The Portland daily press., 1866-08-17
wha, sI,e Italians arc Fighting For.

During the late rebellion, Americans were
surprised at the frequent manifestations of
ignorance on the part of foreign nations as to
the true nature ofrour cause. The real mo-
1--WE OF the uprising of the Italians seems to
be as imperfectly comprehended by portion
OF our community, and is certainly misrepre-
senJed by part Of the press. Many believed this
TO De the ambitious conquest of more terrific
ry-V enetia---to complete the proportions Of
the Italian kingdom. A glance however, at
the circumstances attendant upon the rise
OF That kingdom, will show that the aim of
the movement is not so much the ACQUISITION
OF Venetia, as the dislodgment of Austria from
so contiguous stronghold, which makes her
menaclng and dangerous neighbor. italian
liberty will never be safe while within the
reach OF nation that is the enemy, of liberty
lhe history OF Italy for centuries shows
that the popular agitations of that country
IN the direction of freedom have always been
checked, directly or indirectly by, Austrian
lnnuence. As the Pope Is upheld in Rome by
foreign military force to keep in check his
subjects, SO, till late years, have all the oppress
ors OF the peninsula been kept in their places
mainly by the policy of a foreign power that
OF Austria But the present improved conli=9
tion OF Italy, as compared with the state of
ten years ago in that country, is the glory of
every Italian, and the bond which so warmly
attaches him to the leaders in the present
struggle, whom he regards as the IberatOrs of
his country. Before the extension of the pow
er of Victor Emmanuel Italy was but little
liberation. Within twelve years Protestant
worship was suppressed in Florence, now the ,
capital of q king who is son of a Protestant
and for his efforts towards the spread of ed
ucation among the masses has been called the
Luther Of italy. .i.t...tt ts.. N. s.I ,
Previous to this new turn in the destiny of
the italian, one hand was held by crowned des
pots, and the other by priesthood overwhelm-n
ing in numbers; and it is only since the driving
back of Austrian power that this burden has
been hghtened, and that the dawn of freedom
has begun; schools have been multiplied edu-
cational and religious books have been widely
diffused, and the liberty of the press established
But with all his satisfaction, the italian has
learned that uncertainty is everywhere stamp
ed upon the political condition Of Europe, and
that the good which he holds to-day may by
some unforeseen change slip from his grasp to-
morrow. He remembers that the advance of
Austria in 1859 was repelled and is kept back by
the counter weight of France; but what may
France be ten years hence? and without this
strong ally what will be the sustaining power
of Italy against her eastern foe! Even Hunga-
ry once enjoyed o measure of freedom; where
has she been since, under the weight of the
| Catholic "Concordat?" a Well does the italian
know that should any event shaheJt the dynasty
| of the Emperor of the French, and the power of
| Prussia be diverted by any Northern complex
tiles, Austria would arouse herself anew, and
| that the regaining of her power in Italy would
| be her first object of wounded ambition. NAV
| the kingdom of Italy lay up strength for the
| future, and use it as wisely, as it has that
which it has gained in the past.-Boston Tran
rInf