Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-01-18
Italian Unity.

A large and enthusiastic meeting was held
in New York, last week of the friends of
Italian Unity. Speeches were made by such
eminent men as Mr.. Beecher, DR.. Bellows,
Horace Greeley, Gen. Dix and Mr. Bryant.
Letters were also read from gentlemen I'M
able to be present. The one sent by Mr..
Sumner, which was particularly good, we
give below:
SENATE CHAMBER, January 10, 1871.
Dear Sir Though not in person at your
great meeting to commemorate what you
happily call the completion Of Italian unity,
| shall be there in heart and soul. a lover
of Italy, and anxious for her independence as
a nation, have for years longcd to see this
day. Italy, without Rome, was like the
body without it's head. Rome is the nat
uraI head of Italy, and is now at last joined
with the body to which it belongs, never
again to be separated.
How many hearts have throbbed with al
ternate despair and hope, watching the too
tardy fulfllment Of the patriot aspiration for
that united Italy which shall possess once
more the Capitoline hill and the ancient
forum, the colosseum and its immense mem
cries of grandeur, together with the later
dome Of Michael Angelo, in itself the emble I'm
of all-embracing unity. This was the aspi-
ration of Cavour. | remember the great man
well, at the very beginning of the war for
Independence, in a small apartment which
was bedroom and Office, while he conversed
on the future of Italy, and with tranquil
voice declared that all must be free to the
Adriatic, and that Rome must be the national
capital. l need not say that listened with
delight and sympathy. He died before all
was free to the Adriatic, and while Rome
I still Cd Nv he A..
last his desires are accomplished. The liber-
alton Of Venice was naturally followed by the
| liberation of Rome, and both, when free,
helped complete the national unity. No
longer merely geographical expression,
according to the insulting phrase of the first
Napoleon, Italy is now a nation whose great
capstone is Rome.
Besides the triumph of the nation, see in
this event two other things of surprising
value in the history of liberty. First, the
union of church and state is overthrown in
It's greatest example. The Pope remains the
pastor of a mighty flock, but without tenn
poral power. Here is a precedent, which,
beginning at Rome, must be followed every
where, until church and state are no longer
conjoined, and all are at liberty to worship
God according to conscience, without compul
sion from man. The other consequence il
hardly less important. The Pope was an
absolute sovereign for life. In the over
throw Of his temporal power absolutisu
receives blow, and the people everywh here
obtain new assurance for the future Here
is occasion for JOY and hope. There is nc
Italian who may not now repeat the word.
of Alferi without drowning himself in ex
lie -
Loco, owe solo contra tntti basta,
Patfla non me benche natis tsrreno.
The poet who loved liberty so well wa
right when he refused to recognize as his
country that place where one alone sufhceC
against all :; . but this was the condition o
Rome under the papal power. Therefore
not only in sympathy with Italy, but in de
votion to human rights, do L rejoice in thi
day. Full of good wishes for Italy, happ.
in what she has already accomplished, an
hopeful for the future, L remain, dear sir
, very faithfully yours, CHARLES SUMNER