Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-07-15
The War in Italy.

fl Inc war IN Italy.
The war now raging in Italy appears
from all accounts from Europe to be ev-
ry day assuming more serious aspect.
Battles have been fought, cities taken
and provinces reyolutiouised. In a sub
ject SO important the public have q right
to expect of every editor that he should
endeavor to explain the origin Of the dis
pute, and to predict as far as he can the
consequences which win result from II,
especially whether the cause Of liberty
and national independence will in the end
be advanced by the terrible conflict, and
to enable them to Judge as friends of lib
erty and human progress to which of the
eontending parties their sympatliies sho'ld
be given. To enable US to perform this
duty TO our friends and patrons we have
made some researches into historical and
geographical facts which seem to be ne
cessary to proper understanding Of the
subject, and though our statements may
not be new to many of our readers, yet
it may be convenient to all to have them
condensed and arranged in reference to
this subject.
-e The peninsula of Italy, with the ada
cent islands of Sicily and Sardinia, CON
tains an area Of about $4,000 square
miles, greater extent Of territory than
the British islands, and has about 2,000,-
600 inhabitants, about equal to the whole
white population of the United States.
This region, surrounded on three sides
BY the Mediterranean and its CULTS, aud
on the fourth by the Alps, would seem to
have been marked by the hand of Provi-
dence for one great and happy nation.
The Italian people, speaking the same
language, of the same origin, alike in
manners, sentiments, and religion, are
now broken up and divided into twelve
separate and distinct governments, and
never since the fall of the Roman En-
pire have been united as nation under
one government. The states of Italy
are of all possible forms and dimensions
from the puny republic of San Marine
which is less than a common township il
Vermont, containing only twenty two
square miles and a population Of 5000
to the kingdom of Naples which, inclu
! ding the island Of Sicily, covers an are,
Of $4,000 square miles and contains
population Of about eight millions.
The boundaries of the several Italian
states are irregular and inconvenientl,
arranged, and to make the matter worse
Lombardy with an area Of 18. 600 squar,
miles and a population of 5,oOo,ooo in
GLIDING almost the whole valley Of III,
Pc, and comprising the fairest portion o
the whole peninsula, has long been sub
: ject to a foreign power, the emperor Q
: Austria. This division Of the countr,
/ into petty and discordant ststes has sub
ijected The Italian people to innamerabl
ihoohveniences, has occasioned many an,
bloody wars among them, and has beer
an insuperable barrier to national rros
perity and advancement. Each PROVING,
had not only different rulers and sonar
ate interest, but the people we're harrasse,
by different tariffs and by different com
mercial regulations The face Of III,
country was dotted over with hostiie-for
and armies which of course were sun
ported by heavy taxes on the people
The Boundaries Of the several state
swarmed with officers Of the customs an,
the police, to the great hindrance not onI,
OF commerce, but Of social intercourse
In short the Italians have for apes exna
rienced what we might expect here !
onr Union were dissolved, and our tapp,
and united states were transformed jnt,
jesjous. hostile communities 'aaah
This state Of Italy has been prodoc
tive not only Of great evils to the unbap
Py but naturally greatly favored country
but has been fruitful source Of discor,
to the surrounding nations. z' q GO
Spain, France and Austria have 70,
centuries been 1contending for the contro
o. these dinninutive principalities, and III,
jealousy and ambition Of those preal
PO~ers have not only devastated ItaIy
but have involved themselves m rufno1.
wars With each osher Had ITALY beer