The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-09-23


The utterances Of the Emperor Napoleon
on great international questions were looked
for with much anxiety, and nations seemed
10 breathe more freely when he had spoken
He had the art of wrapping himself and
his views up in mysterious Importance
like the Deiphio oracle OF old, and govern
mems and people watched with Impotence
the movement OF his lips. But since that great
Prussian statesman, Bismarck, and tho terribl 0
needle gun came on the stage to regulate the
affairs and map Of Europe mankind have been
much less anxious to know what he would say.
The irst declaration Of the manifesto he has
recently published Is, "that the recent changes
In Europe are favorable to France;" that is, as
we understand il, favorable to the ideas Of
Napoleon in the reorganization Of States
upon the principle Of race or nationality.
His hints In another part Of the circular about
favorlng the ANNEXATION Of people Of tho
same language and interests to any Of the
Powers of Europe" authorizes us to place
this Interpretation upon his language.
"Prussia and Italy" he says, "are drawn
nearer In ideas and interest" That is evident
to oil the world. Tho war could produce no
other result II does not appear yet, however,
that Napoleon either caused or desired this
One most important fact il apparent In the
Pru,sian-Italisn alliance, showing the progress
OF modern civilization, and that In that old
religious prejudices are lost sight or or OBJ
liberated before great political questions. The
Roman mother church, which used TO exercise
the greatest influence in uniting Catholic coun.
tries against hcretical nations, and the bitter
hostility Of Protestant Powers TO those Of
Catholic faith, no longer exercise control Italy,
tho centre OF Romanism. and Prussia, the hot
bed OF Lutheranism, are more closely allied
to-day than any other two countries In tho
| world.
The circular goes on to say that Austria
now has no hostile intent" This Is an impor-
tant declaration from Napoleon, who, Il Is
believed, Is the friend Of Austria, and who,
probably, has given Austria advice TO that
effect
Rome will be loyalty carried out" This
appears so frank that we cannot doubt that
Napoleon intends 10 withdraw the French
troops from Rome ~ he has agreed TO with
draw them. The consequence must be that the
ancient capital Of the world will become the
scat Of government for the young and powerful
Italian kingdom. Ths effect Of this will be
extraordinary upon the Italians. Full Of am
biton and stimulated BY the memories OF past
greatness, what will not the rcgensrats people
Of classic Italy, twenty-six millions In number,
aspire TO and be capable OF when their govern
raent shall be restored 10 the old seat OF en-
pircf
"navies Of second class Powers are secured
the liberty Of the Balic and Mediterranean
This Is little ambiguous Ia times OF peaca
we are aware that these seas src free 70 the
navles Of AL the world-to both tho lesser and
greater Powers hut will II be 50 In time OF
war; There has been no understanding 90
far a. We know, among The nations OF Europe
certainly no general eongress-to settle this
question. France, Prussia, Italy and Austria
may speak for themselves. or Napoleon for all
Of them, on this subject but has England,
which holds Gibraltar, or Russia, which Il the
dominant Power OF the Baltic, agreed 10 tho
freedom cf the two seas named In tho event Of
war;
Under the old civilization which was lmbued
with and governed by spirit Of military con-
qncs., empires and kingdoms were made up OF
the heterogeneous elements Of different
naiionaliiss, or Of the people OF different races
and languages. Il Was the ago Of forco, con-
quest, ambition and Capitalization. Tho civili-
ration OF the present day on thu old continent
L. that OF disinsegrasIon Of tbs old system and
the establishment Of dynas,ics upon the prlpci-
pie Of natonaltica This Ia tho theory Of Ma
polcon and embraces The whole argurasni Of
his manifesto u was the cause Of The war Of
Prussia against Austria. and ~ the alliance OF
Italy with the former Power against the latter.
Tho principle Of Gcrmsnio uai,y and Italian
unity was st the bottom Of The connict. This Il
the spirit Of the age % that side the Atlantic.
Napoleon has sazaclty enough v zoe 10 and 10
endeavor 10 turn Il In the direction % bis
dynastic ambition. lie sees that be cannet
arrest the progress OF iAl- idea % separate
nationality according 10 race and language,
and he comes 70 the rescue Of monsrchlcal
institutions and privileges by ecncsdins
something 10 popular sentiment IN order 10
preserve he dyass.e romaias Of shc past.
Bot modern civilization will not stop hero.
The experiment Of selEgoremmsnL of he
spontaneous choice Of rulers BY he people,
which we have successfully proved In the
United states, Ia destined 10 create . rsvoiu-
don In Europs a. no distant day. The world
4 has pasaed bevond The period when "A would