The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-09
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON, D. c., JUNE 8, 1859

ing in free quarters on the unfortunate lnhablt
ants, and rewarding them by the bastinado'
administered literally at pleasure, without dis
tinction of rank or sex. A recent reform 7
appoints women to bastinado women.)
"The following will be found in the Augs6urg
Uni0ersaL Gazette, January 20, 1854 paper
not unduly partial to the Italians:
:" Captain l., commanding officer OF the Zlst
Austrian regiment of the line, posted at Pc
rouse, has commanded forty blows to be admin
istered in the public place to an estimable citi-
zen, NJ. Longanelli, simply because he refused
to receive a second Austrian officer, when he
had one already quartered on him. There
were only ten to be divided among all the in
habitantS.) This arbitrary sentence was pre-
coded neither by inquiry nor formality. The
same officer, few days before, inflicted forty
blows on poor peasant, who happened to have
cotton handkerchief round his neck, which
once had been of three colors though they were
nearly obliterated by repeated washings.'
"Not less deplorable is the universal venality
of the Austrian administrators, civil and militia
ry, in Italy they regard it as conquered
country, to be plundered ad Iibitum. This will
account for those enormous fortunes which so
many have accumulated. Nowhere is this ex-
hibited so unblushingly as in the CONSUMPTION,
were youths utterly unfit by bodily infrmties
for military services are inscribed as fit, merely
for the purpose Of extorting money TO obtain
their release. If they are suspected Of patriotic
or liberal sentiments, a different course is
adopted they are first permitted to pay for a
substitute, and then seized and compelled by
threats and blows to enrol in Austrian regi
ment, to be sent to the marshes Of Croatia, to
be forced to fight against their own flesh and
blood.
1T is said that the Lombard soldiers have re-
turned with alacrity to their regiments. If so,
the reason lies, doubtless in the fact that the
cOmmunes to which they belong are heavily
fined for every soldier missing; that, in addi-
ton, their relatives are liable to the most cruel
treatment in case of their desertion. Several
cases of this description came under my own
observation. Austria appeals to the treaties of
1915. Even supposing that any treaty can be
sacred, in which one nation is recklessly sacri
feed bound hand and foot, to the ambition of
another, how can Austria dare to invoke them
Did she remember them when she annexed the
Republic of Cracow to her dominions, in def
ance of the proteStations of Europe, under pre-
text that the tranquility of Poland demanded
that annexation Dares she invoke them now
that the peace and security of Europe, the best
and hottest interests of humanity, are at stake
Surely the time is at hand when Europe will
perceive that, even in an interested point of
view, an IIaIy, SIronS, Tranquil, anu lhuepehu-
ent, is preferable to one perpetually agitated by
the commissions Of agony and despair, and in its
turn agitating all surrounding nations.
"Itmust be remembered that the police we
have said, are armed soldiery, characterized by
the manners of common soldiery; the Italians
are very sober people. They abstain from
going near the Austrian canteen, not Only be-
cause the spectacles there are intolerable, al
most unimaginable to the Italian but because
the proximity is actually unsafe. That is not
the worst. The Austrian soldiers are men Of
strongly developed physique; Italian women
are peculiarly attractive; the soldiers feel them
selves free to assail any woman, any lady, any
where-even the presence of her husband not
shielding her. And should he be provoked
into brawl with the soldiery, the police authori-
ties, Of course, know which side must be in the
right. We have said nothing here Of the drain
of wealth from Lombardo-V enitia to feed Aus
trian tyranny; nothing of social misery flowing
from political oppression nothing Of restrc-
tons forced upon a land naturally made for
commences we have spoken only of those suf-
ferings which become personal in their pres
sure, and which make the Italian hate and
loathe the very sight or sound Of live Aus
trian."