The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-09-09 00:00:00

'For -

WHAT IS TO BE DONE WITH
GARIBALDI I

A despatch from the French Government has
congratulated the Cabinet of Turin on the event
of Aspromonte. There is also joy at Vienna
and in the Vatican because the disappointed
deliverer of Rome—the daring soldier who gave
Sicily and Naples to his Sovereign—the most
single-minded of Italian Patriots—the man
whose very name was a tower of strength to
Victor Emmanuel's kingdom, is now a captive at
Spezzia—made a captive by him who occupies,
by the fallen hero s gallantry and grace, the
throne of Italy. And this had been brought
about to please the sullen and sombre despot
whom Providence, in its inscrutable purposes,
has, for a season, been alike permitted to
tyrannise over his own subjects, and to become
the arch-disturber of the peace of orope. But
will the capture of Garibaldi further the aims
of the French Emperor, or rid Victor Emmanuel
of all his trouble He had not -much trouble
to capture his prize, but now that he has got
him safe, the question is, "What is to be done
with him ?" It is reported that some sort of a
trial will be gonethrough ; but before what court
will he be tried, and who are to be his judges
Is he to be referred to the Senate 11Who will dare
give evidence against him, and who will under-
take to appear as the King's advocate? It is
said that Garibaldi demands to be tried, and it
is intimated that if he is placed on his defence
he will make such disclosures as will convince
Italy and Europe that his conduct was that
which a patriotic subject ought to have been.
We all know that the French Emperor does not
retain his possession of Rome through love to
the Pope. Its occupation adds neither to the
splendour) nor to the military or natal strength
of the Empire. In one of his recent speeches,
Garibaldi more than intimated that Napoleon's
object in keeping his soldiers in the Italian
capital was to obtain a further appropriation of
Italian territory; and we may be certain that
the defeated of Aspromonte knows more
touching the aims of the French Emperor than
he has yet disclosed, and it may be, more than
the present rulers of the destiny of Italy would
like to hear. Bring Garibaldi to trial, and the
whole mystery would be cleared up. We should
then learn the exact nature of those further
appropriations by France which have been
hinted at, and be able to fix the blame of the
late unhappy collision on the right person But
what its the charge that would be brought against
Garibaldi? Would it be that he went
to Sicily and raised volunteers with a
view of obtaining Rome for Victor Em-
manuel Where is the treason in that?
What should we Englishmen feel if London
were in the hands of foreigners, and the govern-
ment of the day had been made deaf to the
voice of the people at the bidding of the in-
vader and Oppressor of our country? if under
these cirournstances a hero was to arise and give
the watchword, should we not flock to his
standard with the cry, "London or death?"
Would that be treason Everybody knows that
so long as the French occupy the Italian capital
there can be no peace either for Italy or Europe.
Had Garibaldi called out his volunteers for per-
sonal aggrandisement, or for the purpose of
wresting the sceptre from its present postsessor,
the charge of treason would be successfully pre-
ferred; but such was not the case, and none
know better than the king himself that the
motives which actuated his noble captive were
of the purest kind. But, say some, Garibaldi
was imprudent—he ought to hate Waited longer.
How long, pray, ought the Italians to have
waited? How long would we have waited under
parallel circumstances? The French have now
been in occupation at Rome for fourteen years;
is not that long enough? And unless they are
driven out by moral force engendered by the
act of Garibaldi, or by fame of arms, they will
remain there another fourteen years, and as
much longer as they are permitted, unless, in-
deed, the price which Napoleon demands for
evacuation be paid. When we contemplate the
subject our wonder is, not that the Italians have
risen so soon, but that they have not sought to
rid themselves of the intolerable nuisance long
ago. The real criminal is not the prisoner at
Spezzia, for it is not in him the disquiet of
Italy originates, but in the Emperor of the
French. We may therefore rest assured that
Garibaldi will not be brought to trial unless
Napoleon fancies that be and those who have
supported him are beyond the reach of such
shafts as his implacable enemy can fire at him—
nor then without an understanding, prior to the
charge being preferred, as to what is to be done
to him. But Garibaldi will never accept banish-
ment to a foreign country on parole—he must
either be tried or sat-. - Justice demands
that he should walk from his prison uncon-
trolled; bat those who haws brought him to his
present position consider it dangerous to let him
go. If he be permitted to pass through a mock
trial, will he be executed for attempting to give
to Victor Emmanuel the capital he seeks 7
Petruceelli de la Gattini, who knows the temper
of his countrymen well, tells us that 'the
officials who would have the temerity to con-
demn Garibaldi would soon be dead men, and
that the shot by which Garibaldi falls will
frighten Victor Emmanuel from the throne."
Napoleon may rub his hands at being delivered,
for a time, from a source of annoyance, without
the scandal of an open collision between French
and Italian troops, but there is still much risk
on every side. Garibaldi from his dungeon
speaks to his countrymen and to the world with
the eloquence which belongs to outraged patrio-
tism and self-sacrificing truth.