The Emperor Napoleon had elevated France to
higher rank among the European Powers by the
part she had assumed as the ally of England; and
the wise, sagacOus, prudent and bold monarch de.
cided to espouse the Italian cau;e.
/ Mr. Raymond briefly alluded to the earlier steps
of the campaign in Italy, demonstrated the respon
sibilitY which rested upon Austria of having be-
gun the war, and expounded the causes Whiehrsn-
dered participation 10 the cOnhiettbe first interest
Of France; and then proceeded to narrale some of
the incidents which had fallen under his obselva-
ton during the progress of the war. The idea Of
devastation and ruin, naturally associated with the
thought of a country rayaged by war, was dis
proved by general observation Of the campaign.
Nothing of this sort appeared in Italy to one who
followed the track of the allied armies. Upon the
field of Magenta there were signs Of conflict. but
not of universal wreck and ruin. The lecturer
bore testimony to the strict order of discipline
among tut EEeuCu ICOPs IL itS PasSaBS tAAOuBA
Italy. All operations of the army were conducted
with business-like regularity ana in their dealings
with the people the troops were fair and impartial
Pa sing to running comment upon the decisive
conflict of SOlferinO the lecturer described the
featu, es of that battle, alluded in terms of high
compli. .uent to the conspicuous generaship of the
Emperor Napoleon, and held that, although the
combat p1 owed decisive in its result upon the event
of the war, it was lost to the Austrians through
the incomps.' 'enoy Of the Emperor Francis Joseph.
Mr. Raymond argued the prudent course of Ma
poeOn at the peace of ViIlafrHncs. by which he
, avoided a genel al European War, and regarded
this course as better than the headlOng one which
the first Napoleon would probably have adopted.
The present attitude of Italy cannot be regarded
as decisive or unehangable.
I