The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-05-19

The Italian Q1ssIuon.

| oPanlons 0defeo 40 70 the merits and demer-
its Of the motives that sotuate the mind of
the French Emperor in regard 10 the war just
osmmsncing il Italy. On onsside it is urged
that motives of personal interest, ambition
and family ACKNOWLEDGEMENT alone concurred
in moving Louis Napoleon to the memorable
words addressed to the Austrian Minister ia
january, which set Europe agog with won-
der and apprehension, and that he has surely
and determinedly followed out his long pre-
conceived design with she peculiar tenacity
/ Of purpose and perseverance Of the Bona
parte family until the war has been initiated
by Austria, which he had determined should
be at all hazards. Others aver that even had
it been his design to have war, he Was moved
to it more by the oaths he long since took a.
member Of the Italian society Of the Oar
bonari, Of which he was most unpleasantly re-
minded by the orsini assassination attempt
BY the necessity Of finding employment for
his immense army-in fact by the instinct of
self-preservation, than by any wishes for
further ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for himself, terrific
rial enlargement or love of military employ
ment. Whatever be the real motive. the
avowed one is certainly meritorious, namely:
the relief of Italy from foreign rule, her re-
lease from the iron grasp Of Austria, which
power virtually governs Lombardy and Ven
ice, the Duchies Of Parma, Modena and Tus-
cany, and the Pontifcsl States. In this war
France is the friend and ally Of Sardinia
The King Of Sardinia is the champion Of free
constitutional government in Italy. His fam
lily originally, as Dukes of Savoy, governed
Savoy, then embracing, besides what is now
known as Savoy, part Of Switzerland, and
were known - friends Of arbitrary rule and
prosecutors Of Protestant ism. The Cansons
OF Geneva and Vaud in Switzerland threw
of the yoke and became free and Prot essant
at the same time. Since then the power and
the principles Of the house Of SAVOY have
changed gaining territory they have become
also liberal, and having added Piedmont and
Sardinia snd now known as King of Sardin-
10, the people under the sway of Victor EN-
manuel have Constitution, Parliament,
and both Catholic and Protestant forms Of
worship are encouraged and tolerated alike.
All Italy signs for similar privileges. Lom-
hardy especiallyi il uneasy and has long been
so. A people who speak language rough
and unharmonious to the ear Of those raised
and educated to hear and speak the soft flow
ing cadences Of the Italian tongue, are quar-
tered upon them, grinding them down BY
bnrdensome taxation and eating out their
substance, living on the fruits Of their toll,
and spying their every move and word. Mi
Ian, city Of about the size of st. Louis, had
quartered upon her before the present quar-
rel 10000 soldiers. Like the frogs Of Egypt,
they are everywhere--in the streets, at the
theatres and opera houses, at the churches,
around the walls, and especially at the gates
of the city, receiving taxes upon every arti-
Gle which enters the city for the support Of
it's people, are to be seen the Austrians.-
Verona, Vicenxa, Padua and Venice are sim
ilarly garrisoned. At Venice is the Austrian
mint coming the swansiger, which, passing
from hand to hand, shows the people the
badge of their slavery in the common trans
actions Of life. All Offices are in the hands
OF the foreigner. A country beautiful be-.
yond description, Of which poets have sung
for ages past, land where the vine and the
mulberry flourish in full view OF the eternal
Alps that send down the streams that give it
richness and verdure, is thus crippled and
chained.
Americans fought because they we're taxed
NOT by strangers, but people Of their own
racs-without representation. The Italians
are enslaved and ground down by the single
will OF despot who is beyond their reach
even by petition. No wonder that a native
Italian constitutional King, like Victor EN-
manuel, should be moved by the CRY Of an
euish that comes up to his ears continually
from the plains of Lombardy. Whatever
other motives may ooncnr to influence him,
Dc II that the heartfelt memory OF his faith
er's defeat at Novara by the Austrian, be it
that be would have his title "King Of kaly"
instead Of Sardinia, yet it 10 not inconsistent
with his previous character TO suppose that
his wish il to give to the Italians better
government than they now have, and il is
most evident from the rush Of the most hon.
orablc and patriotic men Of italy to bis stand.
ard that he 10 looked to % the savior Of the
land. and that Lombsrdy, Venice, the Duch-
les and the Papal States would Welcome an
extension Of the institutions Of Sardinia az
an unspeakable blessing, ~ : wonderful re-
lief compared With the doninion OF the Aus
TRANS, forced upon them BY the Congress Of
Kings that partitionsd Europe after the
DOWNFALL Of the frst Napoleon, when they were