The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-04

That the term Of the long period Of brutal
oppression which began in Italy after the
Treaty Of Vienna 10 not now very far distant
that the pernicious fusion Of temporal and
spiritual authority in the hands of the Pope
Austrian spies and Austrian executioners can
not long be permitted to linger on the lovely
Italian plains-that crapulous debauch, selfish
tyranny, stolid idiocy and blind fanaticism have
had their day at Rome as at Naples at Milan
as at Venice-there is at length some solid
reason for good men to hope. When the regene-
rators of Italy were persons Of the Mazzini and
Gavazzi stamp, sober minds might naturally
hold back, and forget the virtues of Manin in
dread Of the reckless violence that murdered
Roesi in his bed. But now it seems, the aim
for which the Roman republicans strove with
rhetoric and assassination is openly put forward
as the object sought by one of solidly estab-
lisbed kingdom, and the very Oldest dynasty
in Europe-the house Of Savoy. Sardinia de-
nands Italian regeneration, not Of her soldiers,
but Of assembled Europe; not with pike
and torch, but with calm statement OF tue
wrongs of Italy, and their remedy, signed BY
her plenipotentiaries; not with noise and pas
sion. hut with the cold voice of facts and logic.
one uemanos .nxt Italy be freed from Austria
ard the Pope. By the treaty Of Vienna Aus
tria was allowed to exercise prOtectO-
rate over Lombardy and part Of the Paphl
States. That protectOrate has swelled into &C
tual dominion. For forty years the fairest
portions of Northern Italy have been laid
waste by the Austrians. The cities have been
turned into military strongholds; the country
has been secured by mounted police; the PEG
pie have been forbidden to act or to speak or
to write or to think, save as 1t seemed good
to Austria, under pain of death. Life and pro-
perty have been farce in Lombardy. Not
single popular guarantee--neither press, nor
trial by jury, nor habeas corpus, nor an honest
administration of justice, nor representative
assembly of any kind-has been allowed to
exist. Commercial enterprise has been con
traband; travel has been suspicious; even life
has been presumptively criminal Such mas
been the horrible and heartrending state OF
Northern Italy--with the exception Of Sardi-
major the last forty years
On the other hand, Bourbonism and the
Papacy have effected nearly as appalling re-
suite with less obvious instruments in the
South. Inbecility and dull tyranny have reign
ed at Naples The King has led gross, sen
sual life, like most Of his ancestors; his only
thoughts low to keep down the spirit of his
people; his only hope to live cut his life with
out allowing the least drop Of lioerality or
freedom or truth to filter through the Neapoli
tan frontier. As in the North, the best men
among his subjects have died in prison; and
those who have gene loose have purchased the
privilege by denying their principles,
their honor and their manhood. Nor have
the Popes been .rcer to the gospel Of demo
cracy. Private vice and public corruption
have commended for the mastery in the Cen
clave. Il is as COMMON at Rome for a judge
to cell his decisions sc for other and more
exalted officials to lead dissolute lives. As
silent as ever is the tomb Of Hadrian; no
man knows whose creams creep out Of ite
narrow windows into the damp night air;
but good men disappear there, too. French
bayonets sustain The Pope, and it is we'll
For the Vicar of Christ has uprooted Chris.
tianity among his people, and there lie no fear
Of God, or love for the right among them,
now, to prevent their cutting the old mans
throat, if they were let loose for single day
What, then is to be done with Italy? Can
these things be suffered in the light of day, in
the middle Of the nineteenth century, in q
country which the wcrld veDerates as the
mother Of civilization, the cradle of law, md
truth, and justice? Count Cavour's ida lie
that, in the first place, Austria must be relisv-
ed of her protectorate over the North. Lat
Lombard Vepetia be erected into an indepen-
dent State, under whatever form of govern
ment the people please Give them liberty,
and the Count is assured they will find their
interest in an alliance with their Sandman
neighbors; IN peaceful development of their
long wasted resources; and in helping the re.
storation Of Italian nationality. AS to Naples,
the Count suggests that foreign Powers inter
vene for the purpose Of obtaining from the
present King guarantees for good government.
Rome shouId he cleared of the Papal sove-
reignty. Cavcar would leave the Pope at the
head Of the church; but the Papal doninions
he would transfer to prince of some Euro
pean house, to he held by him and his descend
ants in lire direct.
These projects are sweeping and bold. They
are not new; the dethronenent of the King OF
Naples, the secularizstion Of the Pspal States.
and the ameliora:ion of the condition of Lom-
hardy, were suggested long ago; but this is
the first time these ideas have been put forth
by high authority. or at time when the state
of Europe gave them prospect OF actually.
At present, Russia will not probably interfere
Her diepute with Sardinia has been healed;
her anger against Austria is fresh and strong
France can hardly oppose Sardinia. The En-
peror's plan in France has been to set up
government of opinion Indirectly expressed; it
is not TO be expected that he will support or
erect foreign governments ia diametrical op.