Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · January 7, 1868

War Prospects.

ITALIAN affairs continue so entirely to absorb the public attention that the public mind is occupied with nothing else. The vote of the Corps Législatif, although not unexpected, and although a less decided majority was obtained than had been anticipated, has not failed to direct the thoughts of every one to the consideration of the new phase which political events have assumed. The government, after much double dealing, has declared that it will protect the Pope and defend his territory. And on this declaration the entire Chamber, with the exception of an insignificant minority of Senators, has ratified and approved the policy of the government. The gauntlet is now thrown down on both sides of the Alps, and it would appear that the result must be either a war between France and Italy, with Prussia for an ally, or, what is still more probable, the dissolution of Italy.

Paris, and in fact all Europe, are occupied with Italian affairs. Vesuvius is in a state of eruption, an eruption which as yet is very partial, and which does not endanger the neighboring villages, but it is an eruption. What, with a political volcano and subterranean volcanoes, Italy is a country in perpetual agitation, especially in the South; and it is there where probably the future system will begin. Is there, then, between the earth and man, between nature and our passions, some strange connection, as between two beings whose sympathies are so strong that they are fatally attracted to each other? Are the volcanic eruptions the precursors of the political commotions of the inhabitants?

Finally, Denmark, constantly mindful of her lost provinces, is awaiting the time when she may be able to do, as regards Prussia, that of which Italy has been guilty in regard to France, regain the lost provinces and take the revenge which she is planning with all her feeble force.

Russia is looking at the same time, toward the Swedish provinces on the north, the Danubian provinces on the west, and Turkey on the south. If Sweden is carried away with her Scandinavian affinities and her family and historical relations toward France, her old ally, Russia will cast her eyes toward Stockholm, considering that ancient Scandinavia, as well as Finland, is a geographical dependence of Russia. If Austria, allied to France by the new interests in Italy and a feeling of revenge toward Prussia, becomes engaged in a movement, Russia will turn her attention to the Danube, considering that there are many Slavs in the Danubian principalities, and that Russia is the natural defender of the Sclavonic race. If Turkey does not cede to Greece all the Christian subjects which she is no longer able to maintain—that is, Crete to-day, Epirus or Thessaly to-morrow—Russia will turn her attention to Constantinople, in that she is the natural protector of the Greek Christians, and without avowing her immoderate desires for conquest. And, finally in order to attain this triple end, Russia will join hands with Prussia, strengthen Pan-Sclavism, marry its daughter to the King of Greece, and for the thousandth time, as it has recently done, seek a quarrel with Turkey by the use of an old Russian Consul, at Adrianople, who claims that the Russian flag has been insulted in his person by a Turkish officer.

Spain is about to convoke the Cortes, and meanwhile has assumed a pacific prudence. Spain is too much rent with internal dissensions, too sick in politics and in finance to take any active part in the agitation of the Roman question. All her desires are in favor of the Papacy—but, as long as there is not open war, her support will consist only in vows. However impotent the Italian marine may be, it is tenfold more powerful than the marine of Spain. A contest between Spain and Italy is not possible except in the event of a French invasion. However great may be the desire of Isabella to have a quarrel with her cousin and enemy, the King of Italy, the quarrel is at all events postponed.

As far as England is concerned, she has desire and interest enough to intervene in the affairs of Italy. But how? Her immediate interest and friendship incline her to the side of France. She has the Fenians, Abyssinia and reform on her hands. Her Catholics are using all their influence in favor of the Papacy. England will probably enter her protest, but will not enter upon hostility either open or avowed.

In short, the grandeur of the contest will probably prevent the contest itself. If, then, any thing comes of all this agitation, it will not be before spring. And who knows what may take place in Italy between this and spring? But at all events it is in Italy that the tempest is, and it is from Italy that we shall hear the first thunder, if the cloud that menaces the horizon is a thunder cloud.

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