The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-24 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1851

Whenever there are unusual movements among
the Sovereigns of Christendom, it may be confidently
argued that some political changes of importance are
in preparation. Recently we have seen the contend-
ing factions of the Germanic Confederation silenced
by the interview which has taken place between the
King of PRUSSIA and the Emperor of AUSTRIA.
Subsequently we have seen the latter traversing his
possessions in Lombardy and receiving an ovation in
the chief cities of the northern part of the Roman
peninsula, not merely from Germans, Croats, and
Tyrolese, but from enthusiastic bands of Italians and
Hungarians. Court pageantries though these are, and
consequently hollow throughout in every par-
ticular, they are not on that account by
any means the less peculiarly significant.
They betray on the part of the vanquished
a degradation sufficiently abject to engender a feeling
of hatred towards the originator of such lamentable
abasement. Added to which, they reveal on the
part of the conqueror a determination to turn his
successes, if possible, to some material advantage not
hitherto anticipated by the members of the Imperial
Government. Viewed in this light, the pomp sur-
rounding the youthful KAISER in his journey ac-
quires a certain degree of interest and attraction.
From the latest intelligence it appears that the
Emperor of AUSTRIA had by the 15th inotant
proceeded already as far as Verona, where his
arrival had been celebrated with considerable
cheering and a very general illumination.
Doubtless the municipal authorities had actively
prepared for the advent of the SOVEREIGN, having, of
course, a wholesome dread of causing any emotion on
his part, either of displeasure or disappointment.
Hence the cordiality displayed towards the EMPEROR
by the complaisant Veronese. Viva l'lmperatore I
may prove somewhat unpalatable as a street cry in
Lombardy ; but dungeons and bombshells, with both
of which the people of that province have been ren-
dered familiar, would be yet more unwelcome, and
therefore "Yiva l'lmperatore" shout the Veronese! The
spectacle to the rest of Europe is melancholy enough,
and not the less so when it is remembered that of all
the public men of the past half century, the one most
energetically vilified by the Italians as a nation, is the
very one who died in endeavouring to effect their
emancipation. Almost as well might the Romans
strive to blacken the fame of RIENZI, almost as de-
cently might the South American population execrate
the memory of BoLIVAR, almost as justly might
TOUSSAINT be detested in San Domingo, and WASH-
INGTON in the United States, and HorEa in Tyrol,
and TELL in Switzerland, and KossuTu in Hungary
—for, although it was unfortunately Leis calamity to
be a King, CARLO ALBERTO was still struggling to
Vindicate his position as a patriot when his horse was
shot under him at Novara, and his soldiers were routed
by the veteran forces of RADETZIKY, and, driven
himself to the last extremity of despair, powerless,
crownless, and hopeless, lie died soon afterwards at
Oporto of a broken heart, if ever man died of one in
this world—a hero, an exile, and a martyr. Yet the
Lombards are ready now-a-days to hiss curses through
their grinding teeth over his grave, and when the
KAISER makes his appearance amongst them to raise
their most sweet voices in shouts of " Viva l'lmpera-
tore I" This explains to us, we conceive, the mi-
serable situation of the Roman peninsula. This
accounts for the political degradation into which its
inhabitants have lapsed. Instead of welcoming
those men who are really qualified to be their
liberators, they turn against them out of the very
multiplicity of their own suspicions, and at the
same time are ready, in too many instances, to lick
the dust at the feet of their foreign oppressors.
Hence the gloom which has again settled over Italy.
Her children, instead of lighting the torch of libera-
tion, are kindling bonfires in honour of the German
EMPEROR: ; instead of girding up their loins for the
vindication of their independence, they are dancing
to the music of their fetters, and propitiating the
smiles of the conqueror with serenades and illumina-
tions.

Actuated by a similar anxiety to observe with
vigilance the maintenance of despotism over the
different races comprised within the boundary of his
dominions, the Emperor of RUSSIA may be seen at
intervals making a tour among its principal cities.
Every additional visit of course is but a repetition of
the same slavish enthusiasm. It cannot be conjec-
tured, however, for an instant by that wily potentate
that in the acclamation of helots there can be any
sincerity, or that he can count with any degree of
confidence on the popular allegiance. With the young
and inexperienced Sovereign of AUSTRIA it may be
otherwise. Deceived into a credence in the cordia-
lity of his reception, he may calculate on
the permanent obedience of Lombardy. Should
such, however, be his impression at the
present moment, future years will proclaim
to him in characters of blood—characters traced on
those very pavements trodden at this time by the im-
perial processions—that in this belief he was mis-
taken. The Italians may be ungrateful enough to
calumniate their well-wishers, they may be desperate
enough to bend the knee in homage before the repre-
sentative of that foreign tyranny under which they
have groaned so long and hopelessly; but with these
sentiments they cherish also an undying hatred of
oppression, a hatred which Boomer or later must be
gratified by the avenging terrors of u revolution.
Whenever the explosion comes next—as come it wil
most assuredly—it will for once and for all be sue-1
cessful. Next time the people will guard against all
accidents by their unanimity. Next time they will
avoid everything that could at all baulk them in their
effort at their own emancipation. The experience of the
last three summers will not be lost upon them, however
b arren:of good those years may appear in regard to their
Governments. When the tocsin is again rung, be it
in Naples or in Turin, be it in Florence or in
Milan, be it on the shores of the Adriatic or on
those of the Mediterranean, the people of the
Roman peninsula must rise like one man,
without any despicable squabbles about precedence,
if they would ever dream in earnest of reclaiming
their violated rights, or of drivieg their German
masters beyond the suburbs of Inspruck. Before
they can hope to accomplish this mucb, however, the
children of Italy should learn in some measure to
discriminate between their friends and their enemies.
They should learn to love those who are really soli-
citous to mitigate their sufferings, and to abhor, in-
stead of flattering, the authors of their social and
political oppression. They should as sedulously en-
deavour to draw the right line of demarcation be-
tween those Princes who would redeem them to
happiness and
those who would confirm them in
their miseries, as between the true-hearted patriot
end the lawless and sinister demagogue—instead of
vilifying, as they now do, the reputation of Ow late