The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-17 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 17, 1866.

The opening of the Italian Parliament will be

sure to excite a great deal of interest, and we feel
certain that those who have awaited with anxiety

the delivery of the Royal Speech will not be disap-
pointed, for it is one that is pre-eminently worthy
of the occasion. We are not surprised that it should
have been received with general applause. King
VICTOR EMMANUEL seems to have solved the diffi-

cult problem of uttering free sentiments and yet
exercising moderation, a combination of qualities
that is unhappily but rarely met with nowa-
days. The extreme politicians on either side
will not be satisfied with this discourse,
but it will afford great satisfaction to all
who really desire the welfare of Italy, whether at
home or abroad, and who feel sure that the cause
therein indicated will be the only wise and right one
to pursue. His MAJESTY commenced his observa-
tions by declaring that the country was henceforth
free from all foreign domination, and this he was
rejoiced to utter before the representatives oz twenty-
five millions of Italians. He also rendered justice
to the moral and material aid which they had re-
ceived in their great work from the "encouragement
and sympathy of civilised governments, and
peoples." The French Government's withdrawal
of troops from Rome of course receives due mention,
and in sequence to this the KING declares that the
Italian Government on its side " will respect, and
has respected, the Pontifical territory." He seems
to entertain great hopes that the difficulties which
surround their way will be renewed, and that the
Catholic interests and national aspirations " which
are interwoven and contending with each other at
Rome " may be distinguished and conciliated through
the instrumentality of various means. Among
these he cites the then good understanding with
the French E3IPEROR, the wishes of the PONTIFF,
and the religious sentiment and right feeling of the

Italians.
We should think that VICTOR EM3fANUEL was in
a position to form a pretty accurate judgment of
things, and hence we are justified in forming san-
guine expectations of the future of Italy, since he
seems to consider her prospects are promising ones.
Attached to the religion of his ancestors—which is,
moreover, that of the great majority of Italians, the
KING declares that he nevertheless "respects the
principle of liberty which breathes through their in-
stitutions, and which—broadly and sincerely ap-.
plied—will remove the causes of the old differences
between Church and State." Furthermore, the
KING asserts that he is of opinion that this doctrine,
if carried out, will enable the SOVEREIGN PONTIFF
to remain independent at Rome, thus differing from
the views put forward by some of his friends and
followers. No doubt much that now seems incredible
of accomplishment at present may be carried out
if men will but give their minds to the work before
them, free from prejudice and bitterness.
It is a grand idea and, at the same time, a sus-
taining thought, to which the KING gives utterance
in the following passage—"ltaly is secure now that,
besides the valour of her sons which, through all
the changes of fortune, has never belied inself either
by land or sea, nor in the ranks of the army or the
volunteers, she possesses as the ramparts of her inde-
pendence, the very bulwarks which oppressed her.
As a natural consequence of this great change, he
says that Italy now can, and ought, to turn her
efforts to increase her prosperity. It is always a
fatal error, on the part of individuals or nations, to
imagine that because a great success has been
achieved they may relax their efforts, and not give
much heed to what is going on. Italy has now as
great a work before her as the one she has just tri-
umphantly effected, and all her admirers and well-
wishers will be very much disappointed if she do
not prove equal to the emergency, and fulfil the
mission before her, of internal improvement with as
much spirit and energy as she has displayed in the
arduous work of national enfranchisement and re-
generation. VICTOR EMMANUEL puts the subject
pretty plainly before the senators and deputies in
these words :—" As Italians have shown admirable
concord in the affirmation of their independence, so
now let all devote themselves with intelligence,
ardour, and indomitable constancy to the develop-
ment of the economic resources of the peninsula."
Another important thing is alluded to
in this speech, which is that, in the
midst of the labours of peace, they should
pay
militaryal ifnciol
tattention to the perfecting of their
organisation, and profiting by the lessons
of experience so arrange and contrive matters that
Italy may not be
found wanting in those forces
which are requisite and necessary for her mainten-
ance among the nations of Europe. The ICING ex-
pr esoe
faa
expectation that if the Italians
do
activity which created the wealth
ns st confident
inthat
and power of their ancestors, the public exchequer
in
a in h
variousou y
before
state;h
o r g
will soon reach its " definitive equilibrium." A
A t
good deal will have to be done
waysnation
as eau
his AJESTY
bel put
appropriately
prosperous
said, activity is needful, they must not rest on their
tlaurels, they must press onward to the work that
it is their high privilege and their solemn duty to
perform ; and if they persevere in faith and hope,
there will be no cause to dread a falling back in
their progress or a failure of their enterprise. At the
conclusion of his admirable discourse, the KING said
that "Italy is now restored to herself, her responsibility
is equal to the power she has acquired and the full
liberty she enjoys in the use of her strength." This
truth cannot be too earnestly impressed upon the
mind of the nation ; it should sink deeply into the
thoughts of the people, and take root in their most
solemn convictions. To know how to govern them-
selves is the best thing which they have to learn,
and if they have learned the valuable lesson, it
will be theirs to display their knowledge
to the world at large, and to let their
own beloved laud enjoy the fruits of so blessed a
harvest. "Liberty in our political institutions,
authority in the Government, activity in the citi-
zens, and the empire of law upon all and over all,
will carry Italy to the height of her destiny, and
fulfil what the world expects from her," are the
last words of KING ; and we are expressing our best
wishes for the people ho reigns over when we say
that they should fullow his direction, and walk in
the paths he has laid out for them, for they will
conduct them to security and to honour.

The Africa has brought us the full text of
tibe PRESIDENT'S Message, which will be found in
another part of our paper to-day, in addition to
other items of news, important as well as interest-
ing. The substance of the Speech we knew before,
especially the most vital fact—that Mr. JOHNSON
remains unshaken in his political attitude. All
through the recess rumours have been flying about
the States of compromises between the two great
autagonistio parties of COUCeiii3iolls ou the part of