The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-10
The Government of Naples I'm q Fright
Grant of a Constitution and Other Con.

The Government of Naples in u Fright
Grant of a Constitution and Other Con.
cessions.
The details Of the news from Europe brought
by mail possess more than ordinary in
teresi from the practical oofs which the in
telligence affords Of the progress of the revolu-
ton in the kingdom Of the Two Sciles. The
Council of the King are thoroughly frightened as
also the King himself who was lately sick from
The operation Of terror, as soon as Napoleon's
letter refusing to interpose on behalf of the
Neapolitan despot was read a. the Council. The
Council adopted the following propositions on
the ed ult.:-
i. The adoption Of a constitution.
2. A general amnesty to be granted.
3. A total change Of ministry.
A. Italian alliance with Piedmont.
S. The Italian flag to be adopted.
These propositions were voted by a majority
of nine against three. The King hesitated for
three days to give bis consent, but at length
on the 18th, decreed by sovereign act gene
raj amnesty to all political offenders, constitu
tional and representative institutions, and TIA
lian principles to the kingdom Of Naples, with
similar institutions and viceroy for Sicily;
new government to be formed Immediately
and the necessary statutes passed. To crown
all, an agreement to be made with the King of
Sardinia for the adoption of the tri-eolor flag.
The grant OF the constitution is said to be at
The instance of the French Emperor; certain it
is that he is the indirect cause Of it by his re-
filsal to interpoEe. These reforms and conces-
sions are manifestly the joint offspring of fear
and the progress of the revolution, and are not
to be relied upon as sincere or permanent 1t
is stated that great efforts were being made by
the Neapolitan government to induce Victor
Emanuel to accept the offers of friendship from
young Bomba; but it is to be hoped that the
military movements of Garibaldi will be too
rapid for those of diplomacy, and that neither
the victorious chief nor the King of Sardinia
will listen to the deceitful offers of King and
government who are without faith or honor.
The experience Of the former treachery Of the
Neapolitan government is sufficient to put Carl
baldi and the people on their guard against the
insidious wiles of tyrants driven to bay. The
propositions made are the result of desperation.
Better half loaf than no bread, and any kind
of kingdom rather than none. A culprit con-
demned to execution for his crimes, modestly
proposing to get off with kind Of
Imprisonment in which he might be
permitted to become a prisoner at large
on his parole of honor presents but faint
image of the spontaneous and unselfsh benef-
ccnce of the royal despot of Naples to his op-
pressed and unhappy subjects, while his throne
totters to its fall. Francis Joseph of Austria
made propositions of reform in regard to his
Lombardo-V Venetian province, when he saw sue
eessfui revolution staring him in the face, and
he is now carrying out reforms in yenetia-the
half of the province left to him by the late war
because he sees that the revolution Is still in
progress in Italy, which may wrest yeneta also
from his grasp, and drive him behind the Adige.
And so is it with Francis the Second of Naples.
The sword of Damocles is suspended over his
head by single hair and, like most death bed
penitents, he becomes suddenly pious.
When the devil grew sick the devil saint would be;
when the devil got well tho devil saint was he
If his Neapolitan Majesty was only sure
that be would be left in undsturbed possession
of Naples, he would gladly let the island of
Sicily 60. But such is not the intention of
Garibaldi. The conquest of Sicily is only part
of his mission-a means to an end-thc prelimi-
nary step to the total overthrow of the royal
power in Naples. Accordingly we find that
when the municipality of Palermo sert an ad-
dress to the Dictator requesting immediate an
nexation to Piedmont, he said the annexation
Of Sicily alone would not be advisable. The
Island of Sicily is seized as the best basis Of
operations that could be obtained in order to
the reduction of the kingdom on the main
land. We shall probably soon hear of Carl
baldi's march on Naples itself Instead of
wasting his time and resources in the siege of
Messina be will be likely to strike at the heart
game is up, and Mcssina falls without a blow
Preparatory to some decisive movement he
had decrccd the destruction Of Fort Cas-
tellamarc, near Palermo, and the first divi-
sion of the revolutionary forces had been or
dered towards Syracuse, port In different
direction from Messina. and whence probably
a debarkation may be made for a descent on
Calabria, the lower extremity Of the Neapoliian
kingdom, or foot OF the Italian boot.
The promised concessions of the King will
probably hasten Garibaldi's action, for Il there
should be any delay, some of the people may be
scduced by this false snow Of liberality, and
the diplomacy Of crowned heads, who do not
like revolution, may step in and snatch the prize
out Of the hands Of the Italian liberator. The
next news from Europe will, therefore. be
looked for with great interest
1t is stated that Louis Napoleon has declared
he will not consent to the annexation OF Sicily
TO Piedmont. We do not believe il. II the peo-
pie of Sicily desire it, Napoleon will not aad
cannot prevent it, for the votes of the people are
the tenure bX which no holds SAVOY and Nice