The New York herald., 1869-03-09
! = U r o r E.
ITALY.


ITALY:
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WIN EurOpo Keep the Peace s-vital Necessity
Of Peace 10 ItaIy-The Position In the Event
Of \ Franco-Prussian War-HOpcs Of the
Italian Democratic Party from Prussia-
French Military Stores at Civita vecchia-
Prussian Indifference to Italian Aspirations.
FLORENCE, Feb. IS, 1862
some twelve months ago Napoleon I'LL made ~
Europe uncomfortable by announcing the appear
ance OF certain black points upon the p0p.ica hori
xon-heralds OF discord and woe as comets were
held to be in old time 1t is true that yiany observers
made the same discovery for Themselves contempo-
raneousy with the imperial astronomer and these
same observers persist In seeing them STILL despite
the fervent oflcial optimism now prevalent in the
principal European capitals. The very assurances Of
peace and good will by which the potentates seek to
inspire conndencein their subjects and in each other
bristle with defiance ana are omniously emphatic
upon readiness for war, even when most earnestly
aeprecsting it. Peace, in fact, is Just now
smoking cigarettes upon powder barrel
and one cannot help feeling horribly nervous
at the lady's imprudence and expecting Q
catastrophe at any moment France and Prussia
and Prussia and Austria are civil to each other at the
swords point, very much after the manner in which
men met each other In Californa's lswless days,
during the first rush of gold diggers. Confidence in
ones fellow man then feeble that in allowing
him to take light from your cigar you stuck 1t in
the barrel Of your loaded revolver. II would be an
immense boon to humanity II there was some
supreme International Vigilance Committee to keep
the peace In Europe, and do summary justice on the
ruler the nation that could not rest content with
their and persisted in troubling their neighbors
Such tribunal might commence operations at once
st~A
statesmen who aspire at the acquisition and consol
oation OF great empire at any cost.
There are some countries to whom peace Is abso-
mtely necessary to save them from ruinous hopeless
bankruptcy, and, indeed, possible dismemberment.
Italy is one OF these and now anxicusly watches the
many threatening signs OF an approaching conflict
between France and Germany. Most people con-
slider 1t to be impossible for Italy to remain neutral
in that event, and there two tempting bats tnar
w be held out by France and Austria to secure her
allances-Rom and the Southern Tyrol. 1t is unde-
niabe that an alliance with either power would be
highly unpopular in Italy, and that the Ministry
courageous enough to propose 1t would almost infa-
libby be driven IRON office. The sympathy OF the
quarter that the Italian democratic party look for
emancipation from the French pr0tectorate and the
Illustration Of any possible designs entertained by
Austria Of regaining OF her former Italian pos
sessions or reinstatlng the fallen Italian princes.
The Emperor has deeply wounded the national pride
by maintaining his troops in Roman territory after
ali justification for such has passed away.
There very few Italians who can forgive him for
baldians at Monte Rotondo. the great majority re-
garded the return Of the French to Rome 1857 as
s.ood therefore, how their present ss % permanence n
the Roman States is constant source Of bitterness
to the aan people Ear %
French make every preparation Tor an In
definite stay. and serious uneaslness is now
felt here at the enormous quantities OF war ma
terial Of all kinds constantly arriving In French
transports at Civta vecchia At the outset much OF
this war material came from the Catholic commit
tees Of France Holland and Belgium presents to
the Holy Father but that source has long been
exhausted s, the rled cannon the ammunition and
vecchia are sent by the French government for its
own purposes and not a. gifts to the Pope More
non and an immense quantity OF ammunition and
general war ma terial now stored unGer the GUS
Rome and at the arrivals ss continue .'A 'sccha ana
Italians may well ask themselves the meaning OF
Al this preparation, and md satisfactory reply.
Ny own convictlon long since was, that the Emperor
intended TO make his footlng In the Roman States,
should he and popular feeling rssoluteiy adverse 70
Franco-italian alliance The very significant fact
have goes far to such
Of the French semiof11cial press, who justify the
continuance OF the French occupation on the ground
that the Garbsldian party still entertain designs
upon Rome. The French papeu even speak OF still
discover that hard say. Italy has been perfectly
tranquil that for Q very long past What
ever the designs Of the Garbadaas may be they keep
them entirely TO themselves and abstain from the
silghtest demonstration. In fact, am informed on
SoTssd his snd: in Italy not 70 Or A.
opinion IS that France should Be ieii quietly q, a.
Civita Vecchia and that NO negotiation should Re
opened with view Of inducing her 70 return. Ma
poeon, he thinks, win very soon be happy TO offer
France, however. VIII drive q hard bargain with
Italy in this matter. Rome has now been COM
engineers-so strongly fortined as to enable it TO
Withstand regular siege ana Dafne any coup de
.aaia that might be attempted By an Italian army.
and defensive alliance win satisfy Napoleon,
and II that be refused Italy may look to
states, cutting the Pennsua in two ana nee 't, to
march upon Kome or Naples. Rumor has long been
busy respecting negotiations for the conclusion OF
such an alliance, and though these rumors have been
semo1iclally denied am inclined To consider them
perfectly well founded. The Menabrea Cabinet and
the ministerial party generally lean strongly to an
alliance with france, and their organs In the press
point out very Justly that to against France would
ruin. Even II France were not already at Rome the
Italian ports are wholly undefended and on the land
commission upon the national defences The old curss
OF PIEDMONT has been broken by the cesson Of Nice
Tds espas o ins Se Se a
vance OF . French army into Italy. The country Is
strength OF the venetian forcacns 4 unon hse
southern side, whereas under present circumstances
rs required upon the north. France Alone with
her immense and well organized resources would be
more than match for Italy as present. even were
the former engaged in war with Prussia but Itaiy's
would be stu more desperate In the event. very
probable as IL is OF Franco-Austrian alliance The
peninsula would then be completely cut or on the
land side by France and Austria, while the fleets OF
those two Powers might be expected to make short
work OF the meagre armament that Italy could
oppose TO them at sea.
these considerations cannot but be taken into
account by any statesman worthy OF the name at
the head of Italian affairs, and II the Menabrea
Cabinet could extract from France some satisfactory
concession on the Roman question-8ome distinct
engagement 70 leave the Pope to be protected by