Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-05-20
Whnf Then Z

Suppose the AuStrlanS driven out OF Italy, what
then? Or, suppose the French driven out what then
Or, suppose all foreign troops departed what them
Taking the ground of the last superstition assuming
that through the efforts of French despot another
despot of Austria should be driven out and the French
despotshoud gracefully retire, leaving Italy independent
how long could Italy maintain a free government p
How long would the dream of Italian nationality last
How long before constitutional monarchy with Pied
mont for neuceus and Victor Emanuel for aking would
be torn by sectional factions and local eaOuses before
Milan would be jealous of Turin and Florence of both
Before Genoa and Venice would renew their ancient
rivashp; before the Carbondri would be plotting in
surrecons and assassnatonS before the sword would be
the only arbiter and military dictatorship the only re-
fuge? How long could federal republic like the Uni
ted States stand? He has read the history of italian
republics of the past and studied the character of Ita
ian nationaes of the present. to but little advantage
who dreams of the adaptedness of Italy for republican
government.
Suppose the French should fail in Italy, we need
hardly expect much ameIioration of the condition OF
Italy Such would be in opposition to all the antece-
dents of Austria War; devastation the reckessness OF
camps, the despotsm necessary to main tain discipline
are bad preparations for rational liberty peaceful
gress. naughty and ncensed despotism like Austria
would hardly be prepared to exercise moderation in the
moment of triumph, high spirited people like the
Italians, be able to appreciate it while smarting under
the modification of defeat.
But taking the first superstition and that to which
opinion most generally incines that the Austrians
should be driven out Italy by the Frenchand Sardnians
what then? Who expects much from the nephew Of
the man who traded off Venice to Austria and who
starting in the name of liberty subsequently ncorpora
ted all Italy into the French Empire parceled it out
among his Generals Piedmont did not then escape
and the history of the past might be warning to it..
The protection that France will extend to Italy may be
easily guessed at Will France quietly retire after hay
ing spent thousands of men and millions of treasure
and ask nothing at all by way of remuneration for her
trouble? No little slice of Italy say for instance LON
hardy and Venice and such little matter perhaps as
Tuscany, Parma and Modena thrown in with a slight
claim of supremacy over Italy generaly-in fact a
kingdom ofItaly for Napoleon'sson? Whoknows? One
Napoleon did it-why not another
And when, after several thousands of men shall have
met together at sundry places and fired bullets into
each other and blown each other to pieces with
balls and driven bayonets through each others vitas
and hacked each others limbs with swords and after
towns and villages shall have been plundered rlned Or
burned-shattered by balls and rent by bombs and af
ter the husbandman shall have been taken from his in
dustry and his crops ruined and his family subjected to
injuries worse than death and after debts shall have
driven nations to bankruptcy, and wang shall be in all
Households certain grave dpomatiss will meet together
and talk peace and do what ought to have been done
better at first before carnage had taken place
And these people will parcel out men and territories
with respect to the wishes Of the men themselves and
" order " will be restored
And Italy What Off What does France or
Austria for Italy to suit themselves? The
people! We'll, they may not be much worse off, will
they be better? What reasonable man can hope~ for
it? Not we, certainly.