The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-22
Italian Unity-The Anniversary or the Oc-
cupatiOn OF Rome.

|
Wednesday last was the anniversary Of the
occupation Of Rome by the troops of United
Italy. From our telegraphic reports we learn
that the day was suitably celebrated, not in
Rome alone, but all over the Italian peninsula.
Rome reems to have been remarkably gay on
the occasion. 1t was a true "Roman holt
days" such day as Rome has not witnessed,
| perhaps, in some centuries. The city was
literally festooned with flags and flowers, and
tapestry was profusely displayed. Business
was suspended and the political and other as
socations paraded through the principal
thoroughfares, accompanied by bands of music
and carrying flags and banners inscribed in
honor of United Italy. All day long the
streets were crowded; in the afternoon there
was review of the troops; in the evening the
city was Illuminated, the theatres were
crowded, patriotic speeches were delivered
but although there was an occasional cry of
'Down with the Pope !" there was, neither
during the day nor at night, any disturbance
One conspicuous feature of the days proceed
ings was the presence in the procession of the
representatives of the Armenian Church.
This anniversary celebration Is interesting
to us chiefly for one reason. 1t is convincing
proof that the Roman people, properly so
called, are as much in favor of the new state
of things as the inhabitants of the rest Of
Italy. 1t was long cry that the citizens of
Rome were perfectly contented with Papal
rule-nay, that they preferred Papal rule to
any other. The various letters and addresses
Of the Holy Father always take this for
granted; and we have again and again been
asked to believe that Rome is conquered
city, and that the inhabitants submit, because
they cannot help it, to the yoke of the
stranger. In this sentiment we never shared,
because we knew to the contrary. 1t is we'll,
however, whom in affairs of this kind the
evidence taken such shape that even the
doubling Thomsses are left without excuse.
This anniversary celebration ought to finally
set the question al rest whether or not Italy
is unit. All things considered the news is
most gratifying, aid the Italian people them
selves and the many friends of Italy through
out the world ought to be abundantly salts
fed. After years of division and misrule the
Inhabitants of the Southern Peninsula. who
have so long spoken common language
and worshipped at common shrine, are
now brought under the enjoyment of common
political institutions, with the additional ad
vantage IF unity 10 .~~-ou TsaIy Ivug en-
joyed the ignoble advantage of being a
claimant on the sympathy Of the nations-a
sort of national pauper. The land of Cicero
and Virgil Of Michael Angelo and Raphael, of
Rienzi and Savonarola, is now free and united.
Territorially and in regard to population it
ranks among the great nations of the earth
but now it remains to be seen what the
Italian people can do for themselves, and
whether they are to prove worthy OF the
liberty and unity which they have won. On
his last head there are many doubers, but
we see no good reason why we should despair
of the sons of Italy yet recovering most OF
their former power and reviving not little OF
their former fame. 1t was once the home of
science, art and literature. The conditions
are still favorable, and if ItalapAA es snH the
true to themselvA- s.s It,, -
Europe.
1t would be absurd to expect that people
so long divided into sections and cut off from
all the advantages which sympathy imparts
should at once spring into fulness of national
vigor. This we do not look for. Italy must
have time to recuperate-tme to undo the
many evils which have been done-and she
has much to do before she can find
out her own strength or give any solid proof
of it to the world She is burdened first of all
with an enormous debt-a debt the annual in
terest on which is but little short of the an
nual interest on the debt of Great Britain.
Year by year the Minister Of Finance has to
report huge deficit, and while the taxes are
in the last degree oppressive they are griev-
ously unproductive. In Italy, of all countries
in the world, it is most easy to impose taxes,
but it is most difficult to collect them. Time
is necessary to enable her to develop her re-
sources; but how the non-productive interval
is to be got over is one of the serious questions
which affect her existence. Then, again, law
lessness prevails as it prevails nowhere else in
Europe. In 1864 crimes Of blood were re-
ported by the Minister of the Interior to be
29,637. In 1S69-7O the figures had swelled to
55,S25. In the eight years previous to 1870
not fewer than 176,6OS sanguinary offences
had been committed. These figures speak for
themselves, and show what uphill work the
government Of Italy has before it. Educa-
ton, too, is at low ebb all over the kingdom.
In 1866 it was found that of hundred persons
who had signed their marriage contract sixty
nine per cent could not write. In 1869
there were celebrated in Italy 203, 2S7 mar
riages. The contracts were signed in 1922
cases by both husband and wife; in 43, 1l6
cases by the husband only in 5,243 cases by
the wife only, and in 100, COS by neither of the
parties. Out of population of some
&c, 600, 900 there are not fewer than 5000, 600
who cannot write From memorial pub
lished in 1866 we gather that in Southern