Russia comes forward to re-establish by force of arms the authority of
a government which has been unable to protect itself against its own
subjects; and, when re-established, she will have to maintain it. How
long this military protection is to endure, after all armed opposition
is put down, no man can pretend to foretell. It must depend upon
events which are beyond the reach of human foresight. But a government
that is dependent for its authority on a foreign power, must, in
every sense of the term, cease to be an independent government. Is
it under Russian protection that Austria is to preserve Lombardy, or
to maintain her influence in Germany? Would the Sclavonic population
of Austria continue to respect a German government protected by a
nation of Sclaves--would they not rather feel that the real power was
that of their own race? Would the Austrians forget the humiliation
of Russian protection, or forgive the government that had sacrificed
their independence? Dependent upon Russian protection, the Austrian
government could no longer give security to Turkey, or counterbalance
the weight with which the power of Russia, whatever may be the
moderation of the reigning emperor, must continue to press upon the
frontiers of weaker countries. In such a state of things, the relations
of Austria to the rest of Europe would be changed--reversed. Instead
of being the bulwark of Germany and the safeguard of Turkey against
Russia, she would become the advanced post of Russia against both. Is
it to bring her to this condition that she has allowed herself to be
involved in the war with Hungary? Is it to arrive at this result that
she will consent to prolong it?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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