New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-21
The State of Italy previous to the Revolution.
BY COL. ". fORDEs.

In conseouence of desire expressed byseveral
citizens of this Republic shall undertake, ladies
and gentlemen. to give you the history oil the tie
volution in Itay-its origin and progress and also
shall indulge in some conectures concerning her
probable destiny in the future. Since the earliest
DAVIS of the old Roman Republic, its influence has
been predominant over every nation In the world
The causes Of the ancient progress and power OF
Imperial Rome are to be found not only In her "a
yorable geographical position, but in the strong
intellect and ndomitable perseverance OF her peo'
pie. 1t divides geographically the Mediterranean
Sea into two portions, embracing IN its bound
aries a climate of unusual saubrity and soil OF
upeaualed fertility Her mines OF Coal, Iron and
Copper, and every other useful mineral were In
exhaustible sources Of mineral wealth her post
ton afforded every facility for the development oil
agricultural and commercial power.
But since the old world-snce the old state Of
things-has passed away, though she is no longer
the nucleus of Europes greatness, yet her fading
glories still shed dying radiance over the history
of the past in which the patriot can see the germ
of her restoration and rejoice IN the hope that the
fres of Liberty shall be rekiadled on her yet IN
broken affairs. To Italian intellect We are lndebt-
ed for improvements ia Science and Art. WI no
first decided that the world was not hat but
round-and, in following out that idea, opened TO
the Old World the treasures of the New, and IN
so doing achieved name and fame second to none
in history, but shed halo OF glory around his arh
erlaud whose spendor will remain undimmed
through all future ages Who bat Christopher
Columbus native OF lsaly
While Europe was enshrOuded Ia the mtsts
and my steries of the dark ages Italy alone tos.
tered and kept alive the spirit of Intelligence and
inquiry 1t is then asked why anatlon possessing
all the means OF power was overthrown. an
sWer she was sell immolatedon the altar oil priest
w pride and ambsiOn-holting r sceptre probes
sedly spiritual but IN fact polltcal-a power that
has crushed every effort of the sons OF liberty to
rise and assume the prerogatiyes vouchsaied them
bv their Creator 10 whose commands alone they
shoud be amenable. One Of the primary causes
of the rapid growth of the Roman Hierarchy was
her amalgamaton Of the names and properties Of
the heather Gods with the names and Offices oil her
patron saints For instance Jupiter was changed
into and nicknamed Saint Peter. The thunder
was taken out of mis- hand and the key pat in iEs
place And thus il is with thousands OF the hea-
then Gods They are tortured into the tutelary
dvipities of the ROmish Church. One class sup
posed 70 preside over mountains hills, vallles,
fields forests caverns, and also over lakes rivers,
waterfalls cities, towns, villages, and hamlets-
and wind-in short those over every district, tam.
ilv or Phenomena OF nature have been adopted
with a slight change in their nomenclature as
part and parcel OF her profane, poly thestic theol-
ogv Let US now look &C some OF the means
az the disposal OF the Pope tor maintaining aud
perpetuating that influence which he has held
Tor ages over the human intellect. The most
powerful. and that which has had the strongest
hold upon the fears OF the people, IS aurcular
confession Its effects upon the public morals IS
of the worst possible character. Ordinary trans
eressions can be washed out by the Intervention
Of the simple Priest others, OF greater enormlty,
require higher functlonary. and IN some other
cases il is necessary for the Pope 70 exercise the
pardoniDg power. There Is a broad distinction,
however. between sins against the Pope, and SINS
against God The first are damnaDie toe last
yenial. Speaking against the Pope or his govern
ment or showing dsrespecr - bis person, VIII
consgn sou 10 the dungeons OF Ene lnqul'ltion-
implies both the loss Of freedom and the contisca-
tiou OF property BasDheming God IL either UNI
noticed, or punished by paltry penance and the
loss Of a few zequins. Hence, every expression
OF opinion If not impossible, IS difficult and dan.
gerous The people are entirely In the hands oil
the Priest Parents mus; witness against their
own children and children against parents aod
the evidence OF the one often consIgns the other,
through the questioning 10 the Confessional,
TO imprisonment or death Should person ab-
sent himself from it, he IS closely watched and
marked as dangerous. Hence it is very diff.
cult Tor two or three and next 70 impossible for a
BODY Of men. 70 combine 70 Overturn the existing
order Of things The multiplicity Of these clerical
functions requires host VI agents who must be (
paid from the pockets Of the people; and varioas
methods are put in operation 10 repleDish tne
Golfers Of the priests Hence the sale Of indu
geuces absOlutious, and masses for the dead are
a few, among the various means used tor tbis par
pose. The Confessional il administered ~itnoW
q lee. but the priest must indeed be mi'ee1oS
bUrger Vho cannot squeeze out gooa 'oehu
sum, in shape Of PenaDee, Mass, Aims &C &c.
Thus the Confession, pr7iessedly gratulIou'' =; u
their profe,sed austerity and assumed poverty,
they seem to live remarkably comfortable. having
freauen.iy one or two nieces 20 Keep house ior
tber A. these nieces get Old, they become
transformed into aunts O. COUSINS, aud Yong
fresh nieces supply their places. u IS e vey