Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-08-04
II G Ii Nj OND w HIG.
STATE OF ITALY.
From the Lo"do" TIM, of is@ Jdy.


There Is State in Europe that dispute or that
Pretends dispute the this country in Italian
affairs For all political purposes il is enough that the
interest exists IL does indeed exist and that not
~ as sentiment in the minds OF men, but in numerous
iaets-in our history wars, diplomacy and our
institutions Were II only sentiment and could any
naiteroftsct politician with allowing iinagins
uon to r--pas- into the sphere Of realities even that
-oud be mo-: unpho-ophica and shortsighte obec-
ton for there il which has not originated in
seniment-in ou,burst Of feeling or some outrage
against ii. IL was little than sentimen. that re-
peatsdy united s Chrsendom recover the HOLY Land
and which the other day broke out ike sacred Ere
from those holy places and plunged Europe into
The sentiment Of social equality caused the war OF
the French ksvoation aud sentiment of poetics
character has since banded Europe procure ndepe
denee o degenerate race and al Insignificant territory
dear to US as the authors and birthplace of civilization
IL Is vain 20 dparage sentiment when il produces sueh
positive and often terrible results for We might "a we'll
affect TO be blind To mountains and seas a. 10
ne mind not less vast irresistible aud stormy But il is
something more an mind, something more than region
oi fancy, topic of defamation, haunt of Travellers
and an object OF affection that we possess in TIA.
ly. From the day that the Roman invaders first
indented our shores with their brazen brovs ard
drove their stakes into hitherto barbarous soil
there has always been political relation of an ,r
tua and most influential character betreen ,ha.s ;sI
and Italy A. fact have derived through that cou,
try our religion the religious sanction OF our civil and
ieF
portion OF our law. As fact Rome stl asses spiritual
dominion over the whole of our population and SIX ar
seven m'lons oi our people Acknowledge the claim As
TACT the fenets OF faith and laws OF conscience tbs,
guide those millions for good or for evil ar. defined NO.,
Claimed, extended. and elaborated at Rome IL i. uut
only the hope of Rome, the very foundation OF ts
claims that II Is one day reconquer the whole mind and
institutions OF this country. The fact more or
less true of all the other OF western and middle
Europe and 1t there be, there is a large portion of
Europe where such claims admitted il Is through
bicIa
admits the principle Of universal dominion On the other
manu. there never has been great potentae conauero
or power north OF the Alps that has not acted in th. re-
aton, and attempted either the conquest of Italy or
preponderance in Italian affairs In fact the Itay Of po
tics is nos geographical but universal idea The mis-
tfess oil the world has lost her scepre but she ot
The object OF common soictude Italy itself cannot dis
claim relation which pervades her annals and adds 20
much to her dignity If nthnAted last night one
wreched Sovereign in that peninsula has lately
claimed for himself the privilege of not being intsrs
With is the instinct of barbarian occupying site of
which he knows not the genius and traditions
When, therefore, Lord Lyndhurs in the one house and
Lord John Russell in the other bring before Parliament
the present state OF Italy they protest ag,ns
the msgovernment Of its rulers and its occupation by
Foreigners they are only choosing their own time and
manner OF doing that which has ever been done and vii;
still be done in this country. UnQlestonaby we have
locus ddi in Italian aiars and If desire ever 40
nuch TO give II up neither would other nations nor Italy
herself desire Us to do No effort no silence no w:
dom no folly of statesmen could preveut Iiay and
tire great European Powers that Italy for their own
OF our empire We have no alternative then but m ,se
the influence OF our great and cuunses to the
pest o our discreton and every who assumes
gh position among Us is fully justified aud to certain
exteot compelled declare himself on the subeet II ia
not OF course TO be expected that should be ALWAYS
preparing an active interference in the affairs of Italy
ONLY because II Is not In power carry out any pap
OF active interference without the aid Of others and the at
tempt without success would do much more harm tb.,
sood bnt We cannot, in Justice oarsairss give up
he exercise oil that voice which have had from all
ume nor can omit notice ANYTHING actually novel
ana extraordinary IN the condition oi the Peninsula No
ucuo at CONDITION does nov present strange and
alarming features There may not indeed be A distinct
apprehension OF evil OF any conquest or revolution or
anarchy, to be aveited II interference is never iustf
o except on the warnings OF political second sight to
avert some sPecihc ds,ster, then have nothing 10 do
bnt sit stu and await the progress of ruin IL ia
sucet that there are actual ills and Irregularities
whatever their probably results Rome is still under the
proieeuon OF France, aud, though France will probably
oon have withdrawn every soldier il is impossible NOT 20
with dread to the day when the Pope shall be
si'o the loyalty OF his own temporal subjects The Two
Sces ~itn the strongest claims to the interest of this
country, and peculiarly amenabe TO our power are .u
ing capucous and cruel despotsm The Legations are
occupied D! Austrian troops and governed by Austrisn
military Law, the result of which sufficiently proved bv
the excuse given for continuance of that state of things
W. 'hat the withdrawal OF the troops would be the
signal Tor revolution and massacre In point OF fact and
l" 81 practical purposes Austria has annexed these new
provinces OF Italy to her military dominion She has
quatered her army upon their resources she recruits il
nom 'neir popuation she makes them contribute the
mentanauce OF her empire and tSe advanced post
oi her designs upon Italy She compes even Sardinia 10
exhaust herself by deeuces wholly out of proportion 10
her territory and population. These operations nav or
may not be intended TO hasten the conquest Iay and
that event DC possible In the face of history
VIC should hardly maintain that Italy was ever
likely 10 be reduced foreign bondage; but the ysrv
attempt on the part Of Austria would plunge Europe into
war and Is therefore important TO ancipate de-
signs the very thought Of which dangerous 20 the DOW
er happiness, and progress Of the civilized world
should war or revolution break in italy, England
would soon lind herself compelled nterfere and no one
eau say how far the would extend or how long II
would last 10 would then be asked why our government
had not avered such pass by pacific and timely nterfr
ence That is what has been attempted nor ran more be
done. Neither Lord Lyndhurst nor Lord John Russell
could expect Should that moderate degree of in
reference be rejected, and should the powerful
States concerned follow the example Of the King Of the
Two Scilies, by demanding to do what thev ike
With their own, rather With what their own We
cannot hope to the peace Of the Peninsula long pre.
served The political OF that famous territory NAV
be very complex, but there nothing in IL 20 prevent
some common action IN the foundation OF responsible Co
vernments the publication OF the judicial system and the
general policy Of relying with confidence the favour of
the people. policy OF this has made change In -
kingdom Of Sardinia tha, it would have -Squ'F'u
much faith 10 believe Pusse twenty years as"' -
and no Doubt tb-s improvement would have been still
more tfkiy but for the immense expense ented upon
S.rfinfa by the menacng attitude Of her formidable
nghhbor IN Italy. The present condition OF the other
Italian states Is such that principles IL s i'm
possible not 20 think revolution itself the least Of two
evils i Fge that hope itself is dshcarened by the
destiny which has long distracted and degraded the
country which, united, . liberties Of the
world Nevertheless, Il IL is not possibiv - effect
great Italian restoration IL may be possible TO prevent
existing IDS from penng 10 their naural results These
natural results believe be another embodiment In
the site Of the empic Of the West such that have
lately in the old empire Of the East, wish, possibly
/ not 20 early nor so happy termination.
I
NORRIS pIANO-EORTC ROONS