PROGRESS OF EVENTS TOWARDS A GENERAL WAR.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 754, 6 July 1853, Page 3

PROGRESS OF EVENTS TOWARDS A GENERAL WAR.

[From the Sunday Times, March o.]

Lord John Russell, in a very temperate and able speech on the affairs of Montenegro, may be said to have disclosed the secret apprehensions which now trouble the minds of all liberal statesmen throughout Europe. His object, however, was not to excite alarm, lie endeavoured, consequently, to give the mildest interpretation to events, though every word he spoke, if properly considered, only intended to strengthen the inv pression now growing up in the mi mis of all men—that an universal breaking up of the established order of things on the Continent is at hand. From various causes, the House oi Commons does not seem inclined to enter into any speculations on this subject. Many of its members are, probably, restrained by ignorance, others by indifference? but there are those also who comprehending the whole state of the case, tremble st the prospect before up, and shrink timidly from the contemplation of it. But it can, after all, do us no good to close our eyes against truth, and to refuse to take cognizance of events which will happen, whether we foresee them or not. We are on the eve of a general war, which, whenever it happens, must of necessity be a war of revolution. .Siill we would carefully guard against being misunderstood ; it is not the democratic party who are provoking and bringing on the war, but the ministers of the several despotisms, who arc seeking everywhere to exterminate the friends and natural leaders of the people. We should ourselves be better pleased to see popular 'statesmen more active on the Continent, though, probably, they might not in that case excite so much sympathy as they ..now do among mankind in general, a they rise, it will not be through spontaneous movements, but because no other chance is left them of prcservi g their own existence. The little principality of Montenegro, lying almost on the coast-of the Adriatic, between the Austrian and Turkish frontier, belongs by treaty to the Porte, but by religion and manners constitutes a part of Christendom. It is sujmcsod to contain not more than alo ;t one hundred tho.isandpcople, but these, living in mountain fastnesses, have been long able to maintain a virtual independence. Their ruler is a sort of prince bishop, who being a member of the Greek Church bus thought proper to have recourse for investitive, not to his natural head, the Patriarch of Constantinople, but to the Patriarch of Moscow. In this fact we may discover the true key to the late insurrection against the Porte. Russia is impatient lor the partition of Turkey, and desires to bring on a war, which she expects to terminate in that, as its result. Austria also, whatever moderation she may affect/has been so lar overruled by Russia as to cherish the same wish,"though, while aiming at extending her frontier towards the east, she may probably hi utterly destroyed by an internal explosion, and leave all the profit of her machinations to the Czar.

On the internal condition of Russia we omit, at the present moment., to remark ; because (lie attention of Europe is directed will) far more anxiety towards Austria. Observers of daily occurencesin that empire confesstbatthe soil throughout is volcanic. Scarcely a day passes without revealing some startling circumstance —a barbarous execution, an assassination, a conspiracy, or the outbreak of an insurrection, in Italy, the bayonet may be said tu enter the very vitals of the people, who are kept bleeding, as it were, on the ground, but ready every moment to spring up and engage in mortal conflict with their oppressors. In Austiia itself the population is sullen and ferocious; chafing in the chains of tyrvany it cannot break, and eager for any occurrence that may enable it to ily to arms. In Prague, the capita! of Bohemia, revolutionary movements seem to lu.ve been long contemplated, though their leaders have. for the present, been thrown into prison, where they will, probably, be tortured and hanged. At Comoro a tremendous conspiracy, of which we only obtain impelled glimpses, has just been discovered, ami, according to report, the provost of the place, who had been engaged in it, was hanged within six hours after. At Pesth the guns of the batteries are loaded, and cannoneers with lighted matches, stand beside them night and day, ready to pour their contents upon the city at the first sign of an outbreak. Throughout Hungary the mass of people are groaning with rage and revenge, beneath the intolerable sufierings to which they are condemned, and writers who affect immeasurable caution, state it to be general belief in Austria that ihe present year will not pass over without a vast insurrection, to bo terminated, it is hoped, by by an entire revolution. In the rest of Europe things do not wear a much more pacific aspect. France, Prussia, and Austria are making insulting demands and menaces upon Switzerland, which must be resisted at all hazards. At home tho Russians themselves are filled with the deepest discontent, and would take up arms to overthrow their monarchy at the first opportunity that should offer, In France, whatever may be thought of the stability of Louis Napoleon's usurpation, private information emblcs us to affirm that general discontent prevails. The funds are kept up by a perpeUial fraud , and immediately after the coronation it is expected that a tremendous re-action will take place, and property lie reduced to the most ruinous state. The fears of the government were proved by the pretended amnesty, which only extended to those guilty of the most trivial " offences." Every man of respectable pretensions for virtues or abilities was retained in prison. The liberal party, meanwhile, is actively at work, not through the press, which is gagged —not through public meetings, which arc prohibited—not through secret societies, which are difficult of organisation—but every mim, by tacit concert, as it were, with the other members of hi*

]i:u\y, arts as a propagandist, and makes war upon the opinions which form the basis of the actual Government. Whenever the general war comes, therefore, it will be a war of opinion, and may almost be regarded as a religious conflict. The people have their symbols as;'! the Governments have theirs: What side England will take will not be left for England to choose. The attack will be on constitutional principles, and the irresistible force of circumstances will, therefore, connect it indissolubly with the popular party ; revolution will be for us, not against us, and the example o." our Government will, for the first times perhaps, rouse the whole of Christendom to arms.