Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-03-21
Victor Emmanuel. King OF Itaty.

twenty-five months ago, Austria COM
menced the Italian War, by pouring her
legions into Piedmont. The world knows
in what miraculously short time the invad-
er become the defeated, and how the loss
of the Battle of Solferino compelled Aus
tria eagerly to accept the terms, hard as
they were, which France proffered, on
swords point, at Villa Franco. Since
then, the Italian Duchies have annexed
themselves to Piedmont and Loprbardy.
Later still, Sicily and Naples did the same.
Last of all, the fortress of Gaeta, so well
defended by Francis IL, ex-King of Ma
pies, surrendered to Victor Emmanuel, who
is now Sovereign of Italy, with the ex.
ception of the remnant of the Estates Of
the Church, of which the population is
less than two millions and half.
Still there remained the anomaly of the
ruler of Italy bearing the local and con-
tracted title of King of Sardinia. Tha,
island came into possession of the Dukes
of Savoy, in 1920, by exchanged being
swapped for Sicily, and erected into king
dom.
The Senate of the italian Parliament
have passed, by l29 to 2, the project of a
law granting the proud title of King Of
Italy to Victor Emmanuel, land Europe will
recognize the proppriety of this new rank
1t is what the gallant sovereign has fairly
won, and be deserves to wear it. The
London Times, of February 26, thus com.
ments on the fact:
"From the passing of this law the new
italian era may be said to commence
The despised, divided, and down-troddeu
race are once more people. The geo
graphical expression has become mighty
kingdom, aud tie language of Dante and
Petrarch is no longer destined to be the
vehicle of ceaselcss and unvailing COM
plants, but will henceforth convey the
thoughts of the statesman, and record the
history of free men determining their own
destiny by their own will and energy
Italy has put away childish things, OIL
rather she has shaken off that senility
which approaches so nearly to the weak
ness of childhood. She stands before US
regenerated and disenthralled, and feels
every vein and nerve tbrobbing with the
consciousness of new and glorious ex-
istence. Henceforth it becomes duty never
to forget the vastness of the change which
has taken place, nor TO suffer old habit
to draw US into confusing the Italy of
the past with the Italy of the pres.
ent. We have no longer to apologize
for the weakness of race whose hands
were benumed by the fetters which they
had worn so long, we have no longer to
discuss doubtful questions of international
law, nor to plead for actions of more than
questionable legality the excuse derived
from revolutionary crisis. The struggle
between Italian and Italian has ended
with the fall of Gaeta. Civil war, al
least, is at an end and Italy, consolidated
to single nation, may expect, and even
demand, the respectful recognition of man.
kind"
The only uncertainty, on the Italian
question, is-What shall be done with the
Pope? Appearances lead to the conclu-
sion that France will soon withdraw the
military protection which has maintained
him in the Vatican during the last eleven
years. If so, his Holiness would be left
to arrange with the King of Italy, who
would doubtless allow him to continue
Head of the Church, at Rome, or to es-
tablish the Papal Sovereignty in some 9TH
er Catholic country. At all events, the
sooner he agrees to treat with Victor EN-
manuel, the larger and more liberal terms
will he gain from that prince. There is
no reason why the King and Pope should
lot both reside in Rome-one is ruler of
Italy, the other as Head of the Catholic
Church.