The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-07
Written for the Pioneer and Iemocrat.
The Philosophy Of Politics--Teaching
by Example.
NUMBER THREE.

NUMBER THREE.
The Age CT L: .lau Greatness and Commercial su
p.emacy
The conflict between Islam and Chris
tendon, produced an entire revolution in
the commerce and industry of the world.
1t closed up for centuries the channels OF
communication between India and Europe,
between the tropicalan temperate climates,
and compelled the western nations to forgo
the luxuries of the East, the silks of China,
the rich fabrics, and precious gems and
spices of India, and neighboring islands. The
manufacture of silk was fostered 10 Italy,
and soon became highly hourishisg. The
money of Europe remained in Europe, and
was employed in home industry, instead of
in purchasing luxuries from the East. The
nations of Europe became more dependent
on each other, fraternised by the crusades,
trained in arms and military ardor by fight
ing the infdel, and taught true honor and
courtesy by the religion they professed and
battled for, they became educated for the
new world of civilization before them and
for new contest among themselves for the
crown of empire.
For two centuries during which the
Mahommedans and Christians were engaged
in constant hostllties, the Christian mer-
chants could not safely visit the ports of
Alexandria or Syria, and the demand for
the luXuries of the East increased among
the people of Europe just 10 proportion as
they were difficult to procure. 1t was during
this period that Venice and other northern
cities OF Italy undertook to supply this de-
mand. The inhabitants of these cities
applied themselves with degree of inte IL
gence and energy, never surpassed by any
people, to manufacturing industry. AS they
had all Europe for a market, they easily
found customers for their surplus, which in
creased their commerce. Agriculture en-
joyed a remunerating home market. Riches
became disseminated among the people, and
created new desires and new wants; and as
a consequence, civilization, with learning and
art, made rapid progress, which were still
more advanced by the downfall of Con-
stantinople, which drove large numbers of
learned Greeks into Italy.
Wealth and intelligence increased the
enterprises Of the Italians, and as they were
divided into petty Republics, their rivalries
in commerce and trade arrayed them against
each other, and kept them in a constant
state of war. They were the first of the
nations of Europe that revived The trade
with India by the way of Egypt, and the
Italians from that time until the discovery of
the passage round the Cape of Good Hope,
enjoyed almost the entire monopoly of that
lucrative commerce.
1t was near the close of this period that
the Italian merchants were the richest
princes of Europe. Their bankers were
the money brokers of Europe. The Lom-
bards were the money lenders of London,
and the Italian cities were the most magni6-
cent and opulent of the world. They had
manufactures, agriculture commerce, Eu-
rOpean and tropical; and in northern Italy,
the field of their greatest enterprise and
advancement, they had purity of race, but
there was one need of permanent prosperity
and power which they did not enjoy: Their
States or petty Republics we're not united;
as they advanced in wealth and intelligence,
their mutual hatred increased; and while
they were occupied in destroying each other
by intestine wars, Pisans against Floren-
tines. and Genoese against Venitians, other
nations were unconsciously preparing to
take from them tue sceptre OF commercial
dominion. The Portuguese and their sue
ceSsOrs mOnopolse1 the trade of India, the
commerce OF Venice and Genoa declined,
the Italian bankers disappeared from the
cities of other nations, and for most of the
time since then the Italian psople, dismem-
bered by faction and inherited prejudices,
have been the prey of their more united
neighbors, passing successively under the
yoke of the Spanish, the French and the
Austrians. With union they would have
retained their commercial sway, and pre-
served power, indep enderce, and uncon-
quorable national patriotism.
The Italians enjoyed every element OF ma.
tional prosperity but the one alluded to-Un.
ion; and to be able fully to appreciate the ab
solute necessity of this condition ofprosperity
for any kindred people occupying natural
geographical unity, it is only necessary to
observe the advantages possessed by them
before any other nation of Europe was in g
condition to enter upon career of CONNER
cial enterprise-and how they lost this ad.
vantage.
The Greeks and the Romans paid for tht
luxuries of India, their gold, which never
reaurned to them, so that they were impov.
erished.
The Italians, in supplying the West will
the products of the East, organized mort
enlightened commercial system. When th'
Saracens became dominant in Syria ant