The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-14 00:00:00

GARIBALDI'S CAREER OF CONQUEST.

It is probable that the course of events in Italy
has bewildered even those mast intimately concerned
in the promotion of the catastrophe. Nobody could
have anticipated Garibaldi's career of conquest, or
foreseen the character of that astonishing revolution
which is now resolving organised States into the most
primitive elements cf political economy. History
itself scarcely offers a parallel to the spectacle at this
moment presented by Southern Italy. To find a
precedent for such a picture we must trace back the
stream of time up to the decay of the Roman Em-
pire, when the whole face of Europe was changed,
and its population gravitated to new centres of
power. Scenes apparently similar were enacted, it
is true, during the wars of the French Revolution,
and especially towards the close of that eventful
period, but revolution had been then domesticated,
and the Governments subverted to make way for
others were themselves only a few years old. Per-
haps the clesest parallel of all would be found in
the state of affairs which Napoleon's return from
Elba produced in France; but then Napoleon had
quitted France only 10 months before, and he re-
appeared as the restorer of an Empire to which,
notwithstanding the sufferings it has cost them, a
large portion of the French people looked with
affection and pride. When, again, the abdication
of Louis Philippe brought the downfall of his
dpnasty, the phenomenon caused but little surprise,
for the deposed monarch was but the first of his
line, and the same generation which witnessed his
flight could remember his accession. But no consi-
derations of this kind present themselves to explain
the revolutions now occurring in Italy. Rome and
Naples are the capitals of ancient States, ruled by
Governments of ancient standing, and owned by.
legitimate Sovereigns. Francis 11. is the repre-
sentative of a monarchy founded before the Norman
conquest of England, and Pius IX. can count more
predecessors than any potentate in the world. Even
the overthrow of European States ensuing on the
march of the French armies at the close of the last
century offers no true analogy to the present revo-
lutions. The French armies had might on their
side, and, if Switzerland and Venice were convulsed
at their approach, it was partly because the aid
offered to revolutionists was known to be irresistible.
But Garibaldi has had no such force at his com-
mand s his troops were but a handful of men against
the armies of the Neapolitan Monarch, and, except
for the reinforcements he has received on his route,
would be no match in numbers even for the mer-
cenaries in the service of the Pope.
Nevertheless, we read day after day of such scenes
and events as scarcely consist with any natural esti-
mate of probabilities. Though Italy is certainly-
not in a state of decay, but is giving, on the con-
trary, unexpected signs of national vigour, the po-
litical putrescence of its States transcends all
examples on record. Administrations, armies, and
institutions are crumbling into fragments ; Sove-
reigns are taking flight, and a simple adventurer
has all the cities of the Peninsula at his call. The
presence, or even the approach of Garibaldi, acts
like a chemical solvent upon the organised politics
of Southern Italy, and as soon as he appears the
elements ofthe compound obey the attraction of
new affinities, and are crystallised under new forms.
To what can we attribute so prodigious a result ?
To the power of the man or the previous 'condition
of the people ? We must probably take both these
causes into consideration if we wish really to under-
stand the effect.
There can be no doubt that for some years past
the various Governments of Italy have existed only
in outward show. They resembled those objects
which in tropical countries are occasionally found
so eaten out by ants that nothing but a thin crust
of their substance remains. They were undermined
by secret societies, which burrowed beneath the
surface of their institutions. They were deprived
of all support from their subjects, and could not re-
pose with confidence even on their own soldiers.
They relied for protection on Austria, and, when
Austria was expelled from their confines, the system
received its first great blow. Thee came the libe-
ration of Lombardy and the Duchies, followed by
the strong contagion of freedom ; while in Naples
the Government, with suicidal folly, redoubled its
efforts to repress the spirit of liberty. Still, for all
this, it is unlikely that the catastrophe would have
occurred, except by the marvellous power and
equally marvellous successes of Garibaldi. The
Neapolitans knew their own minds, but not their
own strength or the weakness of their oppressors.
To make this discovery it required the sagacity and
daring of a genuine hero. Garibaldi has done in
Naples what Clive did in Bengal, and after a simi-
lar fashion. In each case the task proved perfectly
easy ; but in each case the adventure called either
for incredible discernment or superhuman courage.
The opposing force represented actually only a
phantom array, but it passed for a terrible reality,
until the predestined champion revealed its hollow-
ness by a grasp.
It is fortunate again for Italian freedom that it
has been due so largely to the powers of a single
man. Every body can understand a hero. The
name of Garibaldi comprehends and expresses
all that the Italians at present either feel or desire.
It relieves them from the contemplation of political
theories, and shields them from theliesigns of poli-
tical agitators. They know that they want liberty,
and they know that Garibaldi brings it. They hear
of him from day to day as always triumphant and
always advancing. They loam that no obstacles
either by sea or land have been any impediment to
his career. He landed in Sicily in despite of the
hostile fleet, and he marched victoriously over the
island in despite of the hostile garrison. After this
achievement he crossed the straits, and repeated in
Calabria the exploits of his Sicilian campaign. At
length he enters Naples—a liberator, a conqueror,
and a hero, and the Neapolitans are satisfied.
Whatever may come hereafter, they have now got
Garibaldi, and with Garibaldi they are content.
His presence suggests no complications or jealousies.
He represents simply Victory and Freedom. The
Bourbons have fled before his face, liberty follows
in his footsteps, and peace settles upon his track.
No conditions more favourable to revolution could
possibly be imagined. The popular mind reposes
with satisfaction and content upon the image of a
hero, and all the troubles of a national regeneration
are quietly adjourned until the hero's work be done.
Thus far, then, wonderful as events have been, we
cau find some explanation of them; but it is only
too evident that more must remain behind. Gari-
baldi is Dictator, but dictatorships are essentially
provisional. Italy must be reconstituted, and the
work will be fraught with difficulties of all kinds.
If' the country passes whole and undivided under
the sceptre of King Victor Emmanuel, it will be
such an expansion of the original project as he and
his powerful ally never took into their considera-
tion—not to speak of the provincial animosities,
which will not always be dormant. If new preten-
ders appear upon the stage, they will bring new
complications; if the old dynasties should be re-
stored, it will be at the cost of peace. The truth is,
the revolution is running away with its authors,
and the element of which least account was taken
has become the dominant element of the affair.
The insurrection of Italians was to have played
only a minor part in the drama. It might suffice
for a little succour in Lombardy and a diversion in
the Duchies, but nothing more. Lombardy was to
be made Italian instead of German, and that was
all. Unfortunately for these speculations, the spirit
of Liberty once unchained, pervaded, occupied, and
commanded the entire scene. Even the Emperor
Napoleon himself lost his power over events, and
acknowledged his incapacity to ratify his own con-
ventions. The Italians onee relieved of the Austrians,
took their own way, in spite of French or Pied-
montese, and the scheme of allotments and compro-
mises was superseded by a vision of united Italy.
Garibaldi's own fortunes have exactly expressed
those of his country. A year ago he was a partisan
leader in the service of the allies, conducting a
handful of light troops along the skirts of the
mountains, and feeling the way for the great army
in his rear. He is now at the head of a mighty
movement, before which monarchies crumble, en-
tering capitals from which kings have fled, and
absorbing the aspirations of a people in arms. Just
so has it been with the Italian revolution. The
liberation of Italy commenced in the north on prin-
ciples of compromise and restriction, but it was
presently prosecuted in the south on bolder terms

_ . .
and it now comprises the whole country in its scope.
That it may find its consummation in genuine free-
dom and permanent tranquillity is the universal
wish of Englishmen.—Times.

THE FRENCH TREATY AND LOCAL DUES.—At a
meeting of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, held on
Monday, Mr. J. Jobling in the chair, a short conversation
took place on M. de Panelli's (the French consul) letter to
the Newcastle corporation, claiming that under the treaty
French vessels should bo placed on the same footing as the
Newcastle freemen with regard to town dues. The general
opinion expressed was that it was exacting to claim such
immunities and that they should not be conceded. The
secretary said that he was afraid the Frenchman had a bad
case. There were no coals whatever exempt from some
dues, by whomsoever shipped. They all paid the same
duty, and the corporation received it. What the corpora-
tion did with the dues the Frenchman had nothing to do
with.

EXPLOSION AND Loss OF SIX LIVES.—On Monday
morning last, at eight o'clock, a fearful explosion took place
at the Melfort Gunpowder Mills, which are situated about
15 miles from Oban, in Argyleshire, by which dreadful
calamity six human beings were instantly killed, five of
them, unfortunately, leaving wives and large families.
Ono of the bodies was found in the mill race, another in
the middle of the river, and a third was seen in a field some
distance from the mill, but so frightfully burnt and dis-
figured as not to be recognised. Some fingers wer' found
the road leading to the works. The explosion was dis-
--d at Bonaw, 30 miles from Melfort, and Was
liabitauts for thunder,

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tinctly
miiitotui by the