The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-05-27


past sort of fatality has attached itself to
all his combinations and undertakings. 1t
would be unjust, however, to burden him
with the sole responsibility of his recent acts
There is powerful faction at the Tuilleries,
(whose head is the Empress, the so-called
Spanish faction" y reactionary and bigoted,
the same through whose influence the Mexi-
can campaign had been decided upon, and
who, short-sighted as they are, do not see
that they are playing into the hands of the
enemies of the imperial dynasty.
On the other hand there is the "war par
ty'' hardly less influential than the former
aud whose name sufficiently indicates its
tendencies. Without openly adopting the
views of either of them, the Emperor has
allowed himself to be influenced of late and
has committed some mistakes, which his
own better judgment might have averted.
have said the French policy had been a
double faced one in regard to Italy. The
French troops left Rome on the 18th of Sep
tember, 1866, in conformity with the Con-
vention concluded between the Emperor and
the King of Italy, and it was understood
that henceforth the Pope should be left to
his own resources. But what did really
hanDens The Bronoh GsnaraI nnnant by
order of Marshal Mel, went to Rome to in
spect the Autibes Legion" in which deser-
tions had become frequent. The General
made a speech as if he had French troops
DClOIC MIN, IL was
found that they were considered as such.
Upon this the Government at Florence made
strong representations at Paris, declaring
that the Convention of September had been
violated These representations remained
without effect. Meanwhile the popular pas
sions had been aroused in Italy, and Garibaldi
made his well known raid into the Papal
States, there to meet at Mentena, not far
from the doors of Rome, with his second
Aspromonte French divisions arrived just
in time to save the Papal troops from de-
feat
And so the French are at Rome again and
the temporal power of the Pope has been
granted a new lease. How long will it last
and what, we may ask, has been gained?
The Pope more than ever is adverse to grant
ing reforms in what is left TO him OF his
patrimony. To all pressing demands and
friendly advise, Cardinal Antonelli answers:
" Non possumusi" The Vicar of Christ has
his capital fortified by French engineers and
spends the "Peters Pence in recruiting
soldiers.
In the Kingdom of Italy, things go from
bad to worse. The treasury is empty; the
organization of the acquired provinces re-
mains suspended the Ministers without
moral support; the political factions accuse
each other of incapacity or even treason;
brigandage is fourishing more than ever;
the southern provinces are overrun by .he
secret agent of King Francis, who praise the
blessings of the old regime and openly in
stigate the people TO revolt; the-iriends OF
GaribaIdi and Mazini shout, Rome or death,
and do all they can to increase the general
confusion. In fact the Italian ship of state
is not unlike ship with breakers ahead,
and of whose crew, instead of working hard
to save the craft, 60 some to pray and some
to curse.
Even bearing in mind, that France is
Catholic country and that the Emperor has
necessarily to reckon with that powerful
party. which represents ultra Catholicism in
France, still 1t is difficult to understand the
real motives, which made him decide upon
that second Roman expedition. or course
he could not allow Garibaldi 10 plant the
red flag upon the capital, but he might lby
secret understanding with King Victor Ema-
nuel1 have allowed the Italian army to cross
the frontiers, and his own troops 10 come
Just one day too late, when he could have
uEsvd hie ohouldere before accomplished
facts and left the matter for diplomacy to
settle.
strong pressure must have been made to
bear upon him in this affair At least one is
apt to think so in noticing the language of
the papers of that party, which have called
the Spanish party. These papers openly
preach war with Italy, the destruction of
Italian unity, Napoleon's own work, and the
restoration of the deposed Princes.
Letting alone the financial question of that
expedition, which has heavily burdened the
French budget, the Emperor has alienated
from himself the sympathies of the Italian
people, (liis natural allies in possible war
with Germany, while on the other hand it
has not satisfied the clerical party, for whose
benefit the expedition had been undertaken,
and who now reproach him with not having
done enough. To give an idea of what the
French temper is at the present moment, /
have only to point out to you the debates
about the new Army Bill, both in the Senate
and the Chamber of Deputies. and you will
agree with me when l say that France il
restless, ill-content, and ready for the strife
/ have dwelt upon the affairs of France,
because, from political point of view, she
is after all the central nation of Europe-the
pivot on which diplomacy always turns-and
because we all know that any storm arising
there is more sweeping and destructive. in
its effects than when it comes from any other
quarter.
AS every mail supplies you with English
papers, you are aware that England has
plenty of work to attend TO. What with
Fenianism, the expedition to Abyssinia, the
cries for reform, and her not very friendly
relations with the United States, it is no
wonder that she feels uneasy, however re-
assuring the language of the press may be.
So much is certain, that should war break
out, England must, sooner or later, be forced
into it in spite of herself and her position
would be an awkward one.
To speak of Spain would be to repeat the
old story over and over again. The only
hope for that unhappy country is that the
people should rouse themselves to action
and put an end to that swinding concern,
which some persons are yet pleased TO dig
Nifty with the name of Constitutional Gov
eminent.
In the East, black clouds are forming, por-
tending very little good. Russia is at her
old tricks again. 1t is very difficult, as We
read the tidings from the Southeast of the
growing pressure upon the Porte on behalf
of the Greek Christians; the enthusiasm of
Athens as she welcomes a Russian Grand
Duchess as her Queen; the obstinacy of the
Cretans; the incessant menaces of Servia,
and the forming of armed bands on the
frontiers of Bulgaria, TO doubt that another
and more powerful effort for the expulsion
of the Mussulman is at hand. / can not
vouch for the truth Of report which has
been going the round of the papers lately,
that there exists thorough understanding be-
tween Prussia and Russia, which gives the
latter entire freedom to move southwark,
without opposition from North Germany
can hardly believe that such wary and eau
tious statesman as Count Bismark should
have entered into any positive engagements
respecting his future policy. Should, how
ever, such treaty exist, it would certainly
explain wig Russia can intrigue in the Prin-
cipalities without opposition from the Ho-
henzollern now reigning there; why the Pan
Slavonic agitation is spreading along the
Lower Danube; why Bohemia is openly ap-
pealing to Russian aid.
When Russia has converted her present arms
into as many breech-loaders, and we shall
seei
And Germany you will say. must con-
fess at once, that my task here becomes
more difficult. shall have to speak of the
many changes wrought by Prussia and Aus
tria by the war of OF 1866; of what has been
done and Of what remains to be done: OF the
relations in which these two countries stand