Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-06-09
0Qortester Daily SPY.
From the Westminster Review for April.
MAZZINI AND THE CARBONARI.

of reasons he had done immense services
greater than those of any other man in keen
ing alive the torch of liberal ideas in the peri
cd Of desolation and gloom when an undving
conviction could alone prevent the heart of
man from sinking into apathetic indifference
When, therefore the great movement come
overnight, and the magic vision of success
flashed suddenly on the wakeninp ewes of It.
ally, enthusiastic confidence was ELECTED for
the prophetic nature of the man, whose hero
phantic breathings, communicated at midnight
meetings in the mystic conclaves of Carbonari
lodges, had quickened the generous devotion
of youth, had buoyed up with feyered assur-
ances the dependency of maturer wears. had
been sufficient to make noble lives seek youn-
tary martyrdom, in obedience to whispering
bidding, and now seem to have attained the
confirmation of their pledges in the indsputa
BILE testimony of positive achievement No
historical tradition held up pattern to imita-
ton, and still less did any actual institution
lend the assistance of its support to the lonp
ing efforts of Italian Liberalism. There was
literally nothing in the whole range of Italian
prospects capable of affecting the Centennial
fist with hope, or of attracting his sympathes.i
The leaden gloom of stagnation and mean on
preston seem to pervade the regions of gov
ernment in the Peninsula Under such cir
cumstances a heart, not to subside into indie
ference or end in despair. had to recur TO the
depths of abstract conviction for the bracino
elements that might enable it to bear M
against adversely In the complete divorce
between generous aspiration and wretched re-
ality-in the utter impossibility to find any
point OF affinity between the two-mind was
torcibly directed for soace to the realm of i'm
agnation, where it could freely intoxicate it.
self with the uncompromsing indelible rights
of man, and visions of their ultimate triumph
over the incompatible enormities of existing
establishments Now Mazzinianism is this
frame of mind elaborated into a doctrine. and
perfected into an organization. Its language
breathed the inspiration of the most abstract
principles, its views were such an elaborate
vision as teens from an imagination rant in
trance above disturbances from things without
while the mystic symbolism peryadng its So
cret organization with its form of imitation.
esoteric Examinations, and oracular hierarchy,
was exactly adapted to foster a chronic fever
of the imagination, and answer the purposes
of a season necessarily confined in its opera
tons to conspiring, and occultly propagating
underground disafiecton. 1t cannot be denied
that this was the work of no ordinary talent
Nazzlnl is the very genius of conspiracy
with nothing to encourage him but the unde-
Waiting teryour of his ardent mind, he contriy
ed a society, which alone under the circum
stances of the time could give some combina.
ton and direction to the scattered particles of
Italian energy, and it cannot therefore be mat
ter of wonder that he should have acquired
over his partizans an influence which partook
of generation, and which enabled him like the
Old Man of the Mountain, to command ennis
saries who rejoice to be dcyotees.
But that which constituted Mazzini's mower
in period of appeal to the ina ginative facul-
ties precisely defeated his usefulness in dealing
with events. With an utter absence of annre
citation, he insisted on reconstructing in behalf
of Liberalism the infiexble system REPRESENT
ed on the other side by canon law. AS the
vision of united Italy had risen before his mind
in secluded meditation, so alone would he con-
sent to entertain it, He could never bring
himself to make any account of circumstances.
and as all legislation besides its own edicts is
undeserving of notice by the Papacy. SO MAJ.
Zini, assuming the infallible character of tho
PontlH of Liberalism, denounced and sought
to thwart every reform short of his own thor
ough revolution. In 1913 this imperfection in
his mind was not yet discovered, while the
first burst of that years events the full i'm
preston Of his seer-like assurances weighed
on his disciples with even heightened ecstacv
But since then a desertion has taken Mace
amongst his followers, Apainst the boon he
slowed on Italy by Piedmont. were il only in
the fact that on italian soil it has opened n
school free from oppressive control for
discussions ofevery kind Mazzini has NOT only
remained blind, but has actually nersisted
to plot with spiteful and unnatural animositv
merely because its form does not partake Of
his favorable republican fashion. Under the
influence of elfopinionativeness he has allow
ed himself to be hurried into actions which
amount to deliberate treason against the com
mon cause of national independence. In def
ance of every consideration. Mazzini with
perverse arrogance, has refused to Weld ono
title Of his republican views for the sake of
union of the great purpose of Iberating his
country from the foreigner. Isolatine himself
therefore from patriots of every shade who
were not not ready to subscribe to his exclu-
sive opinions, Mazzini for a while maintained
a following of some Importance. composed
mostly of sincere Republicans in theory. and
augmented by men painfully impressed with
the closing circumstances of the outbreak of
1848, and consequently inclined to seek in ex
IRENE measures the only adequate remedy for
inveterate ills. But Piedmont, which at that
time had not acquired general confidence has
since then been steadily winning esteem. Its
undoubted good faith, snd sacrifices to the
cause of independence and free government,
has obtained for it at least general sympathy
in Italy. Mazzini, on the contrary, not only
refused to co-operate with it. butused tho smell