t Austria must be the aggressive party, for in the
treaty with Napoleon III it had been stipulated that France would come
to the help of Sardinia only in case of the latter being attacked by
Austria. Hence Cavour was obliged to seek every means of putting his
country into the attitude of the provoked party. How many
disappointments, uncertainties, and anxieties crowded those days, from
February to the end of April, 1859! In order to understand the enormous
difficulties overcome by Cavour it would be necessary to follow
literally, day by day, the history of that period. In March he repaired
to Paris to ascertain Napoleon's action: it was too evident, however,
that French public opinion was unfavorable to war, and the Emperor was
wavering. Russia and England suggested that the question should be
solved by a congress, to which proposal Napoleon III acceded: Cavour now
believed all was lost, since Sardinia could not refuse without putting
herself in the wrong. Fortunately, the difficulty was solved by Austria
boldly insisting that Sardinia should disarm before being represented at
the congress, and on April 23d this demand was enforced by an ultimatum,
to be answered within three days.

Now ensued a genuine declaration of hostilities, and most joyfully did
Victor Emmanuel make the following announcement to his troops:
"Soldiers! Austria, who masses her armies on our frontiers and threatens
to invade our country because liberty and order rule there; because
concord and affection between sovereign and people--and not force--sway
the State; because there the anguished cry of oppressed Italy is
listened to--Austria dares to tell us, who are armed only in our own
defence, to lay down those arms and put ourselves in her power. Such an
outrageous suggestion surely merits a condign response, and I have
indignantly refused her request. I announce this to you in the certainty
that you will make the wrong done to your King and to your nation your
own. Hence mine is a proclamation of war: arm yourselves therefore in
readiness for it!

"You will be confronted by an ancient enemy who is both valiant and
disciplined, but against whom you need not fear to measure your
strength, for you may remember with pride Goito, Pastrengo, Santa Lucia,
Sommacampagna, and, above all, Custozza, where four brigades fought for
three days against the enemy's five _corps d'armee_. I will be your
leader. Your prowess in action has already been tested in the