The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-15
ITALY AND GERMANY.
London SaturdaN Reuielp.

From the London SATURDAY Rer1eiU.
The appeal which Professor Mommsen has
made to Italian justice and good sense is
well. timed, although the immediate risk of
intervention in the quarrel between France
and Germany has been averted by the events
of the war and the energetic diplomacy of the
Prussian Minister at FL Ience. The argu-
ments which seem most forcible to German
scholar are not perhaps the best adapted to
the comprehension of ordinary Italians. 1t
may be perfectly true that the study of ques-
tionable French novels has injuriously af-
fected the literary taste and the morals of
Italy; but Eugene Sue and the younger
Dumas wrote for their own countrymen,
without any malignant design on the virtue
of foreigners There is certainly no
reason to fear that German fiction will be un-
duly attractive; nor indeed are the demands
of circulating libraries likely to be materially
affected by political changes. The argument
that Italy owes no debt of gratitude to France
is perhaps more to the purpose. The cession
of Savoy and Nice may be fairly regarded as
payment in full for the acquisition of Lom-
hardy; and it must not be forgotten that in
commencing the liberation of Italy the Em-
peror Napoleon disregarded the prejudices of
the great majority of French politicians. The
maintenance for nearly twenty years of q
French garrison in Rome, and the marvellous
performance of the Chassepot rifles at Men
benefits conferred by France on Italy.
Venetia was acquired in pursuance of a
bargain concluded, not with France, but
with Prussia, and the recent evacuation of
Rome was effected by the pressure of German
arms.. 1t may possibly be true that the
| Prussian Minister has offered to assist Italy
| in recovering Savoy and Nice, while France
has no territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT to offer as
the price of an alliance. 1t is doubtful
whether sympathies arising from race and
language have any considerable influence on
national alliances. 1t is true that both French
and Italian are derived from Latin, but the
Spaniards, who speak third Romance dialect,
are not remarkable for their attachment to
the French; and the Danes, who are more
nearly akin to the Germans than to the
Latins of Southern Europe, would
but for paramount reasons of pru.
dence, have gladly Joined France in the pre-
sent struggle. AS question of fact, it is
uncertain whether the Italians really feel any
strong prediction for the French. The mo-
tives which may have weighed with the King
and with section of the court have no gen.
eral operation. The community at large pro-
badly wishes to keep clear of external COM
| plications, while enthusiasts cannot but feel
that the attainment of their objects is rem
dered more feasible by the enforced with
drawal of the French from interference with
| Italian affairs. The friends of the Pope have
never heartily trusted their Imperial patron,
and the Republicans are attracted by COM
mon hostility to any assailant of the dynasty
of Napoleon. -
II the success of the Germans had been
less rapid and less complete, it is possible
| tha6 the Prussian Minister might have
| guarded against any possible disturbance of
l Neutrality 10y proYiuing toe Italian GoYsrG-