Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-21
ITALY.

The war clouds which for time have
been darkening the eastern world, have
finally settled on the sky of classic Italy
and she, true to her Roman instinct, re-
turns as the telegraph announces, men
ace for menacel" Her people are thor
oughly aroused to the importance of the
question, and from one end of Italy to
the other can be heard the cry of Ven
ice or death
But people say, can she stand war
with Austria" Let us look at her re-
sources: She is no longer the distracted
nation of eight years ago. She now has
"a navy superior to that of any European
nation except England and France Her
standing army of four hundred and fifty
thousand men, has recently been placed
on war footing and increased to over
eight hundred thousand effective soldiers,
who are ready to dare and do, and this
number can be raised to million and a
half at any time A people who are
striking to set one of their own lovely
sisters free, and who are earnestly bent
on the intention, are not easily overcome
But her enemies aver that her finances
are broken, and that her debt has accu-
INFLATED to such an extent that she can
not possibly carry on war of the mag
nitude that this one promises to be.
This is where her people have shown
themselves before the world as being
worthy of their Roman ancestors
Throughout the whole peninsula they
have come forward and formed a Con-
sorzio Nazionale "a national copartner-
ship for the purpose of paying the ma
tional debt, and are coming up with their
money as freely as though it were to
purchase their individual salvation.
Their gallant, gentlsmanly King heads
the list with two hundred thousand
pounds sterling. Every Government en-
ploye gives two months salary, even to
the rank and file of the army; and some
of her men in middle circumstances have
signed themselves for ten thousand francs
yearly for ten years The city of Naples,
where, the world thought, the greatest
discomfort existed against the Govern
ment, comes forward and gives the sum
OF two millions of francs, and her people
excel any other city in Italy in liberality
towards paying the national debt Such
patriotism as is now being shown in
Italy has never before been known in
the world.
But it is not only in the mother coun-
Try that this Consorzio Ndziondle exists.
Over the vide world, wherever an Italian
dwells, from the four quarters Of the
globe comes the cheering intelligence
that every son of Italy is throwing in his
mite towards paying the National debt
Even here, in our own Memphis, a com
mittee has been formed Of our leading Ital-
ian fellow-townsmen for that purpose.
Who has ever heard Of greater patriot
ISM The history of the world does not
show such a parallel. Is it to be sup
posed that a nation who comes up so
rnanfully for their King and Government
can be overcome2 Italy stands alone,
this day, the champion Of Freedom in
Europe, confronting the hired legions of
Tyranny; but no longer the DIVIDED
Italy, for she now returns menace for
menace" and is ready to stake all upon
trial. Throughout her entire breadth
bayonets are bristling in the MONDAY
sun, and her iron-clads are waiting the
word 10 close every Austrian port
and land an army of sixty thousand
men from the city Of Ancone to march
and liberate her twin sister, Hungary.
There is union Of hearts and union Of
hands within her borders, and all
are bent on freeing Venice from the des-
pots heel A people who idolize their
king, worship their country, and love
their form Of government, are mighty in
their strength. Let the war in Europe
come on, and when the clouds have dis
appeared, Italy will emerge from the
contest united and free, and give the
world another proof that free people
are not to be overcome