If all the ages of the times do not fail, there is a crisis
approaching in European affairs, that will require the whole attention of the
transatlantic powers, and which will probably leave us at leisure to settle our
own difficulties in our own way. The
financial embarrassments of all the European nations, with, perhaps, the
exception of England, are among the least threatening of the dangers which are
imminent. In Russia, the Serfs are
dissatisfied with the law which makes them free, because it makes them pay for
their freedom, and the nobility are sour because the Serfs have been freed at
all. And the much abused inhabitants of
Poland and Finland are ever on the alert to take advantage of every
pre-occupation of the Government to strike another blow to their independence. In Germany also there are evidences of coming
trouble. Hungary is awaiting the march
of events in Italy, and the moment Garibaldi attempts his long cherished
enterprise of wresting Venitia from the dominion of Austria, Hungary will rise en masse to throw off the same
yoke. Secret societies exist in every
town, and secret agents are traveling over the country, warning the inhabitants
to be ready for the emergency. A similar
state of things is noticeable in the Turkish Provinces of Montenegro and
Herzegovina, which are giving the Sultan much trouble. The recent assertion of Prussia, too, that
she considers “the German Confederation as an international and not a federal
part of Prussia,” has irritated Austria and thrown the little German principalities
into an interesting flutter of excitement, presaging trouble in that quarter.
But the Italian question is the most dangerous and
complicated of the whole, and is daily growing more difficult of solution. Garibaldi has just written a letter
intimating that he intends to commence operations for the recovery of Venitia
early in the spring, and Austria is taking active measures to resist the
attack. The Bourbons are adding new fuel
to the flame of the Neapolitan rebellion, and fresh hostilities are momentarily
expected in Naples and Sicily. The Pope
continues to hold on doggedly to his temporal power in spite of the warning of
France, and the recent and numerous exhibitions of popular feelings on the
subject in the Italian cities, shows that he is daily becoming more
unpopular. If Napoleon should withdraw
his forces from Rome, as he threatens to do, the Pope is in a fair way to lose
not only his temporal but his spiritual authority as well. Verily, coming events in Europe cast their
shadows before. At this late day we
hardly need the repeated assertions of neutrality in our affairs on the part of
England and France. Matters at home
promise to furnish abundant scope for the exercise of all the diplomatic skill
of the European nations, if indeed a general appeal to arms is not
necessary. The scales which hold the “balance
of power,” never at an exact equipoise, now seem more likely to be put of equilibrium
than ever before. It will require time
to get things right again, and meanwhile our little difficulties will be
settled up. In view of the troubles
abroad, and the signs of returning peace at home, there is no good reason why
we should be further haunted by the ghost of “European intervention.”
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 2
