The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-09

the social aspect OF Europe was changed by the incur
SONS OF me Nothmen IN the fifth and following centu-
res, iy was the goal which all their dscordant tribes
sousnt 10 reach They had 10 pass through Its most
beautiful provinces their way the great capital of
ns G@Sar the Pase and destruction OF which Were the
original enc and ann OF their lnyasons. The richness OF
The soil, and the genial beauty OF the climate, won their
admiration and excited their cupidy. Hence, while
particular tribes settled down in various other parts OF
Europe almost all OF them met and struggled for the
mastery on the soil of Italy. Goths, Lombards, Nor
mans-noi to speak OF other tribes-occuped different
portions OF the peninsula, and carried proracted wars
with one another and with the original Inhabitants, who
were themselves likewise OF different races.
II seems, in fact that throughout the whole period OF
history, both ancient and modern, the same social phe-
nomenon has constantly presented itself The inhabitants
OF Italy under the ancient Roman empire were even more
different from one another IN race and character than are
those OF more modern times They were kept united only
BY the iron arm OF the Roman empire. The Italian who
sad that Italy had always been AIMED at and had always
been bueed about by adventures from every other ma
ton because it always beautiful, showed deep IN
! sight INTO the history OF his country.
| The various tribes of Mortimer who settled IN Italy
brought with them their peculiar civil institutions
the leading feature of which is known the feudal sys-
tenn This system tended in It's very nature to Pepei-
ate divisions IN the Italian peninsula; and notwlhstald
ing the repeated efforts OF the Ponis to break down.
and to erect It's ruins based the wider principle
OF nationality, yet it still held its ground lis evil effects
were indeed, greatly mgaed by the influence OF mrs
tan civilization fosteed by the Popes but ITS political
tendencies TO dsunon could not be wholly eradcated
The consequences most disastrous Tor Italy Inc
small princPalhcs, into which the whole country was
divided fell easy prey to foreign encroachment and
| ambition The Italian princes, when at war with one
another, often invoked the aid of other European pow
ers and thus Italy became the great battle-ground OF
Europe for centuries As was naturally TO be expected
the foreign nations whose aid was sought and obtained
by the Italian governments did not conne themselves to
mere potectorshp OF their allies, or TO mere umpire
ship of the difficulties they were called IN to settle lhey
claimed share in the spos The Italians almost lnya-
rably found that they had called in TO Their add not de-
yerers but cruel and relentless masters and yet were
they slow TO profit by the teachings OF an experience so
very bitter For many centuries, the Nlilanese and the
Neapoan errtoresthe northern and the southern por-
tons of the peninsuawere successfully commended Tor
by the rva armies OF Austria, France, and SPAN Ihey
became alternately degraded provinces of one or another
of these three great powers They disposed OF ac-
cordng to the changing fortunes of war; their cesson or
rerocesson was matter OF ordinary treaty stipulation
among the leading European cabinets Their own inter;
ests were totally dsregarded and they were bought and
Sold according TO the interest or caprice OF their more
| powerful neghbors
And it is lamenabe to think that this same policy al
ways fatal to Italy, has been steadily persisted IN even
down to the present day. The same congress OF VIENNA
which met in 1915 settle the affairs of Europe,
toned the partition of Poland and the annhilaon OF the
Venetian republic together with the subsection of the
latter and of all Lombardy TO the despotc sway OF Aus
| tria. Thus the only human power whoa could nave
saved Italy by making her nation, brought about her
permanent ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and thereby lnterposed the
greatest obstacle to her political regeneration All who
know anything of Austrian policy understand tull well
that she never lets go whatever she has once laid her
hands upon and that, as necessary consequence the
fate Of al least northeY Italy is sealed until Providence
si, ontn 'so hp % &c dtb over the noI;t;ca
|
destnies of Italy
The present unfortunate condition of Italy is, then,
fairly raceable to combination OF causes which could
have produced no other result 1t Is the misfortune
rather than the fault of the Italians, that they have not
yet been able TO assert and maintain their nationality
i Under all the circumstances above Indicated is it
sonable TO hope that Italy will be united under one
general monarchical government like France and Aus
ra And If such result were possible, would be de.
srable' Would it promote the best interests OF Italy
We humbly think that such union is neither possible
nor desirable For how could 1t be brought about
By another general in Europe But the last general
war, like all its predecessors terminated dlsastrousy for
Italy, as have already seen. By general rising OF
the Italian populations But such rising were lmpossl-
BILE, even if il eypedent; and it could scarcely be
successful even if it were possible The different por-
tons OF Italy are not sufficiently united forany such gen.
era movements besides that they are too closely watched
by Austria to allow anything OF the kind Any attempt
OF the would be necessarily local and partial would
and the result would be rveng Of the bonds of poti
cal hraldom Such has been invariably the character of
all the reyolts which have been attempted in various
parts of Italy during the last thirty years.
\ Those political champions who have been continually
crying out for revolutions have BEEN in fact the greatest
curse to Italy Their misguided efforts have only aggra
waited the evil which they proposed TO remedy The only
effect produced by their mad attempts has been to increase
the rgor of police and add new strength to the depo
Eight and run away, are, in TRUTH the greatest enemies OF
Their unfortunate country The excitement and alarm
caused by them have tended to prevent the Italian gov
ernments from adopting many measures for the advance
ment and prosperity Of the country, which they might
have been induced to adopt under other circumstances
They have proved about wise in their pdriottSm
have fanacal aboltonists in their piiidnthropH
Both these classes of benevolent individuals have sue
ceeded in doing ncalculable mischief 10 those whom
they proposed to May Italy be delivered from pa
trlots OF this stamp!
Besides, all revolutionary attempts looked upon
very differently IN Europe from what they are in this
country. Here, made difficult experiment of the
kind in righteous cause and in proper spirit; and we
happily succeeded, under the Divine blessing, in eectng
our object In Europe and especially in Italy, almost al
revolutionary attempts estimated by the standard OF the
French revolution, and every at glance wha
opinion of them this standard OF comparison is calculated
produce The unavoabe impression increased by the
notorious fact that many if not most of the leading ta
ian revoluOnlsts Cdrbondrthat is Jacobns of the
very worst character who advocate radical change
IN church and state; who wish subver the altar along
poweriess for building up the ruins they propose
cause Such men ANONYMOUSLY the greatest pests OF any
well organized society Better, far despotism, espe
cIay mild and paiernal one, such alone all at all
quanted with Italy must acknowledge to exist thee-a
least in the governments strictly Ialian-than total
archy This consideration might greatly to COO
down the sympathy which Is frequently felt in this
| try for those who call themselves Italian PATRIOTS
\ But would this union of Italy, under central gov
not Such change would not be adapted to the actua
condition, and it would scarcely meet the wants of the
various Italian populations. Italy has too long been
customed to variety of independent governments, be
prepared for which would control the desnes of the
whole peninsula she has been too long in the habit OF
gravalng towards particular centres TO be prepared o
suddenly gravating towards The doctrine of po
tcal Capitalization does not suit the genius of the Italian
people Its obvious effect would be- to degrade num-