Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-22
HORACE Gsrrlr writing from Milan, speaks thus

Horace GREELY, writing from Milan, speaks thus
of the Italians
THr fTaLIaNs-I leave Italy with less sanguine
hope of her speedy liberation than brought into it.
The day of her regeneration must come, but the OBJ
stacles are many and formidable. Most palpable
among these insane spirit of local jealousy and
rivalry only paralleled by the Corkonian and Far,
down feud among the Irish Genoa is jealous of
Turin Turin of Milan Florence of Leghorn and
so on If Italy were Free Republic to-day. there
would be fierce quarrel and fear division, on
the question of locating its metropolis. Rome would
consider herself the natural and prescriptve CAPT
tai: Naples would urge her accessible position, un-
rivaled beauty and ascendancy in population Flor
ence her central and healthy location; Genoa her
extensive commerce and mistaken devotion to Repub
lcan Freedom, &c. &c. And | should hardly be
surprised to see some of these, ehag rned by an ad
verse decision leaguing with foreign despots to res
tore the sway of the stronger by way of avenging
their fancied wrongs!
And it is too true that ages Of subjugation have
demorazed, to fearful extent the Italian People,
Those who would rather beg or extort pander to
others vices, than honestly work for living, will
never do anything for Freedom; and such are de-
plorably abundant in Italy. Then, like most
tons debased by ages of Slavery, these people have
little faith in each other. The proverb that mo
Italian has two friends is of Italian origin. Every
one fears that his confederate may prove traitor,
and if one is heard openly cursing the Government
oppressive and intolerable in cafe or other pub
lie resort though the sentiment is heartily respond
ed to, the utterer is suspected and avoided as PO
lice stool pigeon and spy Such mutual dstrust ne
cessarily creates accompanies a lack of moral
courage There are brave and noble Italians but
the majority neither brave nor noble There
were gallant spirits who joyfully poured out their
blood for Freedom in 1889, but nine-tenths of
those who wished we'll to the Liberal took pre-
cious good care to keep their out of the
reach of Austrian or French bullets Even in Rome,
where next to Venice the most creditable resistance
was made to Despotism the greater part of the &C
tual fighting was done by Italians indeed, but refu-
gees from Lombardy, Tuscany and other parts of
Italy. Had the Romans who heartily desired the
maintenance of the Republic shown their faith by
their works, Naples would have been promptly rev.
| olutionized and the French driven back to their
ships On this point, | have the testimony of
eye-wtnesSes of diverse sentiments and of unim-
peachable character. Rome is heartily Republican
to-day but doubt whether three effective regi-
ments could be raised from her large native popua-
ton to fight single fair battle which to decide
the fate of Italy. So with the whole country except
Piedmont, and perhaps Genoa and Venice. l wish
the fact otherwise but there can be use in
Disgusting misstating it. Italy is not merely en-
shaved but debased, and not till after years of Free
dom will the of her people evince consistently
the spirit or the bearing of Freemen. She must be
freed through the progress of Liberal ideas in France
and Germany-not by her own inherent energies
Not till her masses have learned to look down the
Threats of loaded and hostile in fair daylight
and be little less handy with their knives in the
dark, they be relied on to do any thing for the
| general cause of Freedom