Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-27
THE POSITION OF AUSTRIA.

OF the nuullllaLlUn ne lelb III uOAllE Wldb nc
has done, and saying what he has said. A
month ago he commanded a splendid army,
the largest ever brought together under the
standards Of tie Empire. Ike was the I'M
disputed leader of the German Govern
ments. while his adversary stood reprObated
and threatened by all the NEST important of
them. He had given orders to his repre-
sentative in the Diet to move a resolution
which IL was supposed would force Prussia
TO succumb Ii was known that the Gov
ernmentg of four-ffths of the German peo-
pie would support him and range them
selves against the Prussian aggressor. The
most experienced and celebrated General Of
the Empire was in command OF the Aus
TRAN army. and his confidence had extended
itselfto all ranks and classes OF the Austrian
people. BENEDEK believed in himself, and
the Emperor and all his subjects believed in
BFNFDEK. The world in general could not
escape something of this false confidence.
People know that one Of the largest and best
organized armies in Europe occupied Bohe-
mia, and ii was certain that IN lew hours
il could tske possession Of Saxony, and be
ready 10 execute its threat OF settling the
question Of the Elbe Duchies by march
on Berlin. In short, the reputation Of the
Austrian Empire stood higher one short
month ago, than at any time since the pres
ent Emperor had assembled the throne.
How changed is all now
Moralizing is Improbable work, but
there are times when the taithlessnes5 OF
fortune and the instability Of human great
ness display themselves so clearly in events
that the Oldest and tritest sentiments be-
come fresh and vivid. Never has State
been struck by a greater and more sudden
calamity. The supremacy Of Austria over
Germany is gone; the projected conquest OF
Burlin is turned into fear for the safety OF
Vienna. All is lost, unless the intercessio
of foreign potentate stays the progress OF
the invaders. Yet in this misfortune, the
Emperor does not lose his dignity, and the
address he has just issued will move the
hearts Of all who read it.
The chances of war and the position he
has accepted with regard to France, forbid
the Emperor to use a defiant Tone but he
tells his subjects, and no doubt with all sin
cerity, that he Will not sanction a treaty of
peace by which the essential condition of
Austria's position as a great power would
be shaken Sooner than this should be
the case" declares the Emperor, &" / am
resolved TO carry on the war to the utmost
extremity, and in this am sure Of my
peoples approval" There is nothing in
the history Of Austria which should give us
reason to believe that this is a vain boast,
War has ever been for Austria a series of
trials and reverses, relieved by few CLEANS
Of victory. Yet she has always been for
midable enemy. She was the chief power
in coalition after coalition against the first
Napoleon, and at last, her weight thrown
into the scale was the cause OF his down
fall
Prussia, crushed in a twenty days cam
paign, Eever rose again until 1913 T; but Aus
tria fought during twenty years, whenever
she had an opportunity, and the army with
which she took the field in the last years of
the war was better thany any that preceded
it. We must therefore believe that Austria
will not surrender entirely at discretion.
Undoubtedly she must yield much. What
she has been in Germany she can never be
again. Her influence over the minor States,
if these are to retain a separate existence Is
almost as much a thing of the past as her
power in Italy. Not all the good Offices,
not even the direct interference of France,
can restore the Empire to the influence it
has lost, for that influence was based on repu-
tation. Austria had the first place among
German powers, because it was believed that
her military strength was greater than that
of her neighbors. If she and Prussia were
to meet in any future Diet, the weight of the
latter would so preponderate as TO be per-
petual cause Generalization 10 the Imperial
House. Austria must make up her mind,
then. to become less of a German power and
leave the leadership of the Fatherland to
her rival. If Prussia retain all she has
conquered, she is really Germany, and no
other power can Withstand her in German
affairs; and if even the minor Princes return
70 their lately abandoned thrones, they can
be little moge than civil administrators,
yielding the military power Of the country
to King WILLIAM and his successors. 40
maintain Austrias position as a great pow
er - is undoubtedly the first duty of the En-
peror, but this will be done rather by
strengthening and consolidating the heredi-
tary possessions of the Austrian crown than
BY seeking TO exercise an improbable inilu-
ence over a multitude of petty States which
can never again be made either 10 trust or
to fear the Austrian power.
We have no doubt thatif these hereditary
possessions were threatened by Prussia-if
il were announced that the King demanded
the permanent cession of Bohemia, the old
obstinate spirit of the Austrian Cd3sARs would
show itself "a of yore, and that neither in
efficient Generals nor inferior arms would
prevent Austria from trying the chances of
another campaign. The conscription is a
powerful machine for filling the gaps of
armies, and the population Of the Austrian
Empire is nearly double that Of the enemy.
The Emperor tells his subjects that all
available troops are being concentrated, that
the Consumption is filling the ranks, and that
there are large enrollments of volunteers.
We do not, therefore, expect 20 see the En-
pire submit 20 the last indignities of con-
quest. We rather trust that the moderation
of the yictors and the prudence Of the van
quished will lead them 20 agree on terms
which, while giving the PrUssians the bene-
fit Of their enormous successes shall not too
far humiliate their opponents.
THE IMPERIAL MANIFESTO.
Vienna, July 10, lS66.-"To Ny Pro
PI.E--The heavy misfortune which has be-
fallen my army Of the North, notwithstand-
ing its mos heroic resistance 10 the enemy,
the increased dangers thereby menacing
the Fatherland, the calamities Of war with
which my beloved kingdom Of Bohemia is
being desolated and which threaten other
parts Of my empire, and the painful and ir-
reparable losses sustained by SO many thou
sands Of families among my subjects, have
moved to It's utmost core my heart which
beats with SO warm and iatherly feeling for
the good of my peoples, But the reliance
which ! expressed in my manifesto Of the
18th Of June--a reliance on your unaltera-
bic and faithful devotion and readiness for
any selfsacrihoe-a reliance on the courage
OF my army, which even misfortune can not
suhdue-a reliance upon God and my good
and sacred right-this has not wavered for a
single instant, / have addressed myself to
the Emperor Of the French respecting his
good Offices for bringing about an srmistice
with Italy Nof g,,.r.l,- dfd the En,Dar,r