NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE destiny of Italy is too strong for the powers that have so long held her down. The discretion and firmness of Pius the Ninth have kept his case so clear from doubt, whether in equity -or policy, that state after state has felt forced to give in its adhe- sion. Naples is now said to have declared her concurrence in the Roman policy of internal reforms, and to have expressed her dis- approval of Austrian aggression. Without a declared alliance, the conduct of Tuscany is that of imitation and sympathy. Sar- dinia maintains her friendly declarations with offers of troops and arms. It may now be said that all Italy is with the Pope. Na- ples is a good third of the peninsula ; Tuscany- will complete the laalf; the Roman States, with Piedmont and Genoa, another quarter. Austria may perhaps boast the alliance of Lucca and Mo- dena and the little states ; and she retains her somewhat doubtful away in her own territory : Austria occupies barely one quarter of Italy ; three quarters are against her. It does not appear that Austria gains in other parts of Europe that support which in Italy she is manifestly losing. Eng- land is understood to stand by Rome. Even France can no longer hold back, and is said to have made an offer of arms. No country has yet declared for the Government of Vienna. On the contrary, some of the Austrian provinces are known to constitute a standing diversion in favour of the Italians ; and at this very moment the Imperial Government is refusing concessions de- manded by Bohemia.
It is not surprising, therefore, that Austria should show signs of a disposition to retract her false move at Ferrara. This peni- tent disposition is displayed in a manner intended to save the dig- nity and feeling of the aggressive power : the responsibility of the military advance is laid upon the Austrian commander Radetzky, but without disapproval ; hostile intentions are dis- claimed ; an offer is made to refer the question of right to the arbitration of any foreign power, to be chosen by the Pontiff. Such is understood to be the nature of the conces- sion made by the Government of Vienna. As to the responsi- bility of the local commander, that may very probably be true. It is evident that the infirmities of Prince Metternich are telling seriously on the administration of Austrian affairs : had he done the work himself, it is not probable that he would have made so -great a political blunder as the gratuitous aggression on the Ro- man territory. But in his decline a good deal is necessarily left to subordinates. And that fact furnishes Austria with a loophole to back out by. The Pope is said to have declined to negotiate until Austria should have relinquished her armed occupation of his territory : but practically the question has been brought within diplomatic discussion, and it is to be hoped that the wiser spirit now mani- fested by Austria may be improved. If it be possible to reestablish Italy among the nations, without bloodshed or war, the achieve- ment would be worthy of the enlightened views which statesmen of our day so loudly boast.
