Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-03-30


mon interest and value The lecturers resi-
dence for number of wears abroad, his ac-
qnaintance with European statesmen, his IA
mliarity with Eurorean politics. AMI his
knowledge of Italy and the Ttaliqns. gained
among them with unusual facilities for ac-
quiring accurate inform ltion-c0mhined
with his qualifications as wise and patriotic
student of events, give more than ordinary
Importance TO his views. and we are sorry
| representation than that of our imperfect
abstract
Mr.. Marsh commenced by remarkiug upon
the progress of national philanthropy, and
| the wider and better sphere on which il has
entered in modern times. With increased
intercommunication men have become less
clannish 1t is no longer held among civil
lied nations that the people exist solely for
the pleasure and profit of their rulers. Man,
| as such, is allowed to possess inherent rights.
which must not be disrerarde1. The rela-
ton between the governed and government is
admitted to be one of reciprocal interest -
/ The Human race is now regarded as a Family
whose groups are bound t. each other by ties
of Divine institution God. who brings good
out Of evil has made the iniquitous Holy
Alliance Of the European S)veregns,l means
Of teaching the nations this the most impDr-
tant lesson since the introduction Of Chris
tianitv, and which must give a new phase to
human history. With this new idea has
come the necessity for new term. and the
word Solidarity, introduced to American
hearers by Klssuth, in his phrase "thc solid
arity Of the Peoples, - expressive of the com
munitv of interest and mutual dependence Of
the different nations of the earth. has now 4
a permanent place in American as well as
in European vocabularies.
As an illustration Of the moral influence
ofthe prevailing sentiment of one people up
on another, Mr.. Marsh alluded to the fact
that the new American view Of Southern
statesmen of the dominant party IN this
country. that slavery Is a social and political
blessing, has influenced France not only to
allow the establishment of slavery in some
of her dependencies, bat to legllize the slave
trade
Coming now directly to his subject, Mr..
Marsh pronounced the question Of the polit-
zeal independence of Italy to be one Of more
vital importance than any that has agitatei
Europe for three hundred years. 1t is not, rs
is mistakenly supposed by many, religious
question. The contending parties are all
Catholics, and the question IS solely one Of
| civil government.
The geographical aspect Of the question. as
next presented by Mr.. Marsh. is striking
| Itllv under the Cnsars occupied the same
position as the coatre Of accessibility to the
World of that dlv. that England now hold,
to the Civilized World of this day, and the
outmost limits were relchei in about the
same time as now. 1t took the Roman L.
gate. travelling by galley ami elephant and
/ dromedlry, about six weeks to reach the
/ hrders of the Empire, and the British bear
/ 81. # dispatches 10 Calcutta or H,ngkong
consumes about the same time in reaching
/ his much more distant destination. Bat the
! progress Of the art Of locomotion, the tun-
melting Of the Alps and the multiplication of
railroads on the Continent are fast restoring
to the Mediterranean and Euxina their an
/ cient position Of centrality, and the regions
/ bordering on them, with their docayed sea
ports, are reg aiming their importance. Italy
/ is once more the virtual centre of q wider re
/ -iou than overland t ough she cannot again
become misue ss Of the world. she may and
should again assume her position Is frs,
class nation.
In productiveness and ability to support
dense population the Italian peninsula is un-
surpassaI-while the nature of is surflce,
varied by mountainous ridges. the necessity
OF irrigation &c, counterbAlauce the ener-
waiting effect Of the ease with which life is
supported. Few countries task 50 highly
the constructive faculties. or reward enter
prise and industry So freely, and in
those qualities the Italians are not
lacking. They are remarkable for
that high form Of invention which accom-
plisbes great results with simple means, and
in great highways and hydraulic contrivances
their achievements are surprising.
Intellectually they are the most refined Of
people-and intelligence and quickness of
apprehension are not confined TO the educated
classes. The laboring population are not
torpid like the laborers Of many continental |
nations You may spend months in Italy /
without meeting a single dullard or clown
and you will find your Italian coachman dis |
playing as much tact and ingenuity in meet
ing an emergency or overcoming the conse-
oueDces Of an accident TO his vehicle, as an /
American stage driver. The Ialiens are !
also kindly in their sympathies, and this in
spite Of the teachings and influence of inflel,
tyrannical, and brutal rulers. they have re-
Gently offered to the world the wonderful
spectacle of great revolution not accompa-
MED with riot and excess but marked on
the other hand, by der. dse in private
crime, and a selection Of the best men for
positions of trust, such as could be found
only in the best communities.
The lecturer believed the Italian people to
IL. -, ,rLoa, oL,r,otor boIds o,,.
hope for the political regeneration of the
continent of Europe. Russia is still essen
Tally barbarous. with all her growing en-
ightenment Germany is retrograding. -
The German mind discards in politics the
principles of liberty which it insists upon In
the domain of thought. In politics it has
taught and learned nothing for centuries, +
md as whole Germany supports Austria