The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-04
The European situation.

| The European situation.
1t is only few days since we said that the
chief European difficulty was at Rome. Upon
the settlement Of that question, more than upon
the settlement of any other, depended, we felt
convinced, the peace Of Europe 1t was not
without good reason we gave it as our opinion
that the movement of the party Of action was
winked at by the Italian government The
capture OF Garibald did not convince us to the
contrary. 1t only convinced us that Napoleon
had interfered, and that the threatened out
break had assumed violent form within un-
| fortunate limits. We were not wi bout sympa-
thy with the Garlbaldi movement, because we
| thought we hal reason for believing that the
movement would be controlled and directed
by the Italian overnment-controlled and d.
rected not merely 70 the advantage of Italian
| unity, but to the advantage of tho Holy See.
Rome must be the capital of Italy. BY this
time it would have been the capital of Italy
! had not France interiered. France has inter-
fered and it is this chiefly Which constitutes
the European difficulty of the moment.
Our latest intelligence relating to I,aly and
Rome has been conflicting, but sufficiently
| alarming. On the 3Oth of September very Sc
rious revolutionary demonstration had been
made by the partsans of Garibaldi in the city of
Viterbo. Viterbo is situated within the limits
of the Papal Safes, and is only some forty
two miles from Rome. Rumor had it that the
suppressed. A telegram which we print in
to-day's HERALD, giving, perhaps, two days
later news, states that the rising at Viterbo had
not been suppressed; that the town of Acqua-
pendene, about thirty miles further north, had
been captured by the insurgents, and that in
slant assistance, which had been asked by the
commandant of the Papal forces, had been re-
fused by the Italian government Apprehen-
sions, justly founded, were generally enter
tanned that the entente cordiae between Italy and
France was hopelessy ruptured. II this news
prove to be correct, it will be in perfect harmony
with our expectations The landing Of French
force at Civia veccha, which, to say no more. is
at least probability, will beget an amount Of
confusion the disastrous results Of which it ia
impossible TO overestimate.
The rupture of friendly relations between
Italy and France it is difficult TO contemplate
without taking into consideration the present
attitude and spirit Of Germany. In yesterdays
HERALD we printed Count Bismarck's circular
to the Prussian representatives at the different
courts, with copious extracts from leading
French journals rejecting the feeling in France
which the publication Of the circular had
evoked. tits much to say that in Paris, in
print and in leading journals, the En-
| ,ror is regarded as "laughed at" but
| it is only the truth. Napoleon, by the
unnecessary spirit of meddling to which
of late he has yielded, has very seriously
damaged the reputation which, by years OF
cautious, well-considered and far-seeing policy,
he had built up Mexican Intervention was an
egregious bunder, which he has since been
compelled to confess. The encouragement
lent to the German war Of last year was
another. The assistance which he gave to the
unifcation Of Italy, whatever he himself may
think, many are Of opinion was third.
Rising to higher level on the platform Of
error, he has been successful in begetting con-
vicion which Is worldwide, that he has at last
placed himself in . difficulty from which II is
oil but impossible to escape.
1t is the unfortunate position OF Napoleon that
success is necessary to his imperial existence.
| Success, aided by an idolized name, raised him
| to his present position. Success has sustained
him in it. Success not attending him threat
| ems to be his ruin. No one is more fully alive
| TO the fact that continuing success is neces-
| sity Of his position than Napoleon himself 1t
was desire to maintain the prestige he had
won that led to the Mexican expedition. II
was the same desire that prompted him 10 en-
J courage the unidcation Of Italy and the unidca-
ton of Germany. The doctrine Of nationali-
ties, however, which he so vigorously preached,
and Of which Italy and Mexico and Germany
are illustrations, have brought him neither
honor nor satisfaction II was double-edged
sword. which II was his intention should cut
only In one direction, but which, as he has
found to his sorrow, does cut and will continue
10 cut in other directions than that which he
intended. II has already brought him sorrow
in Mexico. II Is bringing him sorrow al the
present moment both in Germany and Italy.
| We do not say too much when we assert that
Napoleon is chiefly IL not solely responsible for
| all the trouble which now agitates or threatens
Europe As he has been the principal agent in
creating the difficulty, so is he likely to be the
| principal sufferer. II he can extricate himself,
the world will applaud; II be cannot, the world
| viii not grievc. The game has been bold; he
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