New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-23
AUSTRIA.

AUSTRIA.
Whenever republic Is overturned, or con-
sttutional monarchy converted into despotism,
the oracleS of aristOcratic opinion exut over the
fact as affording conclusive evidence that Self
Government is fallacy, and triumphant " l.
told-you 80" is chOrused round the world. No
matter though the subyerson be effected by sheer
usurpaton and military force, as in the sue
cessige Oyerthrows of the earlier and of the later
French Republic, it is at once assumed that
democracy is chimera, and that Government
and Absoutism are practically synonymous.
Why is it that no correspondent conclusion is
drawn from any failure of Despotism
The original French Revolution is popularity
regarded as q subyersion of the monarchy by
democracy; when in truth the old system fairly
broke down from it's inherent depravity and
rottenness, before democracy raised its head.
RepubhcGnism merely succeeded royalty when
the former had fallen into utter bankruptcy and
decay. In mercantile parlance, the monarchy
failed and democracy was called in to dispose
of the assets.
A similar experience has just befalen the
Austrian Empire. There, despotsm has long
had free course and been glorifed. 1t may be
truly said to have enjoyed as fair opportunities
as can often be realized. A martial gallant, aud
mainly loyal people, an aristOcracy wealthy, ca
pable and intelligent; q royal house prOyerbially
fortunate, not strikDgly deficient in ability, dis
tinguished by courage and persistency, and never
otherwise than decOrous in manners and decent
in life, with craftsmanship for half century
illustrated by the genius of Metternch. Austria,
moreover, has had and probably still has, pow
erful allies, and was saved from ruin hardly ten
years since by the armed Intervention Of Russia,
rs che had been, centuries before, BY that OF
Poland. And yet Austrian desPotism, after e1'
haustng its resources in artful shifts and desPer-
ate eIpedients, has just been compelled to 60
into liquidation. In the slang Of the streets, it
has gone up"
Had this happened two generations ago, it would
have been attributed 10 the influence Of lhiloso-
piers and doctrinaires-to the daring specu-
latiOns of Rousseau the genius and Wit OF Vol
tarc, or the liberalism Of Joseph III. Now,
there can be no pretense Of the potency Of
aDy casual influence. liberalism is coming in
fcs,es that it. day is over, The Emperor wants
TO be despot; the Court, the trusted statesmen
and the great generals Of the empire are all abb
soutsts; but " the stars IN their courses are
stronger than emperors and courts; and it is re-
luctantly given up that q government Of Arch
dukes and Aulic Councils has become an mposs-
bihty. So bankrupt despotsm abdicates-staryed
out-penniess; and asks the People TO take the
government into their own hands, and see whether
they can contriye tho ways aud means Of making
the two ends meet.
Bear in mind that there is no war-nO
pressure FROM without. All the world is at
peace with Austria, and eager to continue SO.
Her soldiers are as numerous and as brave as
ever, her generals as able, her people in the
main as energetic and wholehearted. Austria
has not failed; Imperialism has. 1t can no
longer wrench from it's subjects the money required
for its sustenaDce; it cannot tempt usurers TO
lend the sums needed to meet the annual deficit,
no matter how ruinous the rates. Its bayonets
still CLEAN unopposed from the Rhine to the
Carpathians, from Prague TO Venice; but they
cannot rcpcuish an exhausted and oyerburdened
treasury. Democracy is called in, because au-
tocracy is dead. 1t could not eat bayonets, and
starvation has marked il for his own"
We will not dabble in representations.
Whether this sudden conversion to liberalism is
OF is not too late TO save the empire-whether
the revolution thus inaugurated will or will not
run the course prefgured by that of France
whether the young Emperor will or VIII not return
to absoutsm 80 soon as hisream shall have been
rescued from utter insolyency-let Time disclose.
Doubtless the revolution thus begun will seek its
own logical contamination; while the Court, re-
lieyed nom the urgent pressure OF want will
seek TO reclaim what il is now compelled TO sur
render So much is neyitabe but the end none
can foresee. 1t cannot. however, inyalidate the
fact that government by edicts and battalions
has proved no longer possible in that civilized
land where circumstances seemed most favorable
TO its success. And when those who have lost
faith in Freedom shall point to the consequences
of our Shareholders Rebellion as a proof that re-
publics are necessarily transient, we may cite
him TO two fresh e1ampes-those of Italy and
of Austria-that depotim and civilization are
becoming more and more incompatible.
.--------
While certain journals Of this city are ques-
tionng the genuineness of our Charleston letters,