The Nevada Democrat., 1861-04-13
Geographical Importance OF a United
Italy.

Italy.
AT a late meeting of the American Geo
graphical and Statistical Society, held in
New York, Professor Gajani, native of
Rome and an exile, read paper on "The
Geographical Importance ofa United Italy"
The New York News gives the following
sketch Of the lecture
Mr.. Gajani said the attentive reader of
the history of Italy would not fail TO have
remarked that, for political greatness, she
has always been dependent upon her geo.
graphical position. Stretched like wharf
into the sea for the commerce OF neighbor-
ing nations, she was independent of them
all, having within herself the most varied
aud richest elements OF national prosperity.
Having been kept down for long time by
want OF political union, she rises by sud-
den movement which seems to be prompted
by the consciousness of her geographical
Importance. Fourteen centuries since Italy
was conquered, and since that time the con-
querors Of all the world have poured into it
their hordes and armies yet the natives
never failed to feel that they were Italians,
and always aspired to Union. This desire
would have produced a result II 1t had not
been for foreign Intervention. There had
always been magic in theiname of Italy and
the spell OF it had never been broken. The
more distinctly marked the boundary of a
nation is, the stronger is the love of codn-
try among the Inhabitants. No conqueror
has ever been allowed TO enjey any peace
with such an important and rich acquisition.
She has been called the Tomb of her Con-
querors
But while the invaders slew each other.
and saw their numbers diminish, the natives
ncomparatively superior in number aud al
so in civilization, were allowed to work
and trade, and they remained always the
people of the land, though despsed and ill
treated by their foreign masters. II was
the natural formation of Italy that would
always save her from foreign conquerors.
The Apprentices, which pass through it like
back hone, offered great shelter to its
people, and it was impossible to run over
Italy and destroy everything at will. The
Inhabitants could take impregnable shelter
in the mountains. Italy had variety of
people, climate and products, which en-
braced all the best features of nature. and
which, instead of being an obstacle to an
Italian nationality, 1t was that which had
made the Italians as nation SO successful
in all the different branches of human know
ledge and industry. The fear of Italian
nationality had always been a great cause of
anxiety among European Powers. Shewas
too important country to be allowed to
have form Of government of her own
but let her become united and strong. and
The speaker thought she wond be the an-
chor of peace TO troubled Europe. Italy
would eventually be the ruin OF Austria,
which was not nation, but government
over oppressed nationalities. Italy had
been for years the acknowledged center of
Christianity as the seat of the Pope, but it
would yet be the destruction of bis tempo
raj powers. The temporal power of the
Pope had always been an impedlment 10
the union of Italy and the progress Of Chris
tianity. lie had so embrOiled himself with
political and pecuniary affairs that he had
entirely neglected the spiritual affairs Of
the Church Italy united would progress
and become q nation of great deeds and
great men even now she had, in the per.
sons Of Victor Emanuel, Cavour and Carl
baldi. The speaker spoke at length Of his
great anticipations as to the final, complete
emancipation and the great future of Italy.