The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-15 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 15. 1867.

ITALY.

[STAMPED, 11.

I would give way if only an appearance of repression
were kept up, while the movement was made to
inomparr.) i appear serious enough in reality. There was there-
LEGHORN, Nov. 9. fore liberty given to Garibaldi to go through the

(PION ODE OWE

To regard the last outbreak of Claribalcham as a country, exciting it by speeches. When the
mere burst of individual or sectional enthusiasm, French remonstrated he was, however, seized and
without connection with, or bearing on, the de- removed, and I do not doubt that the ministry
liberate policy, feeling, and motives of the nation, then for a time really wished to keep him quiet if
would be to commit a very serious mistake. But , the country would acquiesce. But he escaped, the
,
to trace the concurrence of sentiments that have country became more and more excited, and the
led to its origin and contributed to its failure will ministry of Rattazzi thought for a moment of try-
need us to go back some few years in history, and ing a bold game. But the French absolutely pro-
to examine somewhat closely the tendencies, hibited it, and menaced war. Then Rattazzi or
aspirations, and reasonings of the Italian mind. the King—no one yet knows which, nor does it
The immunity of understanding the secret springs 1 matter—recoiled before the danger, and a new
of action in so important a member of the Euro- 'cabinet was formed expressly to submit to France.
pean family, and the view taken of a question i Its task was, however, difficult. The wavering
• which, though locally Italian, is politically Euro- policy of its predecessors had placed the whole
peen, may, however, justify an examination a little nation in a position at once false and discreditable,
more searching than usual of the real origin and and the nation was very angry. To seem to lead,
meaning of the phenomena we see. and so to appease it, the government marched its
When schooled by the vain efforts of isolated own troops into the Papal states, and when time
liberalism duringthe earlypartof the century the idea bad been gained for reflection it marched them out
I of an Italian unity at length gained ground, as offer- again.

ing the sole possible basis for Italian liberty, it made I Nothing could well be more pitiful than this
its way with an overwhelming rapidity which seems' system of policy, illustrated alike in the ministry
tousmiracialous. From the earliest epochs Italyhad ',
which fell, and in that which still stands. What,
been a country divided, both by reason of govern- however, is important in the history is, that the
meats and of races. The Roman domination over- policy was not disapproved by the nation while it
came foe a period this isolation, but it revived had a chance of success ; but that the ignominy of
with tenfold force under the influence of the fresh failure has made the nation recognise its true cha-
blood and the anarchy which the middle ages meter. If by secretly fomenting insurrection while
brought. Then, not only each district, but almost seeming to disavow it Rattazzi had succeeded in
each town, was sundered by an inappeasable tradi-isecuring French acquiescence in its results, he
tion of jealousy from its neighbours. As each, would have been hailed as a great statesman. But
from a state of rude liberty, fell into sub- his failure has made conspicuous to the whole
jugatiols to a tyranny the jealousy was still Italian people that trickery is not statesmanship.
nourished by the rulers as a means of preventing ~ A hard, but wholesome lesson. For from this
union la revolt. At length this was perceived by time will date a resolution to disavow all but
the subjects, and union became the watchword of open means of attaining the aim they still believe
freedom. It was hailed with delight, and in 1848 to be entirely just and reasonable. This is now
its strength was tested and approved. That first 1 the cry from one end of the Peninsula to the
beginning failed of success, but the principle was other : "No more trickery of negotiations or con-
still clung to. In 1859-80 it won, partly by' ditions ;we claim Rome as our right, and will bide
foreign help, its triumph. But by this time, so our time to have it unconditionally."
deeply had the idea of an Italy one and
iclivisbile taken possession of the national The nation indeed would, had a strong govern-
nment appeared, have ere now put its new resolu-
mind, that it asserted itself far beyond the
tion in practice. At any time within the last ten
desire of its French abettors. They would
days it has been ready for war with France. It
have wished an Italy so far united as to be' was restrained from insisting on war only by
free from the Austrians, but so far severed as to ; the sense that to give it hope of success it ought to
be dependent on France. But Italians in every have a strong government, and that it had not,
region Insisted, in spite of French influence and ' and did not know where to look for one. Had
intrigue, on sacrificing every local pretension in Cavour been alive, the nation would have demanded
order *merge all in one strong and united national
I war. Had even Menabrea said war, it would have
power. Tbey gained their object, contrary to responded war. But it did not dare to compel
two instanoestiMenabrea to make war.
every expectation, in all but
those of the territories subject to Austria, and 1 The criais which has just passed has, then, had
those which the French garrisoned for the Pope.
two results, both of which are good for Europe.
Every national authority succumbed to the national :
; lathe first place, it has established the Papal ques-
will, and only the force of the two greatest military
tion, as far as Italy is concerned, on a simple terri-
powers in Europe could avail to resist it.
I tonal basis. It has cleared away all spiritual
But these excepted spots became all the more
theories about the exceptional character of the
the object of Italian aspiration. Till they were , tempera power,
and shown it to be simply a
embodied in the kingdom the kingdom was felt nut
foreign domination, supported by foreign force.
to exist. Therefore there was an undeclared but The pretence of treating with the Pope will now
undying war waged in every Italian heart against :be as much scouted by
the Italians as by the
the two powers that still impeded the establish-l Pontiff, and on both aides a non pearinnus will be
mint eirs their nation in complete independence.. the answer to any question of surrender of right.
We all know how this moral war was waged against; Henceforth, therf, the'Pope is flffillitkonat ratter
Austria, till at last the combination of circum- I But equally are the French held to be the national
stances arose which gave it success. But the in- I enemy. All the debt of gratitude for past favours
tensity of desire was not less strong in the case of I was wiped out by the cession of Savoy, and the
Rome. It is important to recognise this, for those I gratitude for future favours is now abrogated by
who make the question turn upon the aspirations the clear perception that France is the foe that
of the Romans alone, fail to see the point really at : stands in the way of the national unity. In all
issue. Rome is to Italy what London is to Eng-l European complications the chance of France find-
land. And as we should not tolerate a pretence on i ing an ally in Italy is now at an end.
the part of the Irish population in London to set
It should, indeed, be kept in mind that, though
it up as an independent state, under French pro-
this is unquestionably the determination of the
tection, so will the Italians not admit that the sub-
public, it is very possible that the Court and Minis-
servience of any Romans has aught to do with the
try may still attempt to go on in the old track of
question whether Rome should belong to Italy or
to France. bargaining. The King is believed to be really to
Rome, however, occupied a peculiar position. a considerable extent under superstitious influence,
a l
Its fate affected the religion of half Europe, and
and to have
the strong persona
the reluctance to be at
its separate government was maintained by a enmity withhead of church. And among
power which had been, and might be, an important leading public men there are many who are
favourers of France. But I think it will be seen
and necessary friend of Italy. Hence it was made
that all these influences will be unavailing. They
the subject not of a moral state of war, but of nego-
may secure a certain amount of acquiescence in
tiation. And when three years ago the negotiations the Chamber,
but then the Chamber does not
reached the point which secured the retirement of
represent the country. It represents only
the foreign force on certain conditions, the condi-
constituencies based on a very high qualification,
tions were accepted by the nation, though still
and numerically far smaller in proportion than our
under express protest that it ceded no claim and
acknowledged no right superior to its own. own were before the last Reform Bill. Outside of
these constituencies there is a vast mass of intern-
The conditions were hard enough. They
genes which is represented in the Chamber by only
amounted in substance to this, that though the
a few men, but which will have an immense influ-
French were to withdraw, the Pope should be
ence in the formation of public opinion and public
allowed to hire or borrow any amount of foreign
action. And that unrepresented mass is not over
aid, while Italy should allow no aid to reach his
favourable at present to monarchical institutions.
discontented subjects. The case was however loft
It is deeply tinged with the theory of republicanism
open of his discontented subjects being strong
—not in the least with socialism, but with a philo-
enough to overthrow their ruler, even when sup- sophical opinion that republicanism is the best
ported by his mercenaries. And there can be no
form of government, and that if monarchy fails to
doubt that the Italians accepted the bargain in the meet and lead the popular aspirations it would be
full expectation that this case, mtprovided for, well to try a more popular form of government.
would actually arise and solve the difficulty. But : This is an element in the future of Italy which it
it did not. And, on the other hand, the French I would be foolish to overlook merely because it has
interpreted the protection that was still secured toiat present so few representatives in the legislature.
the Pope in an unfair sense. They declared that he
It is a sort of secret tribunal, which sternly judges
was still under their moral protection ; and they
each act of the present government, and which
allowed hint to obtain recruits from the soldiers of . .
their army, who still retained the rights and pres-
tige of Frenchmen. gams in strength by all its blunders.
But whatever partial outbreaks there may be,
Italy, therefore, felt herself cheated, and still there will be no general Italian movement until
believed that she was entitled to Rome, and she
leaders arise. Nothing is more striking than the
universal desire in critical moments to support any
also believed that she had the right to balance the
ent,
scarce concealed aid given by the French to the f°
ve
for if it only is a government. Party
Pope, by an aid given by her volunteers to the feuds gotten, and all rally round the hands
that hold the national flag. Still, however, there
Italian party in Rome. Consequently with her _
desire, all the more impatient, that there were
the movement of Garibaldi was a question of ex- ' '
pediency only ; there was no hesitation anywhere worthier hands to hold the flag. Italy's inisfor-
about its being either in itself unjustifiable, or tune, and she knows it perfectly herself, is that
has now only politicians, but no statesman.
being any breach of faith in regard to a treaty she The honest aro weak, the clever are merely selfish.
which all Italians regarded as violated in spirit
already. It is an unhappy and most trying state fora young
But the expediency was a very difficult question, country to be placed in. But we cannot but ad-
the good sense which, while fully recognising
and on this head a wide difference of opinion
the situation, anti while sighing for redemption
existed. On the one hand, there was the undeniable
chance of prevoking a serious collision with France,
oncesupports and directs governments that are too
from it, makes the best of it as it stands—which at
But on the other, there was the belief that France on .
felt herself well out of Rome, and was not likely
stronger policy till sure of having leaders who can
feeble to guide themselves, and refuses to enter on
again to place herself in so false a position—that she a
to u as.
had already accepted facts when accomplished carry 1

which she had protested against before they were
accomplished, and that she would not willingly face THE
ABYSSINIAN EXPZDITION.—The National
the peril of a second time placing herself in the
Strom Navigation Company have received • telegram
attitude of denying a popular aspiration. On these from Bombay to the effect that their stemner England,
grounds many joined Garibaldi, and more wished which left Liverpool on the 12th September, had arrived
him well—though there were also many,even among at Bombay on the 10th inst., having accomplished the
his old adherents, who thought his present enter- primp in 58 days.
prise unwise and perilous. CaLcyrra, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS.—
Then came into play the double dealing of the Dlsastiti.ws, Nov. It —The Syria arrived at 3 p.m. to-day.
late cabinet. It seems to have thought that France The mails leave for London at 5.30 p.m. No quarantine.