The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-09
The Crisis in Europe--The Position Of
AuetTia.

W ~ tudb NudN may lObt ny CtuluE DItSh
Austria she may gain by the annexation Of the
Duchies, and Austria may be recompensed for
the cession of venetia TO Italy by Silesa, and,
as some think, by an accession of territory on
the lower Danube. But there are other and
more momentous questions in the background
than the matter OF mere population aud terri
tory. In regard 20 Prussia, we have already
referred to her desire to become naval po wer,
and the opportunities to that end she problblv
expects to gain by the acquisition of the full
control over the Elder and lis contiguous terri
tory from the North Sea to the Baltic. As ID il
with Prussia in the North, so with Austria in
the South OF Europe.
1t is not alone the habitual obstinacy and
prOverbia family pride OF the Hapsburgs which
make Austria cling so tenacously to che possess
sion OF Venttia. There enter into thus drmness
motives OF policy and statecralt as potent with
Austrian statesmen as the deyire for Prussian
aggrandizement is with the statesmen of Prussia
And it may as we'll be said that all the smaller
States of Southern Germany seem to Judge that
their own interests lie in this pol cy of Austria
IL will be remembered that, after the rapid and
serious defeats Of the Ausrians in Italy, In 1859.
and before the last at SolternO, the present King
of Prussia then Prince Regent, enthusiastically
declared that Germany must be defended against
France on the banks of the Mincio, and that he
began to give force to this declaration by ex-
tended ornaments and the mobilization of the
entire Prussian army. 1t will also be remem-
bered that the whole of Gei many with one ac-
cord applauded this declaration and unanimously
prepared IOr war, ana III was JnlS ATTITUDE OF the
German powers that prompted Napoleon hastily
to conclude the peace OF Villairanca with his
proclaimed work but half done.
1t was no mere sentimental rhapsody that
alured the Germans into defending Austria on
the Mincio; it was the recollection of that here
ditary axiom of German politics-hereditary
from the time that there existed q Germany in
name-that the valley of the Adige and the
passes OF Southern Tyrol are the key to the
heart OF Germany, and for her own security and
protection must bow and forever remain IN the
hands OF German power. THIS has for centu-
ries been thought necessary, with Italy divided
into many separate and contending States and
principallties.
There was certainly some truth in the argu-
ment of the present Napoleon, that with d po wer-
ful Italian Kingdom, the security of France de-
manded possession and control by her of the
passes on the Alps and thus he justified the
acquisition OF Savoy and Nice. And it is not
the less true that it was the like consideration,
so long regarded as imperative for the pro-
tecuon oil Germany, which, in the peace of
VIllatrunca, made Francis Joseph deny to Italy
the boundary Of the Mincio, and reserve to him
sell the control OF The passes north through the
Tyrolese Alps 1t is true that on behalf OF Italy,
the powerful plea nay be interposed, that she,
in centuries past as well as now, needed far
greater security against attacks from the North
than Germany did against attacks from her; it
is true that she can support this plea with
countless re ferer to history, proving that the
sending OF army after army from Germany into
Italy through these very passes in iurtherance
of the policy of the German Emperors, contri-
buted largely 20 the chronic disorder and i'm
poverishment OF the whole peninsula and that
therefore she ought to have the undisputed and
undisturbed possession of the whole north of
Italy, not to threaten an attack, but to be fori-
hed against one.
But then, Austria may reply, that if once de-
prived OF the present Gordon of fortified posts,
The Tyrol not only, but the whole of Carinthia,
| Illyria, Styria and all her o her southern DOS.
sessions are, through the many mountain pass IS
and gorges, that all lead southwark, constantly
opened to attack.
We have lately seen in Vienna paper, the
| WGnderer, we believe, another intimation of
what troubles the minds of Austrian statesmen.
With Venice and its territory secured 10 Italy
there is 10 promise that other more or less TIA
liam possessions OF Austria would not be coveted.
These were, IN times of Venetian pow wer, all
dependencies of the grand republic. There is
the District OF Trieste, the Hungarian" Litto-
rale, with Fiume and Dalmatia, with Zara for
/ rs capital and principal port.
In lact these provinces would, 80 the Aus
trlans seem to fear, necessity gravltate towards
| the great Italian kngdom, to which, by descent,
| language, religion, and the traditions OF past
centuries, they feel themselves attracted, an
Austria, in no very long time, would become
| totally separated from the Adriatic. She would
then be an inland power like Bavaria Wurtem-
| berg, or SaXony, and of no more influence or
| consequence than the three united. The Aus
tran political leaders, therefore, put to them
| selves the qestion-Could the possession OF the
| whole OF Roumania. with Bosnia added-cOuld
even the possession OF the mouth of the Danube,
| with Its adjacent coast on the EuXine-cOm-
| pensate Austria TOR such loss of prestige posi-
ton, and power They think not Moreover,
in the disposition to be made of the Danubian
! PrinciLa,ities the old question de pOYaent comes
up again, in regard to winch Rnssa puts forth
| powerful claims TO be heard and needed.
| Russia, to be true to her Oriental policy, per-
sisteDtly adhered TO by her since the time of her
| great Peter, will never allow power Ike Aus
| tria to be wedged in between herself and the
Bosphorus. Besides, the Roumanian people are
sure to have something to ay about it, DOR will
| Turkey be entirely silent. So that while Austria
will certainly not part with what she has In
hand for what II IS very uncertain she may ever
get or be able to retain; and while, even if
this be certain, she has strong reasons to de-
cline the bargain as being Unfair and no
recompense for her loss and the danger she
may incur, it is IDLE to speculate about Euro
pean Congress being able to reconstruct the
map of Europe by paIcellng out province
here TO this and q province there to that
power. Only the irreversible results of war
can accomplish what this proposed Congress is
said to attempt.
IN addition, Auslrias internal condition is
such that she may gain much in case OF war.
Her finances are in desperate state. In war,
and when almosl half OF Continental Europe Is
in arms against her, the people OF Austria Will
bear aLy burden imposed upon them in the
interest OF the defense of the empire, and even
national bankruptcy would not be so severely
et The dlferen, nationalities comprising the
empire would loI the time lay aside their ami
mosities and iealOusies and unite in the support
OF Il common cause.
above a defense of the position OF Austria
We intended only to introduce our readers to
the current of thought that agitates the rulers
of Austria and Of her allies in Germany. As
there ere two sides to every quarrel, we thought
il proper to give every side of il a hearing
The PI eside nts Proclamation British
| and American Neutrality.