The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-01
c.pis-l.sio. Of o.sta Termination Of

Capitulstioa Of Gaeta Termination or
the OWL War In Naples.
The Canadian brings the important iatelli-
gence Of the surrender Of Gaeta to the troops
Of Victor Emanuel Notwithstanding his
boosted determination of finding grave be-
glad to avail himselfof the means Of escape so
providentially placed ct his disposal by the
French Emperor. The garrison are TO be kept
prisoners until Messina is given up by the
royalists, which it Is to be presumed viii be at
once done, from the utter hopelessness attend
ing the further prosecution Of the struggle.
Thus another important step has been ac-
complished in the consolidation of the
new Italian kingdom. The stand made
by Francis at Gaeta constituted a serious
obstacle to its progress, and Notwithstanding
the generally favorable reception of Victor
Emanuel on his recent tour through his new
acquisitions, 1t kept the friends of Italy in
state Of the most anxious suspense and dis
quietude. But it was not merely because it
continued to inspire the reacionists with con-
fidence that il was desirable that an end should
speedily be put to it. The conduct of Louis
Napoleon In connection with this matter has
been 30 equivocal that it gave rise to the belief
that he secretly encouraged the obstinacy,
almost amounting to heroism, with which the
King of Naples defended his last stronghold.
There are good grounds for this impression.
He has chung to his scheme of confederation
until the firmness and patriotism Of the italian
people have compelled change of purpose,
and now it is probably owing to his changed
convictions that Francis has been induced to
abandon the only hope that remained to him Of
recovering his kingdom.
The capitulaton of Gaeta has, however,
another Importance from that attaching to
the removal of civil discussions and war
fare from the Neapolitan soil. 1t de-
cides the fate Of Rome, SO far as the
interference Of France is concerned. 1t is i'm
possible, after receding step by step from all the
positions which he has maintained in opposition
to the aspirations of the Italian people, that the
Emperor can continue any longer to keep an
army there. Italy without Rome would be
but an aggregation of communities without
centre Of Intellectual life. What Paris is to
France, the Eternal City is to her. There
alone the immense power which the new king
dom is destined to WELD in the future can find
fitting embodiment. Its greatness will only
be fully acknowledged when he is throned
on the seven hills, and until this, the darling
object of tlsir ambition, is secured, the Italian
people will never regard the unity they have
aimed at as complete.
The French Emperor is, we believe, now hfu-
enced by this conviction. lie finds himself
moreover unable to cope with the difficulties Of
the Papal question, and sees that the only
chance that remains OF bringing the Holy
Father to terms is to leave him at the mercy Of
Victor Emanuel. Rome ha, ceased to be with
him a political pivot and we may therefore
assume that the surrender of Gaeta will shortly
be followed by the withdrawal of the French
army of occupation from the States of the
latter by the Sardinians.
Thus the revolutionary movement resumes
its march after brief interruption, and the
war is about TO be carried into the dependen-
cies of Austria, in order TO compel her to give
up Venice and do justice to the other oppress-
cd nationalities under her sway. Before many
months, or perhaps weeks, all Germany will be
in arms, and q struggle initiated which will
shake Europe to its centre. 1t would be an
unhappy coincidence if, at the same time, the
obstinacy of the coercionists should bring about
in this country conflict equally protracted
and disastrous. History furnishes no paral-
lei to the distress and suffering that would re-
suit from the simultaneous disturbance thus
occasioned in the commercial and industrial
interests Of the world.