The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-17
The Roman Question.


Our latest news from Italy is startling The
situation in and around Rome daily becomes
more serious. The insurgents, headed by the
son of Garibadi. slowly, it is true, but steadily
approach the walls Of the Holy City. Fighting
iii real earnest continues blood, 80 to speak,
has been tasted, and it is safe now to take 1t
for granted that the instruction will go on.
Garibaldi is still at Caprera, but his words find
their way into print, and infammatory adj
dresses freely circulate over the Peninsula .,
awaking responsive echoes in every Italian
breast. Joseph Mazzini, who has never gone
in with the kingdom, and whose hatred OF
Victor Emanuel is scarcely exceeded by Carl
balii's hatred of the Pope, sees, or thinks he
sees, his opportunity and calls upon the Romans
to rise and proclaim republic. Napoleon, on
the other hard, watcbful Of the movement and
evidently biding his time, is getting his ships
in order. Whether the Italian people wiz arm
Al the bidding Of Garibaldi, whether the
Romans will proclaim a republic at the bid
ding OF Mazzini. and whether French ships will
be detailed to points of observation in the
Mediterranean and the Adriatic, are questions
which few days will be sufficient 10 deter
mine. Meanwhile, it IL safe to say that the
situation Of the Peninsula IL critical almost be-
yond precedent, even in its own critical and
eventful past.
How events will issue il would be extremely
hazardous in present circumstances to predict
Any one Of many things may happen. The
Roman populace may arise and hail the in
surgents beyond the walls as their liberatcrs,
| compelling. or permitting the Pope and his
Cardinals to dee for their lives. The insurgents,
! without even the Intervention OF foreign aid,
may be- defeated, and this grand movement Of
the party OF action, at one time so big with
| promise. may result in q miserable hasco.
Meter Emanuel, hurrying his troops across the
fro,xiers, may make himself master Of the entire
Papal territory, Rome included, and. by an
appeal 70 Europe, may compel such an ar
rsngementvs shall be satisfactory to the Italian
nation and ,Vnformable 10 the demands Of the
age. Or. again, the Emperor Of the French
my land an army on the Pspal territory and
by a second occly patton Of Rome beget diff
cultes European in the range Of their influence
ana disastrous beyonN all precedent In their
results. Any one Of tSese, to say the least
lies within the limits ~ the possible.
There is, however, anoth,'e possioii'ty-a
possibility suggested to us chiefly oy the mani
festo Of Mazzini. The Romans MAJ declare
themselves In iavor OF republic, or an Nnpiie'
which some think is only another name /, VI
republic. The Italian liberals, sick las man
,,ff h.u, m. haA a fba Ell ..,,I
indcterminate policy cf ruler who Is but
tool in the hands OF the imperial master OF
France, may join the cry OF the Roman
patriots, aud compel Victor Emanuel 10 keen
Pic Mono company in his unwilling aud un-
happy aight This possibility il not discour-
aged by careful consideration Of the state of
feeling which Ia prevalent in Italy, which is
lesvening the masses 10 Spain, which is crop
ping up 10 France, and which. OF late, has been
making itself very visibly manifest in the
dominions Of the Austrian Kaiser. Europe. 10
fact, hss for some time past been passing
through one Of those crises which have been
periodic In her history. The evolutionary
wave has again swept over her. What was ielt
in 1889, In 1920, in 1882. in is4s. has again
been making itself felt in 1867. The
people have again, 40 TO speak, been
aroused from their slumbers, and with
fearless energy have commenced to assert
their rights. Il is this peculiar state Of the
public mind 10 Europe that constitutes tho
danger. A republic In Isaly would be imme-
diately followed BY . republic In Spain. The
EXAMPLES Of the two renusulas would rouse