Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-12-16

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-. The opening of the Italian Chambers,
fixed for the oath inst, approaches with
out any particular signs of agitation or
strong interest. There are two matters
on which it is said that attacks on Che
Government will be based, and those
are the Tobacco convention and the Ro
man question. Asregard the first. Sig
nor LAMA, the ex-Minister and ex-Pres-
ident of the Chamber, who rated from
the ranks of the Moderate ps, ,ty on the
Tobacco Bill, and, in company with La
Marneora, Sella, and two or three other
malcontents, voted with Kattazzi and
the extreme left-Signor Lauza, it is
reported, will ask the Minister .embar-
RAISING questions of a nature to elicit
the fact that undue benefits occurred to
certain persons in consequence of that
operation. As promising scandal, such
an Interpolation would excite the pub
lie interest, which would be further stim-
,ulated were there grounds to believe that
a case could be made out sufficiently
strong to overthrow or shake the min
istry. There is no reason, however, to
anticipate this, or to doubt the integrity
of the men now in power. The tobacco
contract has been tavorite grievance
with the Opposition, on account of the
alleged exorbitant interest paid on the
loan connected with it. The most out
rageous statements have been made with
respect to the rate, but in fact, it is not
greater than the Government must have
paid had it gone into the, market for
money in the ordinary way, and as no
body can deny that it was essential to
get the money, there is in reality no
ground of complaint. If malpractices
can be proved it is another question. but
it would be very premature to believe
that they can, on the mere report OF Sig
nor LAMA having made discovery not
unlikely to prove a mares nest. 5le ,
with respect to the Roman question,
there have been for months past many
rumors, propogated as to unworthy con-
descension on the part of the Menabred
Government towards France. There is
not shadow of proof forthcoming that
anything of the kind has been done, or
that any fresh step has been made in
the affair since the project of a moduS
Ui0endi sent to Paris tow ards the close
OF, last January, a project which the
French Government is known to have
approved, but which it seems never to
have endeavored to get accepted by the
Pope. The only plausible ground of
complaint against the Italian Cabinet is
that it has carried out its part of the
September Convention by paying the
interest on the share of the Papal debt
corresponding to the annexed provinces,
while the French, on the contrary, were
in persistent violation of that Conven-
ton, by retaining their troops in Rome.
Concerning this a great deal may be
said, and it must be looked upon, from
the Italian point of view, as one of the
Government weak points. But Mena-
bred has had very difficult course to
steer during his year of Office, and the
undoubtedly bad terms upon which his
representative at Paris is with the Tuil-
leries seem o to argue against the proba-
bility of having made concessions that
could possibly be avoided. Wemay ex-
pect early questions upon the State of
affairs, with respect to Rome, andit will be
forthe Government 8 own interestto make
the most explicit declarations possible,
so long as they shall tend to prove that
it has acted with courage and self-reli-
ance, and has not truckleu to France.
If it cannot do so its position will be
damaged, for jealousy and impatience Of
French influence and intermeddling were
perhaps, never stronger in Italy than at
the present time. Many indications Of
this, of a public and unmistakable ma
ture, which have occurred at theaters
and elsewhere, have been relatedto me
by trustworthy eye-witnesses, during the
few days that have elapsed since my re-
turn to Italy. The general sentiment
with respect to Rome has found expires
sion, during the recess, in the speeches
of Ministers and of prominent members
of the Chamber. The French semi
official press did its best to neutralize
the effect of the words spoken by Broglio
| he Minister of Public Instruction, and
give currency to an incorrect version
of his speech more suitable to theil
views; but these devices imposed upon
| nobody and it remains recorded fact
that he energetically reiterated and af
| frmed the Italian claim to Rome. The
retention at Rome of French guards fol
the Pope causes all the more irritation
| because it is here felt and known that
their removal would in no degree en-
danger his safety, and that another AS
promonte or Montana is not to be fear
ed. The Government is quite strong
enough to suppress any turbulent Gar
ibaldian element that might raise its
| head if the French were to sail from
| Civita, and, moreover, there is no rea-
son to believe that fresh enterprise
would have the sanction of Garibaldi
himself. The improved state of things
in the Romagna, due to the energetic
measures taken and to the activity OF
General Escoffier, and the capture OF
numerous brigand chiefs in the Neapo
| Titan provinces, have given an increased
feeling of security, and have shown a
determination on the part of the execu-
tive power to make itself felt when nee
| essary. As to connivance with at
tempts upon the Pontifical- state,
similar to that with which Rattazzi was
charged, the present Government is not
suspected of it, even by its greatest enc
mics. Considering, too, that at the
very worst, supposing the Pope mem
aced, the French could again be on
guard around the Vatican within forty
eight hours of the news reaching Paris,
it is not surprising if the Italians inter
pret their continued presence in Rome
as an unnecessary and deliberate out
rage upontheir feelings,and if according
! ly bitterly resent it. Such is the i'll
feeling thus generated that if war broke
out between France and Russia (of