New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-03
JOSEPH MAZZINI.

JOSEFH MALIINI.
That wonderful potter and revolutionist'
friend of liberty and humanity, eloquent writer
and Italian enthusiast, Joseph Mazzlni, IL III
last weary with mankind, and sick OF his own
labors In the remarkable confession we pup
lished Yesterday, he gives utterance TO opln-
ions and feelings both harsh and painful. Ills
life. as he SAYS, has been one continued strug
Gle: and the little that is left for him he wouid
willingly give up if he could obtain years
ouiet before death, to write book giving MS
true views about the world as it is, and It's
future. But, as the head of vast sys-
tom of revolutionary organization through
ont Europe, he cannot find opportunity Tor
this: he cannot give up his labors. 1t
cannot be expected that mankind Will
regret Mazzini's inability to write this
book, when we see by his letters what are the
judgments he has already formed of the pres
ent generation. 1t is a generation he can no
longer esteem; it has fatal instincts, reactions,
and impulses it has opinions, but no faith;
it is Machiavelic generation, all expedlency
and tactics; he cannot sympathize with it, can
not rejoice and suffer with it. Justice, justice
for all and everywhere, is set down as UtO-
plan idea, and hence it is that he is discour-
aged and disguised. lie acknowledges this TO
be sad confession; yet he says we must try
to get something ont of this generation to
pave the way for the future.
1t is with grief we read these words of one
who for thirty years has led the advance of
liberty throughout Europe, who has aroused the
people by his thrilling appeals, stirred up the
Young men by his splendid enthusiasm, terri
fed tyrants from the Tiber to the Seine, given
strength to the oppressed and courage to the
struggling and been q conspiratOr against
every throne and an organizer of revolution
against every otism who had his brief
day of trump Rom nd can point to the
results of his , erywhere; who has
been pursued united as man never was
before has live, life of poverty and austcr-
ity for the sake of an idea, and has always
displayed the sublimest faith in Justice, Free
dom, Humanity, God 1t is with grief that we
find Mazzin in his old age despairing of man
kind and liberty. IL we were to believe this
letter to be merely an indication that his en-
thusiasm has at last worn itself Out-f we
were to attribute it to broken health and
an overworked body and mind-we are afraid
he might look on this as a proof that here
also faith, enthusiasm, ana devotion to DriI1ci
pie were disappearing.
We certainly will not attempt to defend the
generation of which Mazzini despairs. But
let him do it justice. Let him do justice to
his own Italy, which, if it has not established
the Democratic Republic in Rome, has over
thrown the Bourbon tyrants, erected constl-
tutional government in Naples, and all but
fully realized the old dream of Italian unity.
Let him do justice to Austria, which has re-
placed the hOary despotism of the Hapsburgs
by liberal administration. Let him do JUS
tice to Spain, and to all the movements
throughout Europe in behalf of libcrty--some
carried on with the sword, some by peaceful
means, but all with desirable results. Let
him not forget America, which, through ire
mendous sacrifices, has established Justice
"iustice for all everywhere" Let him recOg-
nize the new life of freedom and the new tri-
umphs of humanity. 1t is thus only that he
can continue to the end to help on the cause
for which he has labored. 1t is only by
acknowledging the victories of faith and free
dom that his spirit can be strengthened. If all
has not yet been won, much has been achieved;
and assuredly, during the last twenty years,
nothing has been lost. If there is not absO-
lutte Democracy in any part of Europe, there
is not Bourbon on any European throne, and
everywhere the peoples are securing enlarged
rights and powers. When a leader loses sight
of these things it is fatal to his power as well
as his hopes.
No man in Europe has done more for the
overthrow of despOtsm than Mazzni. To him
the first Roman revolution was almost wholly
due. lie was the organizer of the movements
He has been the life and soul of the Radical
party in all their struggles in every country of
Europe. He has not only been the inspirer of
revolution, but he has been the genius of Euro
pean liberty for quarter of a century. Vein
America can never forget his burning words
about Slavery in other days, nor shall we ever
cease to remember the strength and courage
which the friends of freedom gained from his
cloqucnce. Oh, if we could but send back to
him a portion of the sublime faith and enthu-
siasm with which he formerly thrilled the young
heart of America!