Year: 1859




Times, Of May 7th, will give our readers a
tolerably correct idea of the the origin Of
the war now raging in Europe:


Like most other great international con-
fcts, the approaching collision between
France and Austria has double origin. 1t
has been brought about in the first place by
the operation of certain recognized causes
Of which diplomacy can take cognizance
and which will constitute the ostensble
ground of the war; and in the second place,
by the logic of historical necessity, not
the less real that no ministry will allude to
it, and no protocols discuss its bearing. In
the near mminence of the final crash, it is
desirable that the people of this country
should clearly understand both aspects of
the case; for, although nothing can be more
unlikely than that the United States, extern
ded as our commerce is, should in any way
become involved in the progress of hostilities,
it is extremely important that the sympathy
and tho moral support Of so great and free
4 nation should be given to the side of ma
tionality and Independence in a conflict from
which it may be we'll permitted us to hope
for vast and permanent good to the liberty
of mankind. 1t has been common with a
large number of English journalists to speak
of the disturbances of the last few months as
'provoked" by the "restless ambition" of
Napoleon Ill. Let us see whether some
more satisfactory cause cannot be found toi
commissions which have so deeply agltated
the world. 1t is certain y far from probable
that in the present age the mere petulance
al Of .,l,
however powerful, should be found able to
shake Europe to its center, unless the ques.
ton agitated hv that monarch were really
and of itself inherent in TIE constitution of
European affairs. Thus much it would be
safe for any disinterested observer to assume
at the outset.


The words addressed by Napoleon Ill, to
The Austrian Envoy at Paris on New Years
Day, were few and simple. They referred
to negotiations of some standing, and ey-
pressed the regret Of the French Sovereign
be in so unf .vorabe state. Why did these
seemingly harmless phrases carry terror to
every Exchange on the continent! Why are
they bearing fruit, it may be upon this very
day, of open and deadly war between the
two greatest Empires of the Continent!-
Because they were at once understood to
mean that Napoleon III was dealing serious


y with the Italian question; because all
Europe knew, and for years has known, to
borrow the language Of the London Times
itself, that there can be no stable peace in
the world while Austria can defer settle,
ment of her pretensionsin in Italy; and because
the French Emperor has established char
acter for resolution and far reaching policy
which makes his hitterest enemies feel that
whenever he calmly undertakes a piece OF
political work, he will nfaIlblv accomplish
it to the uttermost Of his ability. What
then are these Austrian pretensions in Italy,
and why is France in especial called upon
to insist that they shall be summarily and
decisively dealt with:


The Italian Peninsula, with an area about
equal to that Of New York and New Eng,
land combined, and population Of nearly
twenty-five millions, occupies such position
in Europe that were it united under one au-
thority, or leagued in one interest, it must
carry with it the command of the Mediter-
ranean, and balance in the South the power
of Germany in the North Wero the Italian
States free and Independent, no power could
successfully undertake to arrogate to itself
the dominion of Southern Europe. Were
the Italian States subject to any one of the
great Powers, that Power might undertake
the accomplishment of the dream of univer-
sal European dominion, at least as safely as
France in the time of Napoleon |, or Spain
in the days Of Charles V.


When exhausted Europe fell back in 1915
from its victory over Napoleon, upon the re-
construction of "princpalities and powers,
it was felt to be mperatively necessary not
only that Italy should be put beyond the
reach of any of the parties to the Holy AL
lance, but also that she should be pre-
vented from aspiring to any unity of her
own. No ruler could trust his brother ruler
with what Richeleu called the "Key of the
World" and all the rulers were resolved that
the Italian people should hold it. Italy was
therefore divided as follows To the restored
King of Naples was given his old realm, the
Italian inheritance of the Spanish Bourbons.
Upon an area nearly equal to that of New
York, this sovereign was to rule over ten
millions of subjects and the whole southern
region of the Peninsula To the Pope was
confded an area equal to that Of Maryland
and Massachusetts,, with three millions Of
people, in the center of Italy, and stretching
from sea to sea. An Austrian prince, of the
young branch of the House of Hapsburg,
held Tuscany, with two millions of people;
and fertile region on the west, fully as
large as Massachusetts, locked in upon its
north eastern borders by the smaller States
of Parma and Modena, also ruled by princes
of Austrian extraction and alliance, and with
combined population Of about million of
souls. Northern Italy was finally divided
by the river Ticno and the Lago Maggiore
between the Houses of Savoy and Hapsburg,