The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-24

hmPefiai hosls. BeneVlng that, unuef the she"',
OF power so great, not only IN Italy, but beyond
the Alps, they might be able to beat down the OPP
posite faction, advance their interests, and even es
tabish their independence, the Guelphs, with aiac-
rity and zeal, joined the Pope. II is not, however,
true, that the Popes always headed or even always
favored, the Guelphs. According 10 their interests
and their necessities they nourished that faction,
and awaited themselves of its zeal and assistance for
defence. Whenever political reasons induced them
to alter their Of policy-whenever they hoped
greater gain by changing, or dreaded greater loss by
continuing their usual relations the Guelphs sepa-
rated from the Pope, and the Pope from the Guephs
In the free Cities also, in all the excitement OF par
ty men did not forget self and, according to their
interests Guelphs passed over to Ghibbelines, and
Ghibbelmes TO Guelphs. They who were united
with the Emperor--who feared, from the destruc-
ton Of his authority, the loss of their feuds, and
hoped by his protection retain what they already
possessed, and recover what they had lost
adhered TO the Ghbbelines. In this class were nat
urally found the counts marquises and other feudal
lords. While, however, the rapid progress and LOFTY
pretensions Of the Pope rapidly brought on collision
with that imperial arm, upon which it had always
leaned for support, causes were at work to produce
another element of hostility to the feudal reign and
overshadowing power Of the German emperor. BY
the rapid spread of industry, commerce. and the
arts, the cities of Italy began to gather within their
bosom wealth, power, and the spirit OF lndepen-
dence. The merchants and manufacturers of Venice,
to the industrial arts in modern Europe, soon con-
cenrated within their walls riches which would be
sought in vain in baronlal feuds and barbaric en-
pres. Between the liberal spirit aud the onward
tendency of these cities, and the genius of
the feudal system, and the contracted principles Of
the German empire, there was direct antagonism.
Such hostility Of interests and sentiments could
not long fail TO produce conflict; and thus whether
adherents of the Pope or not, the commercial cities
ranged themselves against the imperial sway and
,.da tho( aInbt han Ernp fhal ffp
Alexander Ill, learn that early the time of
Frederic ii, the Emperors had begun TO suspect the
cities Of Italy. These cities, however, had not yet
acquired such preponderating influence as to con-
troll entirely the affairs Of Italy. Additional impulse
was therefore, given TO these factions by those
bes whose power raised them above the fear Of the
cities, and who aspred TO liberty authority, and in
dependence. In order to throw off their vassalage
to the Caesars, and to substitute in their respective
districts their authority for that ofthe Emperor
they Joined the Guelphs. Those. the other hand
who nourished the secret desire of making them
selves masters of their country, of obtaining the
royalties Of the Emperor, Of extending their
dominions the adjoining states, the espe
cial and jealous supporters Of the Caesars, and
ranged themselves in the ranks Of the Ghbbelines
If any of the more powerful States threatened to
place the yoke one of their weaker neighbours of
the same faction, they that were thus menaced with
subsection had no other alternative than to wheel
into the ranks Of the opposite party. In times
when the spirit Of faction RACES high, neutrality
is regarded as a crime; and, however abhorrent to
their feelings and principles, men are forced to fly to
party in order to have some shelter against the
prosecuting fury Of the other. Indeed when men
are heated with that fendish fame, they pursue
with greater hatred and more cruel vengeance those
whose enthusiasm has not been reused TO an equal
fury with their own, than their open and most vo-
lent enemies. To remain quiet when others are
boiling over with rage, is viewed an exhibition
of philosophy that bitterly reproaches their uncaed
for excitement, and treated as an act Of criminal
apathy to the best interests of their country---a
country which, indeed, bleeds at every pore, but
whose wounds were first inflicted, and constant
ly reopened by those who profess TO ccairize them
OF all the qualities Of the partisan, blind fury and
headlong violence esteemed the most brilliant by
his heated followers He may, indeed, ruin him
self and his faction but not repeated defeat can
ever loose his hold on the hearts Of men who for
get every thing and learn nothing. They rally
afresh under the same chief their scattered bands,
and rush again to the breach. A second repulse
drives them back with still greater discontinue and
deeper disgrace. They seek the causes of their
misfortune aar when il lies by their side; they find
it in the stratagems Of the enemy, the treachery
of friends when it exists only in the unskilfuIness
of those who have placed them in position which
no vaor can maintain with success, and from which
nothing earthly can retreat with safety. The les
sons Of experience are lost upon this voluntary
blindness; they born with the idea and die with
the error that obstinacy is evidence of wisdom and
persecution the mother Of conviction; and the only
legacy they leave to posterity, is the moral to be
CLEANED from their example, and the wonder that
men, clothed by God with mind, could thus ignobly
strip themselves Of reason and foul themselves with
a man-worshp not less degrading than that of the
yelled Prophet of Khorassan.
The means which were practised by the Guelphs
and Gbibbelines may readily be inferred from the
causes which brought them into existence. Dis
cussions and reasoning, by which even the gravest
difficulties quietly settled under the constitution
al governments and on parliamentary soil, could not
be heard amidst the array ofembattled opponents and
the clash of resoundng arms The employment of
any other weapon than that of force, entered
even into the dreams of men. The great Object of
both factions 10 grasp power; and the means by
which they could achieve their selfish aims were
perfectly indifferent, if they were only successful.
They usually assembled in the Grand Piazza. Guar
res, strife, general ARRAY, rather civil war, inn
mediateIy ensucd; the stronger party remained in
the possession Of the city; the weaker banish-
ed, their property coniscated they themselves pur-
sued and other cities mplored not to receive, and
threatened if they dared to protect the unfortunate
lies To provide for their defence, converted their
houses into castles, and fortified them with towers
and batements The exes plotted together for their
return, and sometimes succeeded. BY the continued
battles between those within and those without the
walls, and the ceaseless ARRAYS in the streets them
selves, the farest cities of Europe were defaced and
factions, engendered from family rivalry, ragged in
the different cities, and infused additional poison
into the furious hate Of the Guelphs and Ghibbe-
lines. The priests often interviewed to quiet their
dissensions (; popular assemblies were frequently
held to bring about reconciliation; peace itself was
sometimes solemnly proclaimed but, breaking
through all regard for religion for country, and for
treaties, the partisans renewed their hositcs and
civil strife with redoubled rage and compounded
misery. Who can forget the famous resolve Of the
Ghibbenes to burn their own native city Of Flor
ence, and from which they dissuaded only by
the indignant appeals Of one Of their chiefsl The
result Of these divisions that, either by force or
their own consent, nearly all the cities and sines
were brought under the subsection OF princes and
petty tyrnnts. The people wasted their strength in
mutual Slaughter the country was racked with the
convusive struggle of parties, Of which neither was
BILE of union. Exhausted by the unnatural combat,
they sought repose where repose is not to be found
in the arms Of tyranny. They who fought so long