The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-07
VOL. XII.-NO. 35.
Written for the Pioneer and emocrat.
The Philosophy of Politics. -Teaching
by Example.
NUMBER THREE.

NUMBER THREE.
The Age CT I: :iiau Greatness AID Comm ercia SUI
penney
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 tropical and 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 neighborins islands. The
manufacture of silk was tostered 10 Italy,
and soon became highly flourishipg. The
money OF Europe remained in Europe, ard
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 ipfidel, ami taught true honor and
courtesy by the religion they proiessed and
batted 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 tie
Mahommedans and Christians were engaged
in constant hoshlities, 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 Earore 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 int IL
gence and energy. never surpassed by any
people, to manufacturing industry. AS they
had all Europe for market, they easily
found customers for their surplus, which in
creased their commerce. Agriculture en-
Joyed remunerating home market. Riches
became disseminated among the people, and
created new desires and new wants; and as
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 iu 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 magnifi-
cent and opuent 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 were 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 Geuoese against Venitians, other
nations were unconsciously preparing to
take from them the sceptre of commercial
dominion. The Portuguese and their sue
ceSsors monopolise tue 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 paople, dismem-
bered by faction and inherited prejudices,
have been the prey of their more united
neighbors, passing successfully 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 alb
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 a
condition to enter upon career of CONNER
cial enterprise-and how they lost this adj
vantage.
The Greeks and the Romans paid for the
Injuries of India, their gold, which never
relurned to them, so that they were impov-
erished.
The Italians, in supplying the West with
the products of the East, organized more
enlightened commercial system. When the
Sorooono hocorno Sonoinopt Curio onJ