Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-19
m. Pro,re,s on TtniInn LIberty.

umphant experiment of selfgovernment,
which was wont to astonish the Old World
has been too busy healing itself to be aole to
prescribe so freely as is our custom for the
people who are governed by the effete feudal
institutions Of Europe.
Still, those who have such supererog-
atory store of freedom and capacity for self
government to bestow on less-fayored peo-
pies, should not entirely forget the progress
Of free institutions among people in whom
they but recently took go lively an interest;
and, perhaps, as our other foreign mission
aries do in regard to their work, they may
find consolation for the unpromising condi-
ton Of the triumph of selfgovernmeut at
home, by its wonderful progress in foreign
lands. But recently the Italian revolution
excited American enthusiasm up to that
concert pitch which it so readily reaches,
whether the occasion be Hungarian, who,
having failed in carrying on revelation in
his own country, transfers the campaign to
field where his peculiar genius and the pecu-
liar softness of the people promise better
success; or an embassy of half-civilized
colored people, vastly inferior to some of
those whom we try to legislate into pariahs
here; OF a nineteen-year old foreign prince.
The progress of free institutions in Italy we
propose to refer to.
The siege of Gaeta recommended on the
2lst of January, after truce of some weeks.
The King Ferdinand, OF Naples, driven from
all the rest Of his kingdom, holds this fortified
place with about 5000 troops. During the
truce he is said to have procured large sup
plies. Previous to the end of the truce, he
gave permission to any of his soldiers who
chose to leave him. Only about $50 availed
themselves of this permission to escape a
siege which must inevitably cause great
suffering and loss of life; and which, unless
the siege is raised by outside intervention,
must terminate in the capture of the fortress,
part of war the most destructive to life,
and in which the usages of war justify the
indiscIiminate slaughter of the garrison,
when fortified place is taken by assault.
Such fidelity is truly remarkable in degen-
crate Italians. Ofcourse, compared with a
South Carolina or Louisiana officer of the
United States Army or Navy, or with a
Southern Cabinet officer, it is hardly worthy
of mention.
Here the King has taken his stand, cut off
from the whole world, his besiegers drawing
on his own dominions for the means to over
come him; and here, in spite of the advice
of pretended friends, and the silence of
friendly nations, he shows determination
to face his fate, and die in defense of his
legitimate Government. For a son of the
effete Bourbon race, this seems remarkable
display of pluck and energy. OF course it
would seem but weak, and almost pusillani-
nous, in a President fresh from a people
whUse capacity for self, government has so
astonished the world that it is thought that
they have succeeded to the favorite place in
Gods affection, from which the Jews were
disinherited.
We can imagine how such President
would have defended his Government if i'm
deed, it we're possible that any could dare to
attack a Government which is perfectly inn
pTegnable because founded in the consent of
the people. In fact we know how the Presi-
dent of Republic defends his Government;
and it is that which pales the expiring spark
this effete Bourbon.
The Sandman forces are besieging Gaeta
by sea and land. Any fortress which is
besieged by forces and resources practically
without limit, must eventually succumb. It
is only question of time.
And this brings us to the inquiry, how
Sardinia came to besiege Gaeta. By refer
ing back we shall find that last summer
King Victor Emmanuel suddenly entered
the Roman States and the Kingdom OF
Naples, with large army, for the purpose,
rs he declared to the world, of preventing
It's falling into anarchy. He is besieging the
King and the army of Naples, to prevent its
alliDg into anarchy. And this leads us fur
her back, to inquire what the particular
ianger of anarchy was, that led Victor EN-
manuel to undertake this benevolent mission
% Naples. We find that under Garibaldi,.
liberty had been proclaimed to all the States
of Italy, the Government driven from the
Capital, and nearly the whole Kingdom, as
we'll as part of the Roman States, revolu-
ionized, and prepared for the introduction
If "free institutions" We find also, by
yoing little further back, that Garibaldi
tilted out his expedition in the principal port
If Sardinia; and, with Victor Emmanuers
procured his vessels, and gathered
4 corps of Sardinians, Hungarians, and
Italian refugees, and descended On the Nea-
politaR Kingdom, with the cry of liberty
and Italian Independence.
Why then this fear of anarchy? Did Gar
ibaldi fail On the contrary, he succeeded
brilliantly in doing just what Victor EN-
manuel sent him for ! and that is why he
had 10 invade Naples and the Papal States to
save them from anarchy.
But how come on the free institutions, the
Italian liberty and national unity, that this
revolution proclaimed? OF
course, the Washington of Italy is now pre-
siding over United Italy. Not exactly.
Victor Emmanuel marched his army into
the revolutionary field and took possession,
to prevent anarchy.
As the correspondents of the British press
said: "Radicalism had done its work now
conservatism must step in and preserve it,"
Or, as the swell mob would express it in
more honest English, Garibaldi "cut" and
Victor Emmanuel carried" Radical Gar
ibaldi beat the bush, and conservative Victor