The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-23
ItaIy-Its Republics ma It's monarc..es.

IfaIy-Its Republics md ITS rTcnurch,es.
A large proportion even of the most
intelligent observers of passing events cannot
understand why 1t is that the Italians seem
neither happy nor prosperous under the rule
of Victor Emmanuel 1t is forgotten that at
no time has the monarchical system been sue
cessful in modern Italy. No European coun-
try, with the sole exception of ancient Greece.
owes so much to republcanism as Italy. In
short, whatever is great and glorious in their
history the Italians owe to their republics,
whereas none having any intelligence can
experience much difficulty in tracing their
worst calamities to their monarchies. Since
all who are familiar with Italian history must,
after all, in the present condition of Italy2
As for the antagonism between the King and
the Pope, that is nothing new. Former kings
and popes have not merely denounced each
other as usurpers and tyrants in several
instances they have marched their armies
against each other. Nor have the republics
and the popes been on all occasions much
more friendly or more peaceful in their rela-
tions with each other. If Italian kings have
sometimes been accommodated by the popes,
so have italian republics; and If the kings
have sometimes declared the temporal power
of the Pope at an end, so have Italian repub-
lies. We make this comparison for no other
purpose than that it may be perfectly UNDER
stood that If Italy is not likely to become
either very prosperous or very powerful
under the present regime the cause must ba
traced to source quite different from the
mutual accusations and recriminations of VIC
tor Emmanuel and Plus TX. 1t were better,
indeed, that there should be a good under
standing between the King of Catholic Italy
and the recognized spiritual head Of the
Catholic Church throughout the world; but
the consequences of the opposite state of affairs
are by no means SO serious as either those
Catholics or Protestants who are more zeal
GUS than thoughtful or intelligent would have
the world believe.
II may be said of the French, the Spaniards,
the Germans, or even the English, that the re-
publican form of government does not suit
them; but no such objection can be made
against the Italians; The famous republics e
Venice, Florence, Genoa and Pisa, especially
the two former, were powerful and enlightened
States, while the most pretentious kingdoms
and empires were in condition of COMPARE
tive barbarism. So early as the sixth century
the Venetians proved their capacity for self
government. At the beginning of the ninth
century they had large fleet and carried on
an extensive commerce with Constantinople.
the Levant and Egypt. Their regular annual
elections are traced as far back as A. D. GOT.
When the Crusadss commenced Venice was the
greatest naval power in Europe, and it was
principally owing TO her superior fleets that
Constantinople was taken by the Crusaders In
1904. TWAS as recognition of this maritime
superiority that Pope Alexander III. made a
formal grant of the sovereignty of the Adriatic
Sea to the republic, which was annually COM
memorated by the grand ceremony called the
Marriage of the Adriatic for more than five
centuries-until the overthrow of the republic
by Napoleon in 1897.
Sismondi tells us that toward the close Of
amount of capital invested in commerce equal
to thirty millions of dollars; the real estate
of the city was estimated at twenty Millions;
the number of ships owned by the republic
exceeded three thousand, the sailors employed
in manning them numbering over twenty
thousand At this time the territories of the
republic included Gambia aud Cyprus, the
whole Of the Ionian Islands, and most Of the
islands Of the Archipelago, besides that part
of Italy extending from the Adriatic to the
river AIDA, and from the Pc to the Alps; COM
prsing the cities of Padua, Verona, Bressia
and Bergamo. In short, at the close of the
fifteenth century not only had the republic OF
Venice become the most powerful State In
Europe, it had also become the most highly
enlightened and the most liberal patron Of the
arts and sciences.
The republic of Florence did not endure
quite 80 long, nor did 1t attain so commanding
a position, as the republic of Venice; but IL
has quite as glorious history. Even in point
of duration few monarchies have lasted longer.
No Italian monarchy has maintained it's great
ness for upwards Of four centuries, as the
Florentine republic has done. And what king
dom or empire anywhere has produced more
illustrious men than Dante. Michael Angelo,
Machiavel? What royal or imperial family
can boast more mun6cent patrons of litera-
ture, science and the arts than the Medici,
not to mention Lorenzo the Magnificent
and the great Leo x? Be It remembered
that of all the great cities that have claimed
the title of the Modern Athens, to Florence
alone has it been universally awarded for its
superior culture, enlightenment and general
intellectual activity.
Passing over the several other Italian re-
publics each Of which has history that
reflects honor on It's citizens, we may well ask