Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

Documenti americani sul conflitto italo-austriaco del 18S9 17
Sardinia will yicld to the haughty demand, evcry one expècts that Austria will attaok and commence the war, at the expiration of the notice. French troops will be present probably at the beginning or wìthin a short lime after. This movement on the part of Austria, pending the negotìations for a peaceful solution, originated by England and Russia with the approvai of Prussia and concurred in by Franco, without waiting to hear that on invitation of England, Sardinia had consented to disami, has excited niuch astonishment, and will contributo, very materiali)' to promote the game played by the Etnperor Na-polcon, to isolate Austria, in the event of war. The policy on which the Em-peror of Austria has acted may he wise, in a strategie point of view, but morally it is disgusting to Europe. He accepted the intervention of the turco great powers, and has ignored them in presentine alone to Sardinia a haughty and arrogant ultimatum and in peremptorily refusing to go into a Congress, following the principle of organization of the Congress of Laybach, a precedent suggested by Prince Mettenti eh, and acquiesced in by the other Powers, Austria has assum-ed the responsibility of the war, and wounded those whose friendly offers of mediation had been accepted and thus dcclincd.
France has not taken measures of precaution which would have been con-summated if she had not considered it certain that an attack could not take place until the efforts to preserve peace were cxhausted. There are stili some hopes of peace, but they are founded exclusi vely on the expectation of a hunii-liating retreat by Austria from the defiant position assumcd without doubt with great deliberation. The present appearances are certainly that war is inevitable. The Paris Bourse, yesterday and the day before, declined more than three franca. Gloom hangs over the business of Paris, and as yet there are no manifestations of enthusiasm for the war, but it is not difficult to foresee that this will come. Marshal Randon is in the full vigor of life, and has large expericnce in militar)' opcrations. His management of the war against the Kabyles, in Africa, was considered emincntly honorable to him. He has a very high reputation, and from his appearance one would say that he descrved it. So much depends on the success of the Emperor, that preparations on a very large scale, and of the best materials will be made to insure it. Many of the most steadfast friends of his dynasty apprehend that a coalition may be revived which may destroy it. If Getmany shall arm with Austria, the certainty of an easy victory for France and Sar­dinia will be imperiled.
There are many who regard the condition of things as very grave in regard to France. It is a crisis in her history. If the Emperor is victorious, European powers, including England, may regard the power of Austria as necessary to the balance of power in Europe. If not victorious, even in France his prestige will be seriously afiected, and with the domestic elcments of oppositiou, his power will be endangered. In a politicai sense, with ali the consummate address with which the Emperor Napoleon has conducted the affair, and the blunderings of Austria, there are grave dangers which surround him which are appreciated by his friends and his enemies.
Troops are leaving Paris at the rate of 1000 an hour, and proceeding with great hastc to the scene of the expected conflict. A few days will decide the question of immediate war, or of continuiti efforts to avert it, which. will prove abortive. The war must come, sooner or la ter.