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    746 THE LEADEK. TPublic

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    men who do not comprehend their epoch, I...

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    At the Music Hall, Storo-stroct, on Wedn...

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    PRINCE METTERNICEL The great Austrian st...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    Commencement Of The War, The Emperor Of ...

    ment appeals to will not be known until Kossutli lias appeared upon the scene and spoken to them in his well-remeinbered name . Prussia is mobilising her forces , but it should be remembered that her peace establishment only contains about 140 , 000 regular troops , and if her policy should prove as sound as we could wish it to be , it would still be advisable for her to be prepared for any eventualities . In -the blue-book we have already referred to , Austria boasts that the minor German Powers

    were ready to take her part , and then- eagerness to plunge Germany into war will be increased by the appeal to Hungary which the allies have made . With these little princes a war of principle appears nothing better than revolution , and if they cannot occupy their subjects with fighting they will have to concert to organise reform . Lord John Russell must understand this , and if he will speak plainly he may do much to keep the Germans in the right path . The Cabinet of England should do what the people are

    doingbestow hearty approbation upon every step of the allies , which' is morally right . Without adulation , without forgetfulness , -vve aie among the first to recognise the true significance of the present conduct of the Emperor of the French , and we have the satisfaction of seeing almost all our contemporaries come round to what we believe to be the right view . He has spoken good words , and done good deeds in this Italian question : let us hold him fast to the former , and hope that the latter will multiply and prevail . .

    746 The Leadek. Tpublic

    746 THE LEADEK . TPublic

    Men Who Do Not Comprehend Their Epoch, I...

    men who do not comprehend their epoch , I am not of the number . In the enlightened state of public opinion aman is greater now by the moral influence he exercises ' than by -barren conquests , ' . this influence I seek with pride by contributing to give freedom to one pf the finest parts of Europe . " Admitting to the opponents o £ the Emperor that he may not be sincere , they must remember that the words of such a man are living things . They " imply obligations , " as Prince Gortschakoff says of his declarations as to Germany ; and the enlightened public opinion , to which the Emperor appeals , " will hold him to the obligations expressed by his words , whether he really used them sincerely will become continuall

    or not . This opinion , too , y more enlightened , and by it he will be held to his implied obligations by a force far greater than that which brought him to make the declaration . The past , present , and future progress of society , which politicians must always remember , cannot be forgotten by Louis Napoleon without incurring great damage . Were he to go from his word he might convert patriots into assassins , and be very speedily the victim of his own wrong . A knowledge of this progress- may help to keep him true , and diminish the terror of other politicians and of some people at his probable success . A want of this knowledge seems very prematurely hurrying them into very costly mistakes .

    One part of the general increase in humanity , to which we have referred as the index to the general mental change by which politicians can scarcely fail to be influenced , has been beautifully manifested both in France and Italy in relation to the prisoners and maimed sufferers by the war . " Nothing , " says the Marseilles correspondent of the Times , " could be more kindly disposed and considerate than the demeanour of the crowds through which the prisoners passed , with heads erect , undaunted even in their misfortune . " " The

    unprompted generosity and courtesy with which the Austrians were received" ( by the terrible Marseillais , remember , ) redounded more to the honour of France than the bloodiest of her victories . " We will not quote , for we presume everybody has read the letters in , the same journal , giving a description of the battle of Magenta and the scene which followed it , particularly the account of the manner in which the wounded were cared for , which concludes thus : . " On arrival at Milan a number of volunteer nurses were already waiting with glasses of lemonade to assuage the burning thirst " of the wounded men . Such incidents testify to

    THE PRINCIPLES OF POLITICS . A CELEBKATED living orator and public writer recently said , " . There are . times in the-march of events which indicate the necessity of a recurrence to first principles . " The assertion is strictly true , as far as it goes , but every , accomplished politician must be convinced that a recurrence to first principles is continually necessary . Unless the politician keeps ihexa ' ttlways present to his mind , though

    he may not always parade them , he is very sure to go wrong . The foundation of his art is the welfare of the whole community—the greatest good of the greatest number—and the general failure of politicians in modern times has arisen from forgetfulness of this first principle , as they are blinded by their zeal to serve a party , a clique , or gratify personal ambition . When they discard principles they have no rule but facts , Avhich being in their gigantic concerns too numerous and minute for the mind to

    grasp , they can only do right by chance . Then their acts are merely tentative , and they only learn their errors from the woes and hatred of nations . Then they are mere empirics , and they can only rescue themselves and their art from disgrace and contempt by carrying it out on the principles which science discovers to prevail in society . All their acts refer to the future , and to events brought about b y the impulses , passions , hopes , fears , and knowledge of . individuals . The latter , which exercises a controlling and guiding ^ power over the others , is for ever increasing , and society

    is for ever improving . Its progress is a great natural faqt , on which statesmen must model their conduct , as the railway engineer adapts his work to the country over which it is to bo constructed . In every part of Europe , for example , sanguinary laws and severe punishments have been gradually abolished , life is hold in increased sanctity , and men have become less wantonly cruel . The minds of individuals are more humane than they were , and social progress ia both an increase in material welfare and in moral impx'ovement . It is synonymous with a mental change in the individuals of whom society is the aggregate .

    Of late years social progress has been very rapid and great , and no individual qnn escape its influence . The changes in the mental condition of mankind cnoompass us all as the atmosphere encompasses the body . It is the especial business of statesmen always tp remember tuo natural condition of the society they aspire to influence . It has improved , it is imjpi'o-ving , and it will continue to improve . Louia Napoleon in his admirable proclamation to the Lombards recognises the foot . " Your enemies , " he uaid , " who are also mine , endeavoured to diminish the universal sympathy of Europe in your cause by making it to bo believed that ! only make war from personal ambition or to aggrandise the territory of Franco . If there are

    the universal progress which carries with it emperors and marshalls as well as humble women . Every such incident tends to advance it and make the humanity which condemns all suffering more influential . When more glory can be obtained by ministering to distress than by causing it ; by healing than by bruising our fellow creatures , we find our faith strengthened in the Emperor ' s disclaimer of personal ambition , and believe that he will respect the public opinion to which he professes to do'homage . Throughout Europe this is entirely in favotir of humanity and peace . To make or to continue war , except in obedience to the almost " universal sympathy " of Europe on behalf of Italy , would provoke the righteous indignation of ' the great judge— " enlightened public opinion "to which the Emperor professes to appeal We

    see , indeed , too many examples of politicians not quite so exalted as Louis Napoleon , ^ and supposed to bo much more under the influence of opinion , professing one thing and covertly or openly doing another , to justify implicit confidence in lus professions . lie is not more to bo trusted than they arc . But we may trust in that progress which has been going on from the beginning of history ; which is now more rapid and certain than over , and which will ever carry with it him and all who live . Wo may trust to the general desire for peaco , to the increasing respect for human life , to the strengthening horror of bloodshed , to the wish which every human being has for oinoymont , and the growing knowledge that ho can only obtain it by promoting the enjoymout of others , to keep every ambition in ohoelc .

    At The Music Hall, Storo-Stroct, On Wedn...

    At the Music Hall , Storo-stroct , on Wednesday , Mies Rcmond , nogrosn , from tho United States , delivered an admirable lecture on American slavery , In which she vindicated the rights ofher enslaved race , and explained the character and objects of the Anti-Slavery movement .

    Prince Metternicel The Great Austrian St...

    PRINCE METTERNICEL The great Austrian statesman who has recently quitted this life at the advanced age of eighty-six took for many years a most conspicuous part in the politics of Europe . His earnest endeav 6 urs were constantly directed to ' the suppression of liberal views and popular efforts for the attainment of freedom . A suggestive picture is afforded by Iiis career , of a man of no mean powers struggling against the natural efforts of an age of progress . Finding himself too weak to stem the torrent , ° he is : it last compelled to abandon the contest , is drifted into comparative obscurity and insignificance , and < lies , politically , some years before the termination of his natural life . Prince Metternich has quitted this world at a moment when , according to . the principles and views upon which he acted , the very acme of governmental disorganisation and political degradation must seem to him to have been reached by his country . The departed prince just lived long enough to realise the utter failure of all his plans , and to see modern and liberal institutions apparently on the point of replacing the medieval doctrines and heavy handed rule which it was the business of his diplomatic life to peroetuate and maintiain .

    Clement Wenceslas was the son of Coimt Metternich , who obtained Considerable repute as a diplomatist , and the Countess Maria Beatrice de Kageneck . He was born at Coblentz , May 15 th , 1773 , and made his first appearance in public life as master of the ceremonies at the coronation of the Emperor Leopold II . in 1790 . At the congress of Rastadt lie represented the Westphalian nobility . He was minister at the court of Dresden in 1801 , subsequently ambassador at Berlin , and after the peace of Presburg Austrian minister at the court of "Napoleon . ¦¦ ¦ When war broke . out in ' . 1809 ,-he

    returned to Austria , and was appointed to the Ministry- of Foreign Affairs . The idea of a marriage between Napoleon and an Austrian archduchess was suggested by him to purchase a respite for the empireT He conducted the necessary negotiations ; Napoleon was divorced from : Josephine , and the minister escorted Maria Louise to Paris . ' The course taken by Austria , at the instance of Metternich , in the parley of Dresden and the conferences of Prague , occasioned the fall of Napoleon . The time having elapsed -within which France was to accede to the liberal offers of

    the three Powers , Metternich framed the Austrian declaration of war . A month later the grand alliance was signed at Toplitz , and yery soon alter the Emperor Francis raised him to the dignity ol a . Prince of the empire upon the field of Leipzig . When the allied armies entered France he took an active part in the conferences and treaties , and signed the Paris treaty on behalf of Austria . In 1814 he practically manifested his designs of subjugating the whole of Italy . Through him the Peuins ' ula was again divided into fractions , ami the dependence of most of the Italian prince . * , and particularly tho Pope , upon Austria secured . At that period he abolished the title of the kingdom of Italy , and made use of the expression which has since been so frequently quoted : —" 'Italy id

    nothing more than a geographical , term . " In 1815 he was choscu unanimously to preside over the deliberations of the Congress or Vienna . For many years about this period his power and inlluenco were so great , he may be said to have had the entire affairs of Europe under his control , the deliberations and decisions of other courts and cabinet * beinff necessarily dependent upon the policy mlyo-Revolu

    cate 3 and followed by him . The French - tion ui' 1830 caused him . the utmost alarm and consternation , and he opposed all the resistance hu could bring to bear upon tlio events winch then agitated Europe . lie filled Italy with Austrian troops . In Poland he had for a brief period carried on a negotiation with the insurgent patriots ; but thuy wore speedily defeated , and ho again became ( heir open enemy . In the Low Country he oxcrtod himself to support tho pretensions o the onab

    King of Holland . In Spain lie ou yon . wmu to cSrry on his contest in favour of legitimacy , and he took measures in concert , with'Prussia to crush every appearance of popular oxoitomont and national independence in Germany . Upon tho doath of the Emperor Francis , tho government of the Austrian empire virtually dovolyoii upon tho Prince Chancellor , in consequence oi tho now sovoroign being almost incapacitated lor etato business by epileptic attacks . XIw ministerial absolutism had then an opportunity of monifosUnff

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 18, 1859, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18061859/page/14/