Year: 1859

about true, sincere aud durable peace In the
consciousness that no step on the part Of my
! Government could, even in The most remote de.
gree, lead Z, a disturbance OF the peace, | de-
manded that the Power which was the cause of
the complication and had brought aboulthe dan.
geroi war, should, as preliminary measure, dis.
arm. Being pressed thereto by friendly Pow.
ers, at length accepted the proposal for gen
eral disarmament. The mediation failed in con-
sequence the unacceptabeness of the condi-
uous on which Sardinia made her consent de
pendent Only one means of maintainipg
peace remained ] addressed myself directly TO
the Sandman Government, and summoned L TO
place its army ON peace footing and 10 dis
band the free corps As Sardinia did not ac-
cede to my demand the moment for deciding
the matter by am appeal to arms has arrived


l have ordered my army TO enter Sardinia.


l am aware Of the vast importance of the
measure, aud II ever my duties as monarch
weighed heavily on me il is at this moment
War is the scourge Of mankind see with
sorrow that the liyes and property Of ousands
OF my subjects are imperiled, and deeply feel
what severe trial war is for my realm, which,
being occupied with its internal development.
greatly requires the continuance of peace But
the heart of the monarch must be silent at the
| command of honor and duty On tie frontiers
is an armed enemy, who in alliance with the
revolutionary party openly announces his inten-
tion to obtain possession Of the dependencies
OF Austria in Italy. To support him, the ruler
over Franee-wLO under futile pretexts inter.
ieles in the legally established relations of the
Italian Pcninsula-had set his troops in
movement Detachments ofthem have already
crossed the frontier of Sardinia The crown
which l received without spot or blemish from
my ioreiathers has already seen trying times.
The glorious history Of our country Riyes eyi
deuce that Providence, when there is a
foreshadowing that the greatest GOOD of
humanity is in danger of being oveubrown
in Europe has frequently used the sword of
Austria in order to dispeI that shadow We are
again on the eve of such period The over.
How Of the things that be is not only aimed at
10y factions, but by Thrones The sword which
| have been forced TO draw is sanclified, nas-
much as it is defence for the honor and riubts
Of all peoples andStates and for all that is held
most dear by humanity


To you, my people, whose devotion 10 the
hereditary rcgning family may serve as model
for all the nations Of the earth, | now address
myself In the conflict which has commenced
you will stand by me with your olt-proved f.
delity and devotion. To your sons, whom
have taken into the ranks Of the army, |, their
| Commander, send my martial greeting. With
pride you may regard them, for the eagle of
Austria will, with their support, soar hgh.
Our struggle is just one, and we begin il
with courage and confidence. We hope. how
ever, that we shall not stand alone in it The
| soil ON which we have to do battle was made
! fruitful 10y the blood lost by our German hreth
rem when they won those bulwarks which thew
have maintained up to the present day There
the crafty enemies Of Germany havs generally
begun their game when they have wished to
break her internal power The feeling that
such danger is now imminent prevails in ali
parts of Germany from the hut to the throne
from one frontier to the other speak as a
Sovereign member of the Germanic Confedera
ton when call attention to the common dan
ger and recall to memory the glorious times in
which Europe had to thank the general and
feNcnt enthusiasm Of Germany for its liberia
ton


For God and Fatherland


Given at my residence and metropolis of
Vienna on this 18th day Of April, 1859.


FRANCIS JOSEpH