The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-05-18
Wednesday Morning, May Is, 1864.
From the Nesocastle tEng.l Daily Chronicle.
Why does GaribaIdi Leave us,

The historic visit of General GARIDALDI
70 England is now ended. The demonstra-
tions in his honor on his journey to Plymouth.
were rs great as when he landed. GARIBALpI
has conquered England with SMILE He is
dearer TO us now than when he came among
US first. He has not only conquered us; he
has conqueredalso one of our commonest
proverbs. Familiarity in his case and ours has
not bred contempt-it has bred nothing but
affection. The hero at distance has become
greater hero at nearer view. Grandly he
came; grandly has he left us. At 0idcot. as
at Winchester, men jeopaIdsed their lives TO
gain glimpse Of his manly countenance.-
The stations through which he passed were
stormed by the eager populace, and on one
occasion, the train had actually proceeded
three-quarters of a mile on its way before the
carriages were cleared of the crowd that clunp
to them. Why. then, does
Garibaldi leave us? 1t is clear enough that
illness Is not the cause. No one can honestly
persist in assigning that as reason of depriv-
ing the Northern people of the pleasure of
greeting him. The assertions about the GEN
erals health with which the public was at first
alarmed, have dwindled down TO mere antici-
pations of danger. We must search, then. in
another direction for the cause OF that nde-
cent haste with which Garibaldi was spirited
away from England.
1t Is easy TO understand how the presence
oil SO distinguished rebel as Garibaldi should
prove irksome TO the Government The en-
barrassment attending his presence, is not on
ly understood, but confessed. Garibaldi Is
practically at war with three great Govern
inents. He is at war with France on account
OF Rome, with Austria on account OF Venice,
with Sardinia on account of both.
Will Lord Clarendon confess that the oya-
tions TO Garibaldi produced no feeling of un-
easiness in the Government on account of
France? Will any member of the Govern
ment admit that the rapturous applause of
our people was in no way likely 10 disturb
the temper of the man who holds Rome as a
perpetual hostage? We know the vanity and
the jealousy which swells and frets the temper
OF the misruler OF our neighbors, and no one
will be disposed to believe that the magnifl-
cent welcome we have accorded 10 his enemy
is regarded by him without anxiety and con-
Germ. But Louis Napoleon was not alone in
feeling displeasure and alarm. Austria had
just promised 70 send a representative to at
tend the Danish Conference; and that repre-
sentative, it was said, Austria threatened to
Withdraw If Garibaldi was not banished from
among US. The Italian Government, too
looked with hardly less favor on the triumpbs
of man whom it ordered to be shot down
on the heights of Aspromonte. When Carl
baldi sailed from Caprera, that Government
was struck with sudden fear, and orders were
despatched along the Italian coast to prepare
for his landing as for the landing OF an enemy.
The Italian ambassador 10 London never once
took part In the public proceedings in honor
of his distinguished countryman. Here was
another, probably minor, embarrassment for
the Government. The Danish Conference,
too, was called to meet in London, aid fears
we're not unlikely entertained that Garbaldi
would make declaration on that subject
Garibaldi, in truth, was magnet in our midst
that disturbed the calculations of dplomatists
and there was abundant reason for inducing
him to depart.
That Garibadi loGs induced TO depart is a
matter OF fact which no denials, diplomatic or
otherwise, can inyalidate or disturb. A word
of advice which was no doubt meant. and
which Garibaldi accepted as a word of au-
thority, was uttered by Cabinet Minister
This we repeat, in spite of all that has been
said since the subject was first mentioned.
The request thus preferred, Garibaldi was not
at liberty TO reject. Loyal TO the Government,
Garibaldi gave his promise, and relieved it of
his embarrassing presence.
Garibaldi knew of the damaging ruinours
regarding the reason OF his departure, and
nothing could have been easier than 10 silence
them with one authoritative word. A single
sentence in his farewell address would have
settled the question. That word he has not
because it would have been at variance with
the actual truth. But If Garibaldi has not
absolyed the Government, he has honestly de-
clned to duplicate it.
Garibaldi's own character accounts for all
confusion which just now surrounds this
question. He is generous TO fault, perfectly
truthful, and incapable of guile. He is too
generous TO betray even the plotters who
have obliged him to leave thel country, too
truthful to foster a falsehood, too free from
guile to fall in with the projects of mere d.
plomatists. Thus he has been anxious not to
add TO the troubles of a nation which has
given a great moral aid to his splendid enter
prise. For this reason he has accepted the
suggestion to leave us, and has foreborne to
expose the conspiracy OF which he has be-
come the victim. But, on the other hand, he
has refused TO assign false motive for the
resolution he had formed. Garibaldis i'm
practicable honesty has confounded the con-
spirators who have driven him away.
The legacy he has left US, however honor
able to himself can in no manner be deemed
creditable to the Government. Whatever
may be the result to Lord Palmerstons Min
istry, 1t still remains fact that it was at its
instance that our illustrious visitor was de-
prived of the pleasure a renewed acquain-
tance with Tyneside would have given him.
With every desire to do justice to Mr. Glad
stone, with the utmost respect for his talent
and capacity, we are still bound TO say that
he has in this business cast a bemish on
splendid reputation. He has neither told the
whole truth nor told the partial truth respect
fully. Mr.. Gladstone should have been the
very last man to insinuate that the people of
the provinces knew not how TO honor heroic