The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-27
The Roman Champagne.


The well considered letter which we publish
from our correspondent in Italy sketches the
history of the Agro Romano from the earliest
efforts of the popes to improve its condition
down to the present time The chief obstacle
they had to encounter arose from the fact that
two-thirds of the Campagna belonged to noble
families, on whom until recently the estates
were strictly entailed, or to the clergy, who
were restrained by no statute of mortman from
the acquisition of ever extending domains.
1t may be supposed, too, that the absence OF
free municipalities within the pOntifical terri
tory tended to check local enterprise, while
the government which existed urbi et Orbi was
more often occupied with the affairs of the
world than the city. This was the opinion Of
the late Baron Bunsen, who, when Prussian
Minister at Rome, recommended a scheme OF
municipal selt-government as the best method
of meeting the wishes of liberal reformers
Certain it is that one pontiff after another
failed in the attempt to reclaim the marshy
soil. Statesmen like Leo X. and Sixtus v.
had no better success than simple, worthy
priests of the type of Plus VI and his imme-
date SUCCESSORS. Napoleon applied himself
to the task which Caesar had essayed some
eighteen hundred years before, but the career
OF the one conquerOr, as Of the other, was cut
short ere the most benefcent of his works
could be accomplished. AT length the labor
which grave politicians and skiltul fnanciers
have contented themselves with talking about
Tow ;c Elo1v tn bo lich pd nv n
brave old soldier, who still loves his country
after he has sheathed the sword with which he
freed her, and who, by the pure honesty OF
his intentions, is enabled to overcome diff
ficuities which would have overwhelmed men
less whole-hearted than he The hero Of a
practical than some men who have won
special regulations for knowledge of business.
Should the plans of Garibaldi be realized
they will be no unworthy crown of his mill
tary triumphs. To reclaim to cultivation
land which for ages has been abandoned
grass grow where one grew before to create
ne~ harbors on the fairest coastland of
Europe and attract to them the navies Of
many countries to restore to the gaze OF o
wondering world the treasures of the past
which may lie under the Tiber near the
Eternal City, the witness Of so many sudden
and violent changes-to do all this at COM
paratively trifing cost is surely the mark of
genius, if genius may be recognized by the
capacity for accomplishing great ends with
small means.
1t is strange that while in Scotland or North
Germany men will give fabulous sums for a
few square yards of ungrateful soil which will
require the incessant labor of their lives to
force it to yield its produce land is to be OBJ
tanned in the garden of the world at cheap
rate which if reclaimed would be fertile from
the long rest of centuries. Deserts are pur-
chased for much money and rich virgin soil
lying close TO the capital of Christendom is
neglected. This state of things cannot long
continue. Land is still, as in the days of Lord
Mansfield, the most productive OF invest
ments, and sites in the neighborhood OF Rome
must ultimately attain to quite artificial values
whether they be covered with fields OF waving
corn or trim villas, which shall recall the
stately luxury Of the Augustan age: -
Vos sapere ct salos aio bene vvere, quorum
Consplcitur nitldls undata pecunia Wills
Such was the advice of Horace to CAPT.
talists