The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-07
A SKETCH OF COUNT CAvOUR.
HIS POSITION. INFLUENCE AND CHARACTER

From the Turin Correspondence of the London Times
Count Cavour is, beyond dispute, one of
the three great statesmen of Europe Lord
Palmerston and the Emperor Napoleon III.
being the others. The loss of this man, in
the present circumstances, would be for
Italy irreparable. Count Cavours strength
does not lie in his principles indeed, he
has no inexorably fixed principles but he
has an alma clear and definite aim, the
greatness of which would have turned the
head of any other man ten years ago,-to
make Italy one and independent. The men,
the means, the circumstances, have been and
are Indifferent to him. He has marched
straight, always firm, always alone, sacrif.
cling his friends, his sympathies, sometimes
bis renown, and sometimes his heart. Moth
ing has stood in his way. The suppleness
of his mind is astonishing. He divines ev,
erything, and is seldom mistaken-not as
to truth, but as to the success of q matter.
He unites the solid, calculating English
temperament, with the cold, unscrupulou
often ungenerous, political genius of the
Italian character. Count Cavour is mix
ture of Sir Robert Peel and Machiavelli.
He has something Byzantine about him
the stratagem, the subtle logic, whose con-
illusions are sound, paradoxical as they may
sometimes appear. Read his diplomatic
notes-it is impossible to be right, or even
wrong in more brilliant, solid and con-
vinciDg fashion.
Count Cavour, who unfortunately has
not always the art of understanding men,
has always the art of understanding a situ-
alton; and it is this marvellous faculty that
has contributed to form the Italy of to day.
AS the minister of a power of the fourth
rank, he could not create situations like the
Emperor Napoleon, or reckon on the
strength of great nation, like Lord Pal
merston. Count Cavour had to find crew.
ice in the policy of Europe, slip in, spring a
mine and cause an explosion. 1t is thus
that be has conquered Austria and secured
the aid of France and England. Count
Cavour threw himself headforemost, after
having measured the depth and calculated
the chances of the fall. The Crimean ex-
petition, his attitude at the Congress of
Paris, the cession of Nice, the invasion Of
the Papal States last autumn have been the
consequence of this vigorous temper of
mind. AS the man of foreign affairs he is
strong, he is on level with the situation,
with the men of his time, and with the
time itself.
The man of home affairs is less complete,
less finished. Count Cavour has general
knowledge of these affairs; he has enlarged
ideas, clear and liberal ideas, but he wants
the practical ability to set them off to the
hest advonfono Resides bo fc oftov, ,,,,for
tunate in choosing men. Witness the Sc
ries of agents he sent into southern Italy
Nigra excepted. Count Cavour feels him.
self above detail, which, however, is impor.
tant in administration this is the vulnera4
BILE side of his policy, for in foreign affairs
no one disputes his superiority.
HIS sELF.EsTEEM.
There is yet another point which some
times startles one in Count Cavours con-
duct, and that is his self.esteem. Count
Cavour knows himself, and knows those
about him; he esteems them little, and he
makes the mistake of letting them see it.
He does not tolerate equals, not having been
accustomed to find many. Every one who
is brought into contact with him but bow,
and resign himself to be moulded by that
strong hand. The King himself feels his
magnetic influence. Now any one that
does not consent to be absorbed by Count
Cavour, is classed without further ado,
among bis enemies, or, rather, among his
adversaries. Add to this his sharp and
abrupt manner, careless of other peoples
susceptibilities, the sarcastic smile crystal
lied on his face, his habit of giving orders,
hic bo,rroo;c aproarapoo Which Joo, ,ot
give him even change of success in his
little politeness and batteries towards those
whom he wishes to wheedle, his abrupt and
embarrassed way of speaking, his sharp and
metallic voice, which makes bad first i'm
preston, and his petulant, jerky GESTURES,
and you complete the picture of man who
would attract you little if you were not at
tached to him by other bonds.
IN PARLIAMENT.
Count Cavour conducts himself in Par
lament absolutely as if the opposition had
no existence, as if he was in bis drawing
room among his friends-especially when
LIE is bored. He talks, he laughs, be turns
his back on his colleagues, he Tolls, he yawns,
twists about the velvet table cover with bis
paper knife and makes epigrams if he had
American habits be would put his feet on
the official table. He sees no one there but
the majority, that is to say his faithful
friends.
Count Cavour is not an orator in the
French sense of the word be is one, rather,
in the English sense. He has difficulty
in speaking because he does not wish
to say word too much, word which
has not the exact force which he wishes to
give. He does not speak for the chamber,
but for Europe. He has solid, connected
and lucid manner of reasoning he always
touches the heart of the question, and if be
is not always right, he at least never falls
into platitudes ond commonplace.
sum up: the diplomatist is giant the
administrator is inferior to the diplomatist;
the man is an antithesis. You can never
rest in an undetermined attitude towards
him. You must either obey or rebel
against him. He does not let himself be
led by his friends he does not count his
onop,;no uo 10 tho ;rtoIIook Of ko1 -, lor