The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-02-11
THE ITALIAN cARBoNARI.

In the various accounts of the affairs If
Italy which come to us, allusions arc from time
to time made to the Edrbonari. Readers who
arc acquainted with the peculiar features OF
italian politics understand the appellation, to
whom it is applied. and whence it was derived;
but few words upon the subject will not be
uninteresting, especially to those who look to
journals rot only for the text of the worlds
progress, but also for ample note and com
ment thereon.
When Murat began his reign over the King
dom of Naples, in the year 1903, his entire
devotion to Napoleon madc him reckless in
regard to means. Such was the fear and dis
Ike which be cngeudered that may Of his sub
jects fed to the mountains of Abruzzi. Be
reft of all their property and debarTed from
their usual means of support, they were COM
PEELED, in order to obtain livelihood, either
to join those banditti infestiDg the A5ruzzi-
whom Irving has rendered classical in story
or else to seek employment among the char
coal burners, who carried on a large business
in the mountains The patriots, as they were
called by those who appreciuted their motives,
for the most part preferred the humble and
legitimate occupation of making charcoal, to
the, dcbasiBg business of highway robbery,
and accordingly took to the former business.
At that time there resided at Cosenza a
young man named Capo-Bianco, who an
extensive manufacturer of charcoal, and dc;
rived no small income from that trade. Be
ing warm patriot, and sympathizing with his
countrymen, he gave employment to as many
of them as his circumstances would permit
In this state of affairs, no lieht appearing
to dawn upon the country. Cupo-Bianco be-
thought himself of organizing a society, the
members of which, without forsaking tkcir
customary ayocation, should labor, as opportu
nifty might offer, for the independence of Italy
In pursuance of this scheme, he convened, in
1910, as many Of ihe patrint coal burners as
possible ct the Grotto Della Eendifa, a cave
on the shore of the Mediterranean, which yas
used as depot for coal and the sale lrendite)
of consignGents for the benefit of the burn
ers. The assembly being, as Shylock said of
Antonio, "suf6cient," society was founded
The members we're styled q large, Cdr6ona,i1
fcharcoal burners } individually, by each 9TH
er, ouon cuqino, (good cousin ) tho places of
meeting Desuditc, and the tools of This craft
the axe, the saw and the spade-were adopted
as aenblems Of the association. A fearful oath,
an obligation of implicit obedience, and the
other requirements usual in secret societies,
completed the organization.
Theobjeets ofEthe society were hon orable.
They were simple to promote the welfare of
italy, or raj her that phrt of the Peninsula
which Shey Inhabited. Doubtless the patriots
desired q esasstlationalz rerepublican fern of
eovernsncnt At the close of the first meet
ing Capo- -Bianco said: My good cansins, our
society IS born to.night IN, ii the sa1Ie uigce
eoths, breathed his last May our work un-
der these auspices, be Of benefit to markind,
and of especial sdvantagc to our country.
Such was the orieinal Ca bonar. They
spread rapidly throughout Italy. All classes,
without exception, gaye Representatives to this
society. Its influence extended from the cot
of. the peasant to the council of the king
Cnpo- Biance, as the originator and the head
of so important an organization, a man to be
dreaded on account of his courage and ability,
was looked upon with special aversion. His
destruction was determined upon by Murat -
To effect the object, the King made use of the
of General Mahnes. TIE latter
invited Capo- -Bianco to dine with him. Not
suspecting any fraud the young patriot accep-
ted the invitation, and found himself the OBJ
jeet of unwonted treachery- In violation of
every Ian, human and divine, Mahnes directed
his guest tosbe executed before the favor of
the sacred salt of hospitality had passed from
his lips Thus perished Capo- -Bianco.
But the society to which he had given birth
was not annihilated by the death OF its found
er The Carbonari continued to flourish
They extended oven into France. In 1920
they had become so formidable. q body that
they compelled Firdinapd; who had Eegainsd
his throne and was one of the initiated, to
grant constitution to his subjects. This he
disreearded as soon as BIC found it safe and
convenient to break faith with his people
He even went so far "a to fro bomb-shells
upon them, whence he derived sthe soJrsgaet
of BomJa-a name which was perpetuated
by an italian patriot who stamped the cdiope