The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-14
VOL. VII.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.
For the National Era.
lcoPYRIGHr SECURED ACCORDING TO LAW
GREENWOOD LEAVES FROM OVER TIE SEA.
No. 80
ROME, February %, 1883.


No. 81
ROME February %, 1883.
My DEAR r. =: Never, in my own coun-
,rv do remember TO have felt such emotion
as I feel to-day, in strange foreign land, on
the anniversary of the birth of our beloved and
generated Washington. In this lovely but de-
Generate cline, the glory Of whose past is but
a gorgeous pail, envelopine but not hiding the
death and decay of its present surrounded
NV a people powerless, hopeless, INDECENT, and
oo1nressed but with the despairing soul of gr60l
disabilities looking from their eyes, like some
ftorcotten prisoner gazing mournfully through
strong dungeon bars-hcre, breathing the close
onS heavy air of civil and religious despotism
Sn feel what he was, and all he did for US, for
freedom, and for God; and my heart CLOVIS
With feryid gratitude to Heaven for the i'm.
measurable riches of that great gift, not TO us
soOe but to the world, to the ages, of apure
heroic life, embodying defending, and enthron-
inc among men, the eternal principles of JUS
tiee and freedom.
When | find the character and career of
Washington studied here, by the few yet faith.
ful to the forlorn hope of Italian freedom
when see his name bring the unaccustomed
light to eyes heavy with watching and mourn
fll with ppointment-when | hear that
name spoken with deep reverence by lips that
have sworn devotion to the death, to Ia liberia
del pOpolo, then realize, as never before, the
universally of his greatness and the quickening
Immortality of his memory. believe that,
though God has sent and yet may send leaders
as pure and true as our Washington--gifted
with more of the electric element of genius
shining with more splendid qualities of heroism,
that he has been and will be the secret soul of
every popular uprising against oppression
every noble political revolution for his grand
endeavor was sanctioned and sancti6ed by a
complete and pre-eminent success he attained
to the very height and crown of his heroic un-
dertaking, and there he stands, for all time,
boldly relieved against heaven, the terror Of
tyranny, the strength and inspiration and ex-
ample of the oppressed-the bold rebuker OF
kingly wrong, the stern vindicator of the
peoples right-the rebel triumPhant--the SOL
der oive-crowned, the patriot with clean and
empty hands Such is the far-reaching depth,
the eternal vitality of one great, heroic life,
sending its roots abroad into all lands, and
acing together continents and nations in bonds
of unseen but indestructible sympathy-such
the sounding weight of one mighty purpose
gloriously accomplished, which, amid treach-
erous straits of defeat and despair, of perilous
shores of rock.seated power, anchors safe
against leagued tempests, the great hope of the
world.
Yoa have doubtless heard, ore this, Of the
smeute at Milan, and its disastrous termination.
We see very little about it. except in Galignani,
and its version is that of the Government, or at
least sanctioned by the authorities, and 80 can
hardly be impartial. But from an Italian friend
hear that the plan of revolt was most ably
and systematically formed, and might have been
successful, but for treachery. Still can but
regard it as premature, an ill-advised, an
utterly mad movement. The hour is not yet
come-the cup of this peoples degradation is
brimmed with bitterness would have it
overflow. They sigh, and look weary and de-
jected under the weight Of oppresson-I would
have them cry out till the heavens heard
would have their agony turned to rage, and
their shame to righteous vengeance Then,
and then only, will they work out for them
selves, resolutely and effectively, their political
and religious redemption.
| see everywhere among the Italians, faces
expressive of the unfinching frmness, joined
to hery yalor-the strength and grandeur of
purpose, and pure, honest devotion, imperative
ly necessary for such mighty work. The
iron pricks sharply, but has not yet entered
their souls. In modern Italians the primitive
Roman character, manly and rugged and stern,
sbut like an old kingly oak in decay, decora-
ted and enthralled by parasite graces OF poetry
and romance, and q moss-like incidence and
'Oftness The broad arms which once wrestled
with tempests are fallen, and storms 60 by I'M
challenged, while in the melancholy vines
which cumber the sapless trunk, sweetsinging
birds are nurtured. Yet the roots run deep
and wide, and there are hopeful souls who be-
heve that there is life in them still, which will
yet spring up in strength and vigor greater and
more benefcent than those Of old God grant
1t may be so
The more see of Italy, the more am con-
Mnced that there is no hope for the liberty Of
the people here, or in any Catholic country,
save through the total downfall Of the Papal
supremacy-that ancient bulwark of tyranny,
tnas hoary consecrator of injustice and high
named political crime. Ii is true, the Church
mas mas not the visible power and glory she once
lsa but am convinced that she has lost little
VI her real strength and weight in the affairs
VI inc world. She may not number as many
sWorn knights and devout soldiers as ia the old
Nme but she has her hosts of unsuspected and
unscrupnlous agents, her armies Of Jesuitical
pHests-she is omnipotent in her diplomacy,
and omnipresent in her spies. In old times,
she made arrests and executions in the oman
uay she now arrests in the night and the dark
ha C.
mole prisons of the Inquisition may be emptied
aaa thrown open, but only it would seem, to
'eI forth upon society their poisoned atmo-
.pncre, sending suspicion and insecurity and
cruelty abroad The satanic spirit of the In
~%'lon, which once sat in naughty supremacy,
s'pensng flames and tortures has been driven
nun ny, MS throne by the spirit of the age-but
ana destroyed. He may have taken to dark
insE mysterious ways-may act secretly and
jsss ,n;i may deal more with the soul, and
In, r "an The body-but his ancient power is
bs s so n'Ie broken, his purpose all unchanged
don os himself as Of old, against oil true free
M '" conscience, against all true enlighten-
S'u' and progress Of the masses Therefore
s' 81 ! believe that the only great and success
w European revolution must also he a ,ec.
v'naton more complete and comnrehans;ve
wan that Of Luther-that with the ylor;ons
sasehword and battle cry of Mazxini. 2Dso Oh
PopotoiD must be Numbered down thu des.
POisms Of Church and State together.
one thing seems to me certain-the present
sate Of things cannot long endure The hatred
VI THIS people toward their French and Aus.
n,an masters, and their impotence under
SHsstly rule grow hotter and more intolerable
,Siiy' and the long-suppressed indignation of
sS ,f proud and passionate spirits must at last
Tue better Of their despairing Incidence.
co., s soil OF Italy is even now shaken with vol
r" a'0 Nemblings and, disregard these warn
n;n as they may, the great CONFUSION, the
Pr ~S' hre, shall come. Silence the voice Of
win n1u 10 as they may, her indestructibe spirit
Lgr, 'lroo in the air, and her glorious impulses
'u "a the secret heart. And 10 shall it be
10, 'ae hour OF her full and triumphant revela-
Eys,.,"n'ni s her ancient realm--an angel Of de-
prs.' ~ace TO the captive, Nemesis to the OPP
IT. 'he divine genius Of enfranch isement
S and equality, to the people.