The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-21


The future opening before Italy Is the
grandest that has dawned upon her since the
consolidation of the States of the Peninsula BY
the Roman republic enabled the latter to wrest
Sicily and Sardinia from Carthage and to as
pireto make herpower felt abroad. Then as now,
the scattered elements Of Italian unity were
collected into one powerful focus, from whence
radiated the influences that contributed so
much to the progress of enlightened ideas
throughout the world. After the decline Of
the empire, when that identity of interests was
destroyed which gave to Italy distinctive ex-
istence in the midst Of her vast acquisitions
she remained true to her mission "a . reformer
and q propaganda Although her nationality
was broken up, each of its parts, in assuming
separate political form, still maintained intact
the progressive spirit that had distinguished it,
people in all those. refining and humanizing
pursuits which make up the sum of civil
lization. To the Italians we owe most of the
important discoveries in the arts and
sciences, some Of which modern perseverance
has wrought out into magnificent results;
whilst others, as in painting, sculpture and
architecture, later generations have been
unable to improve upon. Politically enslaved
and helpless, the Italians yet continued to ami
mate, by their genius and their example, the
sluggish instincts of the Northern nations, and
to diffuse among them that taste for the intel
lectual and beautiful which is distinctive fea-
ture of the national character.
Like most of those whose province 1t Is to
contribute to the development Of the human
mind, the Italians have been for centuries the
most unfortunate Of nations. They have occu-
pied towards the world the position of inven-
tors without patents, others profting by what
the narrowness of their own circumstances pre-
vented them deriving any benefit from. A new
era is however, opening for this gifted and rich
ly cultivated people. The vigor and manly en-
ergy that once gave them the supremacy of the
world, and that were lost in the vices into
which they degenerated from the lust of power,
have been re born out Of their misfortunes and
sufferings. They have come chastened and pu-
rifed out of the ordeal to which they have been
subjected, and the part which they will hence
forth play in the political affairs of the world
will be limited only by their forgetfulness of
the prolonged and cruel lessons they have re.
ceived.
The victims Of their own thirst for universal
dominion, they have been, by an appropriate re-
tribution, made the constant instruments of SINH
lar schemes on the part of others. Most of the
great Continental wars Of aggrandizements since
Italy lost her distinct nationality have been
waged upon her rich and fertile soil When
she has not been made herself the prey of the
conqueror, abe has served as sort of neutral
ground for the decision of other nations quar-
rels. Alternately despoiled by Spain, Austria
and France, they were no sooner compelled to
loose their hold Of her than they sought by
their diplomatic arrangements to perpetuate
the misery which their expressions had caused
her. The Italians, in fact, came to be looked
upon by statesmen as people who had lost all
| political character and energy, and who could
only be regenerated by incorporation into
other nationalities. Viewing them in this
light, the first Napoleon made them the
pivot of his schemes of conquest, and
by their aid succeeded for time in rem
dering himself master of the Continent.
The present Emperor also endeavored to carry
out, through their assistance, the projects that
he had matured with similar view. That he
had not penetrated the full depths of the
patriotism and good sense which lie at the bot
tom of the Italian character, does no discredit
to his sagacity. He is himself but an instru-
meat in the hands of greater Power, whose
viii it is that this people, after centuries of
nd min all ha SonS
their degradation, and elevated to the position
to which they are entitled by their high intel
lectual qualities.
If the monarchs of Europe, who are ct pre-
sent trembling for the integrity of their pos
sessions, had correct idea of their own int
rests they would further instead of throwing
obstacles in the way of the great scheme of
Italian unity which the sagacity and firmness of
the Italian patriots have partly realized. Their
true policy is to abstain from all interference
in the affairs of that people, and to let the
drama which is now being enacted amongst
them be played out to the end. 1t is impossi-
BILE, after the manner in which the Pope has
resisted the continued reclamations of his SUBJ
jects for reforms in his civil administration, and
doubly impossible after the massacres of Peru
gia and Rome, that any relics of temporal
power should be left in his hands, He. will be
reduced to the condition of simple Bishop, as
were the Popes originally, exercising plenary
control over all things ecclesiastical, but leav-
ing to Caesar the things that are Caesars. There
in Rome, surrounded by the traditions
Of his Church, and the grand old relics of .
Pagan age, which even Catholicity has been
unable to blot out, he will be more powerful
and more venerated than he is at present, with
the attributes of corrupt and decayed
sovereignty dragging him down into the
mire Of popular contempt. In regard to
Naples who can doubt what its future will be