Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-25
Jhe fireman.
Italy.
MALES, AUGUST.

Italy not only has volcanoes, new and
old, but Italy also is a volcano, old and
new, ready, too ready, for eruption and
ruin. Last month, at this place, old cele-
brations, by aid of the Romish church,
were revived, which the government did
not approve, and which were really in
defiance of the government. The weak
local authorities. under the shadow of a
costly palace and theatre of the Bourbons,
did not dare to interfere. were not strong
enough to carry their side against the
ignorance and lanaticism of the multitude.
The king of Italy deserves and no doubt
receives much sympathy. TO govern
twenty seven millions of people, only five
millions of whom. if so many, can read,
is difficult task. But they cannot reason,
as well. Popery and class oppression have
impoverished, dcmented, oppressed them
long. The people commonly, the laboring
classes, seem to know only trit1e more
than the beasts of burden. Priestly intiu-
encc over them is being freshly thrown,
both in politics and business. New entan-
clements making necessities are arising,
to keep the people dependent on the church
of Rome. They are swayed by the subtle
policy and show of their religious leaders,
and are wofully ignorant of the advantages
derived from the change in government.
There is Il middling class, as well as a
high one, who do know they are better off,
and all their neighbors better off, under
the present government than they ever
were before, and better off than they could
possibly be under the rule of the Romsh
church. These, for instance, though Ital-
ians, speak of the better condition of the
Jews, and the wider freedom of all classes,
than when the civil rule was under Papal
direction. Italy has received evidently
an education that will forbid the permanent
restoration of Jesuitic rule in civil affairs.
If IA struggle should come for more deci-
sive and perfect expression of religious
and civil liberty in Italy, her intelligent
sons would range themselves where the
honored Garibaldi has placed himself-on
the side of full liberty in civil affairs, free
from the dictation of corrupt church.
The Roman church is feebler than the
world generally knows. The king occu-
pies the palace at Rome. The pope is
confined for dwelling place in the city to
the Vatican. His pretentious imprison-
ment, however, is nonsense. The Vatican
where he resides is ample and beautiful as
palace. The corridor is gospel of St.
John in pictures of elegant finish. No
minister of Christ could ask for better
home with its accessories of magnificent
church, extensive library, paintings and
sculptures. He imprisons himself, and
dare not trust himself and interests with
the Italian people. He is therefore
guarded by Swiss soldiers in a striped uni
form, the yellow of which is prominent,
and well expressive of the jealousy with
which the Romish church has ever looked
upon human liberty and ever will.
St. Peters is thinly attended. A service
of high mass, with procession and excel
lent singing, revealed the presence Of only
a few devotees, some of them of the poor
est, most ignorant, most laVless charac-
ters. The procession was made up mostly
of priests, aged priests, too, who depend
on the church for their living. Some OF
the orders of monks, we understand are
under suppression by the government.
Old women pass the monks on the streets
of Rome with n smile that tells of light
esteem. The government is active in the
purchase of property of the Roman church
that covers ancient Rome, and aids in
every possible way to unbury and verify
history, by disclosing the monuments OF
the times of the Caesars. This is won.
derfu, costly, noble, useful work. One
feels he has lived thousands of years after
reading the past AS it now exactly lies open
to his vision on the streets and in the
squares of Rome.
In northern Italy, as in all northern sec
tions of countries, there is more intellectual
vigor than in the southern. Education is
not all in priestly lands. The present sees
the future. Italy is preparing for greater
and better changes.