The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-23

Csanersial Destinlcs.
CoLunsUs, the discovsrer Of America, wa
not an Anglo-Saxo but an Italian. His nativ,
land he'd been, for centuries, the centre of all tn
commercial movement Of western Europe; AN,
itx mariners were consequently the most scisn
ti6c, and the most skillful in the art of naviga
ton, Of those Of any people in the world.
In speaking Of his native land, we do not al
Jude merely TO Genoa, but 10 Italy. He was o
that people who had conquered and ciyilize
Europe-of that people which at this day, d
vded and politically oppressed, have an iniu
soce over the destinies of mankind, that ia tn
source Of division in every nation-of that peo
pie which has such faith in its long-tried ca
paaity. that It believes 1t will yet take the eae
in Europe.
Wnether under new circumstances this car
ever tecur, II another question. Whatever tn.
capaeey Of the nation, other nations now fully
pareaks oft The spirit of Roman laws, usages
and knowledge is to be found in every country
che conquered. And the blood of the Italian
whtch had been shed in a thousand battle-felds
can BE- traced among every kind of population
from Gibraltar to the Grampian Hills.
Evssy people that has succeeded in drawing
toward It the trade with the East, has become
sieh. The Egyptians, the Tyrians, and other
Syrian commercial people, the Carthagenians,
and finally the Romans, profted immensely by
il. On the decay Of Rome, Venice and Genoa
but particularly the former, among the MANY
maritime republics of Italy, obtained the lions
share Of this profitable trade.
The position of Italy was highly favorable to
commerce, and she became, by reason of her
greater independence as a republican country,
governing itself for its own advantage, the great
commercial mart of Europe.
Neither Spain, nor France, nor England, had
any marine worth speaking of. Yet the Greek
colonies in the South Of France had carried on
. considerable trade with the East, almost before
Rome came into being, and in the conquest of
Gaul by JULIUS CESAR, the greatest opposition
he met with was from the maratime nations in.
hahfng the west and northwest coast of France.
nations which had learned the naval art from
Greeks and Phenicians. II
While Spain and Portugal strove with each
other in the passion for discovering new worlds.
and new ways to the East, Italy began to decline
a second time. through the effect of various in.
Auences. among which the most important were,
the doubling Of the Cape of Good Hope. and
abstraction of portion of the trade from the
old overland route; and the gradual loss Of
seif-government, through the intrigues of her
enriched citizens with foreign powers and spirit
ual authorities.
1t Is remarkable circumstance in the history
OF the European world, this succumbing OF
ltaly-after giving birth by her example of re.
publican independence and prosperity, to revo.
luton ALL, over Europe-this subsection, to the
very system, she had been 80 instrumental in
shaking everywhere else The very moment
other nations, her children in knowledge, began
to comprehend her, at that moment her own
strength failed The shafts despotism had
ievelled at her for centuries at length took eff.
feet and her luxuriant fields trodden for ages
by the Gaul, the German and the Spaniard.
no longer yielded their abundance TO free
man, but to a serf
Now Italy, in this great time of her pros
Perity, like Greece, formed congeries of in
dependent republics. II cannot be said that
any weakness resulted from th's. Their perfect
independence Of each other in 80 far as their
local government was concerned, was the great
source OF their strength, energy and commercial
activity And there can scarcely be doubt but
If Italy had acknowledged one authority, one
government, situated at Rome or Naples or
Milan, she never could have become the great
free and industrious nation that she was There
would have been no Venice of any note no
Genoa of any fame. She would have been
subjected to the raltry, timid influences which
centre about Notwithstanding restraining
IND embarrassing the natural activity of man in
he'r meddlesome laundering with things which
but to touch is to cripple All European nations
ire strongly under the influence of foreign in.
reference working at their capitals And when
commercial Italy came under that guidance,
her day OF prosperity quickly passed.
The republics of Italy were frequently in.
Volved in war with each other-so also were
hose of Greece. In those old times both honor
md interest had different meanings. On the
most trivial points it was considered necessary
nd glorious to fght-as a matter of interest,
was thought advantageous to destroy a neigh
'or, and take possession of his goods. Modern
utilization and experience has discovered the
bsurdity and the falacy of these views, car
led out as they were. And no one thinks oil !,
'ghting, but when it becomes necessary to de- ,
end his rights, and guaranteed Independence
,njustly menaced
with the second decay of Italy, and the loss
Il commercial independence sprung up the
prosperity of Spain and Portugal. Their CON-
nerce increased to gigantic extent, and their
hips visited every continent, and traversed
very sea. But the prosperity was of short dur