The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-05 00:00:00

TILE PATRIOT " CiaIIIINALS!"

e have recently seen an interesting list of the
several political and military leaders at present at
the head of the Sicilian movement—a list which
tells a wondrous tale of how the whirligig of time
brings about its revenge. It appears from that
curious document that all the eminent men who
now play so distinguished a part in the emancipa-
tion of Southern Italy, have, at one time or other,
been sentenced, for their political acts and opinions,
to punishments which, in the parlance of the crimi-
nal code of despots, are generally called infiinzant—
that is, suitable to common felons. What is still
more striking in the catalogue we refer to, is the
fact that even the Government of Piedmont—not
only the despotic one which existed under Charles
Albert before 1848, but even that of the present
King—has been found to prosecute, in former
years, patriots who now requite the sufferings they
endured by working for the aggrandisement of the
very same Power.
To begin with Garibaldi, whose name of course
stands first and foremost, we see that, in 1834, he
was condemned at Genoa to a " dishonourable
death" on account of conspiracy, and that he was
declared an " outlaw," exposed to public vengeance
as an " enemy of the country," and to be treated as
" a brigand of the first class," so that his life was
at the mercy of whosoever thought proper to take
it ! This much for his persecutions under the old
reyinze of absolutistic principles and priestly in-
fluence, which prevailed with the House of Savoy
before the popular movement of 1847 and '4B.
Again, under the present Government, Garibaldi
was once more arrested in 1849, thrown into prison
at Genoa, and subsequently transported to Tunis.
This is the man who, in 1860, offers Sicily, which
he has won with his own right arm, to the House
of Savoy from which he has endured so much !
Truly, an heroic requital for injuries received.
A similar fate has been that of Crispi, who is at
present the Minister and Secretary-General of
Garibaldi. He is a Sicilian by birth, was kept in
prison at Genoa on account of conspiracy, as far
down as March, 1853 ; and then, like the now Dic•
tater of Sicily, was transported across the sea.
From Malta he went to Paris, whence again he
was driven away by the police of the French Go•

held all over the coup.

for the

d the

of civi

igs, . _try, _ promo-. • ward an_ .crow her power in the balance -
tion of agriculture. An elected central committee sation against barbarism, of justice and right vernment. At this moment he co-operates with
of an agricultural society was authorised to act at; . against oppression, of the conquered against the gallant chieftain of the Free Corps in bringing
Warsaw, and to communicate with some 70 corres-. the foreign conqueror. The very goodness about the junction of Southern Italy with the
pondents, equally authorised, to reside in all parts. of her cause will, with as much certainty as Northern Kingdom, from which the Monarch is to
of the kingdom. Nearly five thousand members of ' human affairs permit, ensure the willing concur- profit under whose reign Crispi was so long kept
this
society, paying a subscription similar to what. rence and support of her powerful neighbour. in narrow confinement.
you, gentlemen, subscribe as friends of Poland, Should that occurrence fail the disappointment The Minister of War of Garibaldi, Signor V.
namely, two guineas a year, gave at once to that will find its reward for the risks and sacrifices in- Orsini, a native of Naples, is a further proof how
committee a sum of about nine thousand pounds , curred, not only in the glory, but also in the grati- patriots, who, when in misfortune, are treated as
yearly to spend in prize medals, shows, and encou- ' tude of numberless races. The radiant prestige of criminals, suddenly advance again in the esteem of
ragements of all sorts, including asylums for infanti the name of that country will be the greater for her their very enemies as soon as the acquisition of
elementary schools of agriculture, useful publica- neighbour having deserted the good cause. But I power and position have rendered them once
tions, &c. In a country so long deprived of every ' repel this supposition. From the depth °filly heart more formidable. Orsini was arrested in Sicily
opportunity of discussing public affairs, and where ' I hope and trust Great Britain and France will at in 1847 under the charge of conspiracy; in 1850
a dozen friends could hardly meet privately with- last perceive that there is no safety to themselves he was condemned to death in oontantacion by the
out receiving threatening warnings from the police, from reciprocal destruction, but in combining for vile magistracy of the Bourbon Government. In
the liberty given to the inhabitants of meeting once • the good of others. Thus, and thus only, will their October, 1859, when working for patriotic de-
a year at Warsaw for a week in such large num- ,daily differences on minor pointsvanish—differenees signs similar to those which have carried him at
bers (iu January lasttheYnumbcred 1,200 members -which keep them in a state of unceasing watchful- last to the prominent place he now occupies, he
present) caused necessarilysomcanxietybothamong 1 ness and distrust—just as they did vanish for a was threatened at Florence by Baron Ricasoli with
the people themselves and among the Russian offi- , ,short period when the two nations last fought expulsion from Tuscany. Baron Ricasoli, it must
ciais who were ever present at those meetings. But 'together in the Crimea. That period was short, be remembered, is not the servant of a despotic
to the Russians any imprudent language or act of indeed, but why ? Simply and most undoubtedly Monarch, but was then the head of a soi-disant
those assemblies might have been welcome; they because by that ill-advised expedition to the Crimea constitutional Administration which had issued
would not have failed to say, " See what can you the two powers carefully abstained from doing good from a popular movement. Yet he did not scruple
do with such an ungovernable people, which turns t 0 any ene, aiming only at doing harm to Russia. to menace Orsini with banishment from a territory
every opportunity into a political riot, and ever I have no doubt the scheme, so far, was called prat- which had but just been freed from the footprints
forces authority to keep them under the strictest t' ical by many. In ••• 4' was the very cause of the stranger. Orsini's revenge has been that he
my of inion iu
Which,
after
sin :namense sacri- is now working for the junction of Sicily with the
restraint." But, thank God, no such thing hap- c.f. that great failure
pened ; no pretext of the remotest kind was Cee of men and mone a far realmof the King whom Ricasoli servnq
~..
left Russia wiii
found; agriculture, its improvement, and the rreater name in the whole East. ". -"r So ' is it with the Chief of Garibaldi's
, again,
than she has e 1,.... -.
improvement too of the agriculturist, both material fr 4 *bled before. A wonderful 'ff the Hungarian Stephen Tarr. Re, too, Was
opportunity
presents 1 bl, '
....