The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-26
The Progress OF European Eilibusterism-
Course OF the italian Question.


Course OF the Italian Question.
The state of affairs in Sicily and Southern
and Central Italy is Of the most complicated
and interesting character.
European flibusterism. under the lead OF
Garibaldi, has triumphed at Palermo, and
movement of the most hair-brained and despe-
rate character in its inception may yet rock the
whole of Europe with its results. The popular
and heroic leader Of Italian liberty embarked
wo small steamers, ran the gauntlet of the nu-
merous Neapolitan navy, made strategic
march upon a city held by $4,000 veteran
roops, and in thirty days the city has surren-
dered, the army capitulated, and a government
for free Sicily has been organized. This has
been achieved in the face of innumerable acct
dents that might have overthrown the enterprise
and consigned all its participants to death.
single man-of-war met upon the sea might have
sunk either or both of the fragile steamers,
surprise on march, the neighing of horse
during the strategic advance on Palermo,
stray shot. carrying off the leader and soul of
the expedition. and almost any little adverse
layed the march of events for years to come.
Even now the course of affairs is not beyond
the reach of accident in liberated Sicily. Ma
Piles still holds the strong places of Syracuse
Messina and Agosta, and on the main land no
responsive movement has yet taken place, while
the Sandman government has officially an
nounced that conspiracy is on foot in Tuscany
for the restoration of the exiled princes.
That immense efforts will be made to resist
the further advance of Garibaldi, and the con-
solidation of the kingdom of Northern Italy,
we cannot doubt. The struggle is the
death struggle of that temporal empire of
the Church which claims by tradition its
establishment by Constantine, and which history
comedies to the series of pontiffs from Adrian
the First to Hildebrande. The success Of Carl
baldi in Sicily must inhame Naples and the
whole of Central Italy, and Rome itself can
be saved only by the active Intervention of the
European Powep Even this can save the tempo
raj power of the Pope but for few years longer
from the march of European progress, and
then. If not now, that venerable and time-worn
empire will expire, and be decently buried. 1t
will be entitled to great funeral, and as long a
train of carriages as followed the hearse of Bill
Poole, but the only hearty mourner in this
country will be Archbishop Hughes
This event will produce marked effect
on the temporal as well as on the religious
affairs of the world. The Church Of Rome
was the preserver Of the science, literature
and philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome.
During all the dark ages that followed
the Eruption of the barbarians into Southern
Europe and Northern Africa, when the ancient
lights of mankind were extinguished, the Church
carried them in her bosom, but she knew not
what they were. From the monastic cells that
harbored them sprung modern civilization and
philosophy. Luther, by their light, gave the
first blow TO the accretions which centuries had
piled round the old Church; and to-day Euro
pean flibustersm comes to finish the work. Its
performance will help to clear the political as
we'll as the religious atmosphere of Europe, but
the great principles Of government and religion
will remain purified and unscathed. These
changes and possible complications will make
the coming season in Europe one Of intense in
terest to the whole world, although, from
present appearances, II is not likely to result in
general war, as England and France have had
the good sense to keep out Of the Italian
complications.