Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-12-28
rae PREsENr MOVEMENT.

Politically the tendency is toward R4pnbliesr.
ism There is no country exercising such an
| influence upon Italy as the United S,ates-
American school books are in the common
| schools, Anthon's and Harkness' classics in tha
Normal Schools, American newspapers from
bostcn, all Of the leading New YORK papers, the
-fIaRtic -hoatIiy, North -9merican Revier.
-dTny and Vary Journal, the United Srs,-s
public documents. the documents Of the State
oi massachusetts, with new American books, in
the reading rooms Of Florerce, and the name Of
Aoraham Lincoln on the engines Of the railroads
Ihe time is evidently not far If when tho
people OF Italy will be ready TO accept religious
truths, and the Protestant world must be pre-
pared to occupy the promising ground.
The King Of Italy, while recognizing out
Nardly the forms and ceremonies Of the Church.
Is independent Of ecclesiastical influence. have
the following anecdote from g,ntlenan resid-
ing here in Florence, touching this point:
IL has been the custom from time immemorial
TO have triumphal arches aud canopies erected
IN this city on great festive occasions, and lat
sumner deputaiion Of eccleasiastics waited
upon Victor Emanuel 10 obtain oermlsslon and
ad IN erecting the usual decorations on CorpuI
Christi day, | think It was. The king received
the priests with his usual frank courtesy. They
made known their errand.
Why do you wish tor canopies and arches :"
he asked
THE march will be long. and We shall be ex-
posed two hours or more to the burning SUM-"
was the reply
well" replied the King. ''ihe soldiers Of
Italy, at Custom, fought for twelve hours be-
meath hot summer sun for their country and
think that If they could do 50 much, you
ought to be able to endure two hours Of sun.
shine without the protection you ask for"
The priests retired without obtaining their re-
quest, and for the fret time. for | know not
now many years. there were no triumphal
arches on that occasion.
Will Italy become d consolidated kingdom,
Is there fibre enough in the body polite to be-
come a great natiou These are the Questions
Of the present hour. That G is 10 be wholly
nited there can be no doubt. / shall have
something to record in Rome before Christmas
VINO, looking at the past-at what has been ac-
complished III seven years-can doubt that there
Is material for bone and muscle in her. uotwith-
standing the misrule and degradation Of all the
centuries,
Think Of Sardinia, crushed in lsI1-of the
broken heartei Charles Albert laying down his
crown and leaving his people. to die in a foreign
land; OF the oath Of his son never 10 let the
sword rest in its scabbard till Italy was free; Of
Magenta and SOlterino; the rush Of events in
1883; the annexation Of Naples and Tuscany
the cutting down Of the papal domiuions; the
establishment Of schools, building Of railroads,
sweeping away Of old things, the infusion Of
young blood, the liberation Of Venetia-rhe late
scenes in that city-think Of sll these late events
in the history Of this people, if you would CON-
prehend what has been accomplished, and if you
would form just estimate Of the prospects Of
Italy for the future. CARLETON.