The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-23

popular sentimeptG supposed TO be expressed
by the representatives: and If there be doubt
about this, OF the monarch wishes 20 ascertain
the sentiment OF the people, Parliament is dis
solved, and a new election held. Our represent
atives come fresh from the people every two
years, and we hold the President in check every
four years. But where the Office Ot Chief of the
state is hereditary or for iie, the only safeguard
to liberty IS In having min stry that represents
the views OF the majority Of the people. l1
A Government so ordered is called constitu-
tional Government, in cOntradstinction to those
that are absolute. Until lately England was the
only considerable Power in Europe which had
such a constitutional Governments: and even
now nearly all the great Powers have not.
Within. a few years, however, the democratic
principle of popular government has made great
progress, and particularly in Italy. The mon
arcbs and aristocraces begin to see the necessity
OF making this concession, in order to avoid
revolutions. Absolutism Is fast dying out, and
nothing can save tn G old order of government
and society from violent shocks of anarchy but
giving way to the enlightened spirit of the age
and demands of the people. The astute Em'
peror of the French understood this and saw
the necessity OF favoring the cause OF constitu-
tional liberty i'm Italy, in order to keep down the
revolutionary fire.
While he exercised despotic authority at home
amusing the mercurial Frenchmen at the same
time with universal suffrage and the name of
liberty, he saw safety only against revolution in
Italy and its contagious influence in France in
aiding the ltaliars TO establish powerful con-
| influence of such men as Garibaldi, has taken,
| perhaps, greater strides and moved faster than
| Napoleon wished but the movement was ire
| sistibe. Italy to-day is the vanguard of the
! nations Of continental Europe in the march of
| constitutional liberty.
| II is true the young kingdom has some diff
| culties to encounter. The most serious, proba-
| hly, is that of the finances which gave rise TO
| the conflict between the representatives and the
! ministry when the latter resigned. A deficit OF
sixty millions OF dollars for the current expenses
! OF the Government in time of peace Is an EN-.
| barrassing matter. Still the difficulty may be
overcome. A people so full Of new life hope,
and patriotism are equal to almost any ener
| gency. The enormous army OF some three hun
| dred thousand men might be cut down with
safety, and other economical reforms might be
made. From the vigor with which Parliament
has commenced its session we may hope it vii
find a solution for the financial troubles of the
| Government
A people crushed down and divided by centu
| res of despotC rule, and suddenly placed in sucl
anovel situation, have much to learn necessarily
and many embarrassments to encounter. The,
| are, however, on the right road to future pros
pelity and greatness. The people OF the UDlteC
States sympatnize with them and watch thei
progress with great interest. We should prefe
10 see a republic established over the classi
territory OF old Rome; but a constitutions
monarchy may be best for the Italians at pre-
sent At all events, we rejoice in the progres
of liberty there, and hope the ancient glor
of Italy may be restored as the consequence.