The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-29 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, OCT. 29, 1867.

The proclamation that the King of ITALY has
issued is admirably well adapted to the momentous
occasion that calls it forth, and we earnestly trust
that it may fulfil tho expectations f those who

' framed it. Due credit should be allowed to those
who have resolved upon taking this decisive step,
and employed such strong terms to check the evil
that is rapidly spreading, and threatens injury, if
not destruction, to all concerned. This proclama-
tion begins by declaring that bands of volun-
teers, without the authorisation of the KING
or his Government, have violated the fron-
tier of the State. An " inexorable debt of hon-
our" is prescribed, it goes on to say, by the respect
due to international stipulations and to the laws
that all citizens should obey. Europo is aware that
the flag raised in the Papal dominions is not VICTOR
EMMANUEL'S, and that fact imposes upon him and
his advisers serious responsibilities, and the imperi-
ous duty of saving both his honour and the country
of not " confounding twcs causes absolutely distinct,
two different objects." This is plain speaking,
at any rate, and whether it answers all
the desired ends or not, at least it can-
not fail to secure great results. We are glad,
both for his own sake and that of Italy, that the
KING should thus have spoken out, and in common
with his Ministers have put a veto upon the mad
attempt that the volunteers under GARIBALDI hap
engaged in. The French will, we doubt not, also
rejoice to find that the Italian Government have
known how to act in this great emergency, and has
boldly stood forward to protect the best interests of
their country from dangers at home and abroad,
from an internal revulsion no leas than from an ex-
ternal assault. A calm tone of dignity pervades
this proclamation from beginning to end, while at
the same time it is spirited and divided. " Italy
must be secured against the dangers she must run.
Europe must be convinced that, faithful to her en-
gagements, Italy does not desire to be, and cannot
be, the disturber of public order." These are em-
phatic words, and cannot possibly be misunderstood
by those who read them and hear of them.
They are well calculated to impress upon the minds
of waverers the great danger of acting in defiance
of the laws or in violation of treaties.
Further on we find that the threatened conflict
with France is denounced in the strongest terms,
and indeed, it is said, that a " war with an ally
would be a fratricidal war between two armies who
have fought for the same cause." As holder of
the right of peace or war, the KING affirms that he
cannot tolerate its usurpation, and very justly too,
for it is a great encroachment on his privileges,
made too at a most inopportune time. There is
neither doubt nor hesitation to be found in the
language here employed, and it is encouraging
to meet with an expression like the following :
" I feel confident, therefore, that the voice of rea-
son will be listened to, and that the Italian citizens
who have violated that right will promptly with-
draw behind the line of our troops." No one who
is unprejudiced can refuse to admit that the KING
evinces a very fair disposition to make the best of

things, and to meet difficulties half way. He pro

miser that when calm shall be restored to men's
minds, and public order again be observed, his Go-
vernment, in agreement with that of Franco, shall
seek to make a practicable arrangement that
will be calculated to put an end to the
" serious and important Roman question." We
cannot see, under these circumstances, how any one
can possibly find a reasonable excuse for holding
out against the voice of entreaty that is addressed
to them, and urges them, in the name of their
common country, to abstain from acts of violence,
and to consider well the consequences of their rash
Finally, the KING declares that the

venture.

honour of the country is in his hands, and that the
confidence the nation has hitherto shown him can-
not fmil him. lie will confide in the wisdom
of his subjects, even as they must trust
in his affection for the great country which, thanks
to their common sacrifices, has been "at last re-
stored to the number of nations, and which we
must hand down entire and honoured to our chil..
dren."

We are not surprised to find that this procla-
mation has been received everywhere with approval
by those who recognise the significance of the
situation, and the urgent necessity for prompt
and decisive measures being taken. The
French press have welcomed it with cordiality.
The Constitutionnel thus speaks of it—" VICTOR
E3IIIANUEL shows himself equal to the occasion.
He has spoken like a King, and has thereby saved
the honour of the Italian nation and the dignity of

the Crown." The Paine declares that it is the in-
tention of the French Government to send a Circular
Despatch to the foreign agents of France, in order
that the real nature of the intervention of that
country in Italy may be known, which, however,
is accurately explained in the note in the

Abniteur recently published. The same journal
adds that the new Italian Ministers made
two stipulations when they took office, which were
to the effect that the KING should disavow com-
pletely any connivance at the violation of the
Roman frontier by the Garibaldians, and that his
MAJESTY should continue to associate the French
intervention with the Italian army by a movement
on the frontier. Taking all things into considera-
tion it does not seem unreasonable to hope that
even now, at the eleventh hour with some, we may
be spared the mortification of hearing of a
collision between the French and the volun-
teers who act under GARIBALDI, If any
remnant of reason be left among the leaders of the
movement they must perceive pretty plainly by this
time that it is entailing certain defeat on themselves,
and involving great losses to their country to
persist in their resolve to do or die by the
walls of Rome. We hope and trust that the
sad experience they have had already may
serve them in good stead, and that Europe will
be saved from the scandal of witnessing an encoun7
ter between the forces of France and Italy. We con-
gratulate the KING upon his wise choice of action,
under circumstances of extraordinary peril and per-
plexity, and venture to indulge in the hope that his
efforts will not be thrown away, but that Italy may
emerge from the cloud which now envelopes her, and
flourish in that peace, progress, and prosperity
which shall be her rightful portion, and that she
may present to Europe a spectacle worthy of her
glorious part and the responsibilities of her future