The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-06
THE CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF
ITALY

From the NJ Y. Times
Mr.. Edward Dicey, on more than one occa-
sion special correspondent in Italy for Eng
lisb journals, and well known as the author of
several valuable works on recent passages in
Italian history has been revisiting the coun-
try he has studied so thoroughly, and in
whose welfarWhe takes SO great an interest
He has given the public the benefit of his
impressions as to the present condition of
Italy in an article in MacnailIan's Magazjne,
which is specially opportune at the present
time, and deserves to be widely read. So
much prominence has of late been given to
the unfortunate shortcomings of the Italian
Government, its temporary inability to cope
successfully with the political difficulties and
financial embarrassments by which
it is surrounded, and the generally
people have begun to ask themselves if
the expulsion of the Austrians, the overthrow
of the Pourbons and the unifcation of the
country were really blessings, or even bene-
fits, after all. And as a free and united Italy
has many and unscrupulous enemies, both
open and disguised, who never hesitate to
distort every item of intelligence unfavor-
ably, and to exaggerate every little political
cOntrete,npS into an omen of approaching ma
tional disaster, it was not always so easy to
answer the question in the affirmative with
confidence But we now have the valuable
testimony of Mr.. Dicey, who has been pre-
sent in Italy dnring the most important crises
of her recent history, and who, though avow-
edly warm sympathizer with the Italian
cause of unity and freedom, may be relied
upon to state without exaggeration the chances
for the better which he finds to have taken
place in Italy since 1859.
We are glad to find Mr.. Dicey's report so
unequivocally favorable with regard to what
has been accomplished during the past, and
so sanguine with regard to what may be
hoped for in the future i'll the way of mate
rial and moral progress in Italy. On one
point at least he is well assured, and that is
that notwithstanding all the loudly expressed
irritation against the Government, not sim
gle Italian could be found-unconnected with
the Church or the Bourbons-who would not
admit that anything was preferable to the
establishment of the old regime. Through
out Italy, in all the cities and towns which
ne knew before 1859, Mr.. Dicey reports the
erection of fine and massive buildings,
increasing commercial enterprise, an
eager demand for the means of popu-
lar education alike for youths and adults,
and earnest efforts to crafty it, marvellous
augmentation in the number of newspapers,
and universal thirst for political informa-
ton. In short, he everywhere recognized
signs of activity, legitimate speculation, and,
generally, of ''a larger and freer life." The
italians, he is convinced have learnt since
the commencement of the revolution, which
may be still said to be in progress, ''that no
price is too heavy to pay for unity" 1t is
with great satisfaction that we receive Mr..
| Diceys testimony on the subject. The failure
| of the movement towards natural freedom
and progress in Italy could be hailed as a tri-
umph by the enemies of liberty and enlgh9t-
| enment throughout the world, and it is satis-
factory to find, on reliable evidence, that such
is not likely to prove the case, notwithstand-
ing all the misgivings of faint-hearted TIA
lans, and the Misrepresentation of the adhe-
| rents of the old dynasties.