The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-28
The Italian Question.

countries 10 to be found in their politicians
The Italian Question.
We publiah elsewhere several documents
bearing on the state Of Italy and the reforms
projected by the administration Of Sardinia.
The notes" signed by the plenipotentiaries of
Sardinia will be found worth perusal. Very
few persons are aware that Italy, which ten
years ago was as quiet and orderly IS any
country in Europe, is now in such disorder that
one-haf is under martial law and the other
would be the better for being in the same con-
dition. Sardinia-that is to say Piedmont
must be excepted from this statement the rest
of Italy, when compared with it, looks like
another sphere. It is unsafe to travel from Flo
renee to Rome, or from Rome to Naples. Rob.
bers have set the governments at defiance, and
we may doubtless expect to hear before long
that the Pope or the King Of Naples or the
Tuscan Grand Duke has advertised reward
for any valorous men who will club together
and capture or kill this or that murderous ban
dit As to the laws, they long since fell be.
meath contempt. Even in the time Of Gregory
XVII the Papal laws were joke: Neapoli
tan magistrate has never been capable of in
spring respect since the Bourbons were re-
stored.
The Sandman plenipotentiaries, in view Of
these facts, endeavored vainly to Induce the
Paris Conference to bestow attention upon
Italy. Austria firmly resisted the attempt,
and insisted on the restriction Of the Confe-
renee to the SUBJECTS for which it was convoked
Hence the most the Sardinians could gain
was few words Of sterile sympathy from the
representatives. Of England aud France. Hav-
ing failed in their design, they have laid before
the world the schemes which they would have
proposed to the Congress; and exhibited the
first spectacle, it is believed, of q ministry Of a
constitutional monarchy, at peace with the
world, openly propagating the most revolu-
tionary documents.
The aims of the Sardinians are three fold:-
LIST. The enfranchisement Of Lombardy from
Austrian tyranny. I'd. The secularization Of
the Roman government. Sd. The reform OF
the government of Naples.
The first finds no opponent but the party
against whom it is aimed--the Austrians.
Count Buol at the Conference did not deem il
safe to abandon Lombardy to its people, and
considered that SO long as France garrisoned
Rome, and Sardinia San Aarino, the Emperor
was justified in retaining military occupation
Of LombaIdy. And though these arguments
are obviously fimsy, they are likely to be
crowned with success, from the simple reason
that Sardinia is not strong enough, nor the
maritime Powers fond enough Of war, to risk
collision with Austria in refuting them.
But the case is very different with the others.
Nobody upholds the temporal supremacy of the
Pope; nobody defends the corruption and
imbecility of the Court of Naples.
France, Spain, Sardinia part of Austria
and other Catholic countries repudiate
the Pope's authority. even in ecclesiasti-
cal matters; and the smallest half of Catholi-
city will not venture to assert that the Popes
temporal government has been in any way
credit to the church or benefit to his country.
On the other side, with3 regard to Naples, the
atrocities committed there, under color of Law,
have not found an apologist even among the
most ardent friends of monarchy and absolut.
ism. But what indicates most plainly the pro-
bable solution of these questions in sense IA
vorable to the Sandman views is the position
Of the Emperor Of the French. Louis Napoleon
has forgotten none of the schemes Of his uncle.
The Murat family have never abandoned their
claims to the throne of Naples. There is no
reason why they should not be restored as we'll
as Louis Napoleon That is the consumm alton
to which signs now point in Europe; though
the realization of this policy might possibly
cost Napoleon his threne it will not probably
be viewed in this light; if Rome and Naples
are set free, the work will probably be aehiev-
ed by French aid. One despotism for another
seems poor sort of reform; but democra-
tic deepotiam- unsatisfactory as it isis step
in advance Of divine right despotism; and
to the people Of Italy Murat would be far
more acceptable sovereign than Pope or a
Bourbon.