The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-23


midst of his immortal agony, the final overthrow
of the oppressor, has been for many decades of
years the type of unhappy Italy. Surrounded by
the Wondering relics of their ancient dominion.
the Italians even in their lowest estate have had
their imaginations fed with the grandest palpabIe
evidences of what they once were, and their hopes
of eventual liberation sustained by the almost
general sympathy which has been excited in their
behalf. Little, however, did they dream, twenty
eight years ago, that they were to owe their dely-
erance from an intolerable despotism to the Young
BoNAPARTE who was compromised by the insurrec-
ton of 1881, and who, at that period, narrowly
escaped being taken prisoner by the victorious le-
gions of the hated 7edeSchi. Yet the whirlipip of
Time has brought about its revenges. Within the
short space of sixty days the fugitive of Forli
upon whose head price was once set but who has
since become the ruler of great nation has loos-
ened the shacles that fettered the limbs of Italy.
has driven trcm its prey the double-headed
Eagle OF Austria, and first by the example of
his own acts, and more recently by words of
counsel whose true meaning is not to be
mistaken, has shown what it is possible for
energy to accomplish, and has indicated what
yet remains to be done. 1t is only in this sense we
can interpret the semioffcial language of the Con-
stitutionad which, while ostensibly complaining of
the ingratitude of the Italians for the great ser
vices performed by NAPOLEON Ill in their behalf
declares enphatiCally that Italian nationality is no
longer vain dream, if the people of italy care
wise enough to turn to account the ADVANTAGES
(which the peace of Vilafranca assures to them
another of fba
told that she ''is really Free" and that sIf she
"does not understand that fact, so much the worse
'ior her." SO declares the French Emperor by
the pen of NJ. GRANIER DE CAssAGYAc, and with
this assurance from so authoritative source if is
certainly 10 be hoped that the Italians will not
waste their time in idle doubts and fears. but will
at once assert their newly recovered freedom in
such manner as will establish in the face of the
world, the truth of the Imperial declaration. But
Italy is at this time in the bewildered condition of
man whose limbs have been SO LONG comnressed
together with thongs that for some time after his
release he continues TO doubt whether his muscles
Will ever regain their ancient frmness and volume
or whether he will ever again be capable of vigor-
Gus action. Something, too, may be pardoned her.
if she yet fails TO realize the momentous chance in
her condition, which a few short months have
brought about. A people who have borne so much
and suffered so deeply-who have been made for
centuries the football of the crowned heads of Eli
rope; who have been freed and enslaved by turns.
whose territory has been parceed out without
their consent and who have been subjected to the
rule of foreigners by conventions in the framing of
which they had no share-such a people, admon-
ished by their former experiences, may well doubt
whether the freedom which they are told is at
length within their grasp and which it is in their
power to hold or 10 reject, may not prove, after
all, as iusory the dreams in which they have so
often INDUCED but have never been able to realize.
Nevertheless, we have as yet seen no Just reason for
questioning the sincerity of the French Emperor
or the ability Of the Italians if they are left to
themselves, to complete the work which he has so
well begun. In Veneta there is no present hone
of shaking off the Austrian thrall; but, even in
Venetia Austria will not in future, dare to exer
else her power despotically. Yet, with the excep-
ton of that small province there is not now another
State in all the Italian peninsula that is under
the rule of the foreigner. Letter writers from
Itay do indeed continue to assert that France
is intriguing in the Duchies for the return of the
Grand Dukes. But how intriguing? That France
may desire to promote a free expression of the
popular will upon this important subject is proba-
BILE, and that she would regret 10 see the Govern
mens of those Duchies transferred 10 the hands of
the MAzzINIsTs is more than likely; but that
LOUIS NAPOLEON, who in the language of an old
dramatist, drove out the Archdukes ''with the
''mere Whit and wind of his fell sword'' has now
any particular desire to promote their recall, is
scarcely within the compass of belief By the
treaty of Villafranca, it was conceded that 'the
"Archdukes may return'' but we have vet
to learn that it was distinctly understood that
they were to be escorted back and sustained
on the thrones they had deserted by foreign bayo-
nets. How, then, are they to return if their for
mer subjects refuse to receive them? The Duchess
of Parma has no army wherewith to overawe the
Liberals. The Tuscan army declared for the AL
lies, and was on the banks of the Mncio, ready to
take part in the war, when the armistce was pro-
claimed. The Duke of Modena has great wealth, |
and some few troops but with the combined forces
of the three provinces arrayed against him. he can
scarcely hope to recover his lost province by force
of arms. But we are told, nevertheless, that Ma
PoLEoN Ill, in consideration of the warm friend
ship which has recently sprung up between him
self and the Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH is really
anxious to bring about the restoration of the
Grand Dakes, and that he has adopted a novel
mode of effecting this result. The question wheth-
er the Grand Dukes are to be permitted to return
or not we given to understand, will be submit
ted to the popular vote, and that numerous agents
of France-why not of Austria also 2-are now
scattered over the provinces, seeking to influence
that vote. We question whether there is single
grain of truth in this statement, but, admit it to
be the fact, what follows2 Why, that if the Ital-
ans, after all their aspirations for liberty, are so
debased or have so little force of character as to
permit themselves to be tempered with to their
own undoing, they are not worthy of the boon
they have so long craved. 'Italy understands"
says the Constitutional, 'that sheis really free If
s'she does not understand it, so much the worse
'sfor her "
The London Assurance Magazine, for July, con-
tains paper son the Mortality amongst Ameri-
sfcan Assured Lives" which, being based upon
the materials furnished by our last Census Report,
and subsequent statistical information compiled
from various sources for the use of the principal