New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-22
ITALY.
respondent.

Once more Sardinia is at peace, but it IS peace
which weighs heavily on our crushed hopes. Tne
consequence is that whatever the Government may
think itself compelled to do az an outward mani
festation Of satisfaction, in all classes OF the nation
it has been received with marked GOODNESS and
row. Again we poor Italians have been sacrificed;
at least, We feel that we have been so, for our
hopes were great when England stepped forth and
proclaimed that she would stand by the weak and
shield them from the attacks of the strong Il is
true that France was Eneland's ally, and this
made US doubt the ISSUE for all our misfortunes
have generally found their source Oh French soil;
ard our apprehensions have proved but too well
founded. Still, We hoped much from the contnu-
ance of the war; and when Austria, for the second
time, proposed her bases Of peace, and the Empe-
ror OF the French lent apparently willing ear to
her proposals. we cherished the thought that this
was mere felnt on his paTt-thst his ambition
was not vet satiated-that in his heart he coveted
those Provinces which were once the northern
boundaries of his Empire and that he would en-
deavOr TO prosecute the war from which might
arise our independence. All those hopes have
faded and died, and more than ever do We now see
that the freedom aud regeneration Of Italy must
be the work of her sons. And, believe me- we
are preparing for the great wOrk-nOt by conspir
acy or disconnected popular movements, but
through a slow and gradual transformatOn-a
work of regeneration which has its center here in
Piedmont
The position which Sardinia occupies in the
councils of Europe and in the hopes of Italy is,
believe not fully understood n your great Repub-
lie and shall endeavOr to dellneate it as clearly
and in as few words possible, in order that your
readers may be better able to comprehend the
events as they occur. To Judge of the probabil-
ties OF the future it is absolutely necessary that
we should be well acquainted with the present. |
shall, therefore, devote the greater part of this
letter to description of things and men as they
now are, without entering into details, which L
shall leave for q future opportunity.
Whtn the Eastern war broke out it was neces-
sary that Sardinia should take up position whence
she might derive strength for the great MISSION
she is slowly accomplishing. This, Count Cavour
and the Liberals well understood. England aud
France were pressing in their desire that she
should Join them. 1t was dangerous 10 onend
! France; it was unadyisable to dissatisy England;
and, moreover, should Austria, as there seemed
every probability OF her doing, join Russia TO
| whom she owed her existence, the opportunity
would be such as would perhaps never again offer
! itself of making one step-the first step-tOHard
! the deliyerance of Italy from foreign yoke. his
was clearly seen, not Ouy by the PiedmOntese
| Government, but also by the Parliament OF the
country-all parties, mean the Liberals of every
II
who always mistrusted the Allies, voting for the
war; for the hope was in every heart, that from
the Crmea the struggle would soon be transferred
so far as they were more immediately concerned
to the borders Of the Ticino. by the position
thus taken Sardinia if she has gaued no tangible
advantage, has at least purchased with her blood
and treasure the right TO be heard; and her voice
is that of oppressed Italy She is the living,
thinking head of paralytic bOdy-may the infu-
! hare "A
| 1t is not mere figure of speech that Sardinia 3
voice is the voice Of Italy. The Parliament OF
Sardinia contains men from nearly every other
/ State of Italy-men who have been exied or who
! have fed from the Opprcssors OF their country,
and who have been adopted by Piedmont and re-
! turned to Parliament by the popular vote;
and the feeling through Italy is daily
| becoming stronger that if deverance ever does
! come il must be received ut the hands Of those
| among them who alone have known how TO use
| their freedom. TO my coubtrymen-fOr love to
call all Italians my cOuntrymen-tho Parliament "i
/ Piedmont is the embodiment OF their hopes. 1t
viii not be- therefore, uhntertstlDg 10 your read
ers if should enter into some description of the
men who compose this assembly. Except the eN-
treme ''DrOtc," headed by Count La Margarlta-
formerly King Charles Alberts Prime Minister,
/ before lhe Constitution was established who
! desire the return OF absolute power, close alii-
ance with Austria and the retstablishment OF al
! iAc tlloleu " tue clergy L
may say that I'll the other parties in the House OF
Representatives tend more or less openly to direct
/ the policy of our Government toward bringing
about more favorable state of things in the other
T States OF Italy. 1t is the Centre" which sup
ports Count CayOur at the head of the ministry,
! and has acknowledged him SIS Its leader. This
party has been strengthened by the ability Of the
/ Count who, from the irs:, saw clearly that he
could retain power only by serving the liberal ten
denotes Of the country, and who boldly ca led into
his cabinet men Of well-knOwn liberal convictions
suet as VI. Ratsssi, who was in 10 one of the
/ principal members Of the so-caed Democratic
Ministry which declared war for the second time
| ON Austria, and was defeated at Noyara. The
| "GaUckC openly AID avOwedly calls for a crusade
! against the other Italian despotc governments
ard the expulsion of the hated Austrans from the
soil OF Italy. This party, which looks TO NJ. Isu
rent Valerie as their chief 0 man of untrins
energy and frmness, and very popular speaker,
is opposcd 10 the Italian Republicans under Maz-
ziui, must here state thai Mazzinis partisans in
Piedmont are very few Indeed their platform 90
use sn American Hpresson) being the lndepend-
ence of all parts Of Italy from foreign dominion or
interference considering very properly tnat TINS
should be the first, and for the present, only oo-
ioct in view in the eyes of Italian patE0ts; the
unity Of Italy, whether under one crown OF py
means Of a fcderatiye Union, being In their MINDS
8 secondary consideration.
The Congress of Paris has closed the struggle IA
the East; but il has left the condition OF South
ern Europe in the same unsettled and danger
Gus state in which twas before with this dierence
that hopes which have been for the hundredth time
crushed have awakened in the hearts of all ltal-
ians an energy, and, 1 trust. a self reliance that
will ere long lead 10 new European conflicts.
Evidently Italy viii be- the thester Of the next