The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-24

The Dawn OF italian Independence.
The most creditabe approach made in an
English work to an adequate history o.
Italy, from the Congress of Vienna in 1914 to
the fall OF Venice in 1S49. is presented in the
two volumes collectively entitled. The Darn
of italian Independence. by WILLIAM Roscoe
THAYER tHoughton. Miffiin & Co... The narra-
tive stops short Of the achievement OF Italian
independence. but it portrays in detail the
series of three preliminary uprisings. to wit.
the revolutions OF 1920 and 1921. those Of 1881.
and. finally. those which followed the down.
fall OF Louis Philippe in France in lS4S There
is no chapter Of history which is more rich in
contrasts. or whose antagonistc extremes
have been more distinctly incarnated in two
individuals. For nearly twenty years MAJ
zini and Metternich were pitted against
each other as the prime movers In Euro
pean politics. That the fact is clearly recog-
nized lends an artistic unity and a deep per-
sonal interest to the book before us. Meter
mich. indeed. was much longer on the stage.
and he had but little difficulty in Quelling
Italian instruction until his great antagonist
became a spiritual power. radiating from his
London garrett an influence which. like an
electric current. shot through all barriers to
revive the heart of Italy. The revolutions Of
1920 and 1921. which were due to survivors Of
the Napoleonic epoch. and those OF 1881. which
were organized by the Carbonari. were put
down without much trouble. But the revolu-
tion OF 1S48 OF which Mazzini was
the principal author. was. for a time. tri-
umphant and although eventually sup
pressed. 1t at least drove Metternich definite
~ from public life. In the present no.
tice. We conflne ourselves to the portraits OF
these two men. in whom the moral. social. and
political ideals OF tho time were embodied.
Only through vivid conception OF these per-
sonalities does the story Of Italy between 1914
and 1849 become thoroughly Ineligible.
Clemens Wenzeslaus Metternch was born of
noble parents In 1913 In Rhineland. and stud
led for awhile at StrasburG. Just after a
young Corslcan named Napoleon Bonaparte
had left that university: the same masters
taught both Of them fencing and mathematics.
His studies were interrupted by social dis
fractions. into which his father position at tho
Viennese court gave him an early admittance
and were presently still more disturbed by
the outbreak OF war. in the course OF which
he went to England where he became
acquainted with leading politicians and in
spected the mechanism of Parliament. which.
he has said. was not without use in his sub
sequent career" Tho use he made of 1t was
Returning to Austria, he married
the granddaughter Of Kaunitz the statesman
who had been the adviser OF Maria Theresa
and the antagonist OF Frederick the Great
His first diplomatic mission was to the Con-
gress Of Rastadt. which ended abortively
through no fault OF his them in 1901. ne was
appointed Minister to Saxony. where he began
to cultivate his peculiar powers. His strength
lay in watching. Unmpassioned. observant.
patient, he could wait. like Jason. while the
dragon OF the revolution uncoied its huge |
bulk before him. and then. whore he saw u
vital spot barred. there he plunged his sword.
He knew his country's resources and his al
preponderance: he had unfailing
TACT unruftied suavity. and he risked nothing
by untimely rashness. His sojourn. indeed.
1T Dresden brought no immediate frution to |
Austrias schemes. but it secured his promo.
ion to the embassy OF Berlin. There too, his |
diplomacy was seemingly barren. for. when |
war broke out. Napoleon thrashed Russia and |
Austria at Austerlitz. while Prussia in spite |
II Metternich's efforts. had SO planned that |
by her insincerity and indecsion. she was |
sure OF immunity whichever might win. Still. |
efforts were not forgotten. The |
Emperor Francis nominated him Ambassador
% St Petersburg when Napoleon. who |
lad taken fancy to the polished young
liplomatist, requested that he should be
'ent to Paris Il do not think" he
wrote afterward in his memoirs. lit was a
rood inspiration OF Napoleon's which gave me
he possibility Of discovering tho faults which
It last led him to ruin. and OF freeing Europe
rom the oppression under which it Lam
pushed" II we are to credit the memoirs we
must believe that already In 1906 he regarded
himself as destined to humble NAPOLEON. and
oresaw much that came to pass. 1t is certain
hat at the raw and gnudy Napoleonic court he
vas perfect specimen OF eighteenth century
In person not ommanding yet
easinR. In manner elegant but not stif.
hoosing to be deemed frivolous rather than
arrest, too self-controlled to be surprised
nto petulance or anger, he soon shone as
tar OF tho first magnitude In Napoleon's has
lily improyised social lrma mont. He did not
orgot that Napoleon was a paryenu but with
he tact OF man OF superior breeding. he
ook part in tho pomp, and kept his
erision TO himself He was afYable and in
inuatinR. although. when occasion demanled
Q showed hrmness well us pliabllity and
teadily pursued his purpose scrutiniZing
napoleon and his satellites. sounding the tenn
or OF the French people. investigation. the re-
ources OF the empire. ana picking up what
ints he could OF the Emperor's Intentions A
igh-bred libertine. his llaisons with the
omen OF the French court among others
18th Caroline Murat. Napoleon's sister
sryed not only to crafty his vanity, but
lso to put him in possession OF secrets
hich he could not worm from the more wary