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Leader (1850-1860), 18th June 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 746, Untitled Article

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      merit appeals to -will not be known until Kossuth has appeared upon the scene and spoken to them in his well-remembered 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 their 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 notliing better than revolution , and if they cannot occupy their subjects with fighting they will kave 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 , we are 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 .

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      men who do not comprehend their epoch , I aiunot of the number . In the' enlightened / state of public opinion a man is greater now by the moral in fiuence he exercises than by barren conquests , and this influence I seek with pride by contributing to give ¦ freedom to one of the finest parts of Europe . " Admitting to the opponents of the Emperor that he may not be sincere , they must remember that the words of such a man are living things . They " iinpiy 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

      bv lias words , whether he really used them siucerely or not . This opinion , too , will become continually 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 miglit 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" pther politicians and of

      some people at his probable success . A want ^ of this knowledge seems very prematurely hurrying them into very costly mistakes . ¦ Onepart-of the general inci"ease in humanity , to which we have referred as the index to the general raental change by which politicians can scarcely fail to be influenced , has been beautifully manifested both in France and Italyin 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 ci'owds 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 j Marseillais , remember , } redounded more to the-honourof 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 CEi > EBH . tTED living orator and public writer recently said , " There are times in the march of events whicli 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 tkerajxheays 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 tlie 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 blindetl by theirzeal to serve a party , a clique , or gratify personal ambition . When they discard principles they have no rule but facts , which being in their gigantic concerns too numerous and minute for the mmd 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 a"bout by the impulses , passions , ho pes , fears , and knowledge of individuals . The latter , which exorcises a controlling and guiding power over the others , is for ever increasing , and society is for over improving . Its progress is a great

      natural fact , on wliich 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 held in increased sanctity , and men have become less wantonly cruel . The minds of individuate arc more humane than they were , and social progress is both an increase in material welfare antl in moral improvement . 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 groat , and no individual can escape its influence . The changes in the mental condition of mankind encompass us all as the atmosphere encompasses the body . It is the especial business of etatesmon always to remember tlio natural condition of the society they aspire to influence . It has improvod , it is improving , and it will continue to improve . Louis Napoleon in his admirable proclamation to tho Lombards recognises the root . " Your enemies , " he said , " 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 tho territory of Franco . If there are

      the universal progress which carries with it emperors and xnarshalls as well as humble women . Every such incident tends to advance it aiid 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 belieye that he ¦ will respect the public opinion to which he professes to do homage . Throughout Europe this is entirely in favour 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 tho 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 be much more under the influence of opinion , professing one thing and covertly or openly doing another , to justify implicit confidence in his professions . lie is not moro to be trusted than they are . But we may trust in that progress which has been , going on from the beginning of history ; which is now more rapid und certain than ever , and which will ever curry with it him and all who live . Wo may trust to tho gonemi desire for * peace , to the increasing respcot for human life , to the strengthening horror of bloodbLgcI , to the wish which every human being has for enjoyment , and the growing knowledge that ho can only obtain it by promoting the enjoyment of others , to keep every ambition in check .

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      PRINCE METTERNICH . 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 endeavours were constantly directed to the suppression of liberal views and popular efforts for the attainment of freedom . A suggestive picture is afforded by his 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 at last compelled to abandon the contest , is drifted into comparative obscurity and insignificance , and

      dies , 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 wliich he acted , the very acme of governmental disorganisation and political degradation must seem to liini to have been l-eached by his ' country . Tlie departed prince just lived long enough to realise the utter failure of all his plans , and to see modern and liberal insti - tutions apparently on the point of replacing the medieval doctrines and heavy handed rule which it was the business of his diplomatic hie to perpetuate and maintain .

      Clement Weneeslas was the son of Count Metternich , who obtained considerable repute as a diplomatist , and the Countess Maria Beatrice _ de Kageneck . lie 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 LeopoldH . in 1790 . At the congress of Rastadt he represented the Westjjhalian nobility . lie 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 empire . 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 whicli France was to accede to the liberal offers of

      the three Powers , Metternich framed tne Austrian declaration of war . A month later the grand alliance was signed at Toplitz , and very soon after the Emperor Francis raised him to the dignity oi a Prince of the empire upon- tlie 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 Peninsula was again divided into tractions , and the dependence of most of the Italian princes , and particularly ' the Pope , upon Austria secured . At

      that period he abolished tho title oi the kingdom Italy , and made use of the . expression which has since been so frequently quoted : — " Italy is nothing more than a geographical term . " In 1815 he was chosen unanimously to preside over the deliberations of the Congress of Vienna . For many years about this period his power and inlluence were so great , ho may be said to have had tlie entire ailairs of Europe under liid control , the deliberations and decisions pf other courts and cabinets being necessarily dependent upon tho policy advocated and followed by him . Tho French Revolution of 1830 caused him tho utmost alarm and consternation , and ho opposed all tho resistance he could bring to bear upon the events which then with Austri

      agitated Europe . He filled Italy an troops . lu Poland ho had for a brief period carried on a negotiation with the insurgent patriots ; but they wore speedily defeated , and ho again became their open enemy . I" 1 bo Low Country he exerted himself to support tho pretensions of the King of Holland . In Spain he enabled Don Carlos to carry on his contest in favour of legitimacy , and ho took measures in concert yrhh Prussia to crush every appearance of popular excitement and national independence in Germany . Upon tho death of the' Itftnpuror Francis , the government of tho Austrian empire virtually devolved upon tho Prince Chanoollor , in consequence of the now sovereign being almost incapacitated Cor state business by epileptic attacks . His ministerial absolutism had then an opportunity of manifesting

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      746 THE LE ADEK TPublic

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      At tho Music Hall , Storc-streot , on Wednesday , Mias Kemond , nocrosa , from tho United States , delivered an admirable locturo on Amorlonn slavery , in which she vindicated tho rights of her enslaved raco , and explained tho diameter and objocts of the Anti-Slavery movement .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 18, 1859, page 746, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2299/page/14/