The National tribune., 1882-06-10
Another Great Soldier Gone.

an abstraction, it is inseparably linked with
! the growth of human liberty on both sides
of the ocean and all that is great and
glorious in the life of soldier; for Carl
baldi had more of the genius of the soldier
and less of the art of the statesman than
any leader of the nineteenth century, and
his greatness was of the heart rather than
the head. lie was inspired with grand ideas
and he had that magnificent contempt for
personal danger which is characteristic of
| the devotee, but he was wofully lacking in
! the knowledge Of men and could not appre-
hend the principles of statecraft and diplo-
macy. His blunders in politics were as con-
/ spicuous as his triumphs in the field, but,
| fortunately for his fame, the effects of the
former were but temporary, while the results
of the latter have been enduring. Garibaldi
the soldier overshadowed Garibaldi the poll
tician. All history scarce affords an instance
of a career that can be said to equal his in
romantic incident and heroic achievement,
and even when painted in the most sober
col0rs his exploits partake more of the
nature of fiction than reality. Born at Nice
on the Fourth Of July, 1907 it was meet, per-
haPs, that the spirit of independence should
inspire his whole life and that the cause of
the oppressed should command his sword
the world over. He came of seafaring
race, and although his family destined him
for the church Nature prevailed and made
of him sailor. His mother sighed no
doubt over this shipWreck OF her hopes, but
at another and later time, we may be sure,
she rejoiced that the will of God had proved
stronger than her own.
No one who intelligentIy examines the
career of this remarkable man can fail to be
impressed with the unselfshness which
| characterized its every phase. Garibaldi up
TO the very day of his death was a stranger
to personal ambition, and although the
highest public h0nOrs were freely bestowed
upon him there was never period in
his history when he was not ready to lay
them down to take up the cause of weak
and oppressed humanity. He was, in short,
a man of the people, and nothing affords
better insight into his character than the
fact that with all his love of war he desired
nothing so much as to reclaim for Italy, with
the peaceful implements OF agriculture, those
barren wastes. like the Roman Campagna,
which in ancient times had blossomed as
the rose. Doubtless he relished the excite
ment of soldiers life as Eeenly as Alex
ander, or Hannibal, Or Napoleon, and GER
tainly no general ever displayed greater per
sonal daring in battle than he; but the thirst
for mere military glory was not the passion
which inspired him, and during those oc-
casional periods of retirement which he
was won't to spend upon his farm at Caprer;.
he took an equally keen delight in conquer
ing the Obstinacy of the soil and converting
his sterile acres into productive orchards
and vineyards.
1t is not, however, the story of his bril-
liant victories and hair breadth escapes that
possesses for us the greatest fascination.
His gallant defense Of Republicanism in
South America, his still more heroic defense
of Republicanism at Rome, and his glorious
campaigns for the liberation Of Sicily and
the redemption of Italy, well deserve all the
honor that history has accorded TO them, but
what we find most wcrthy of admiration in
the record of his achievements is the pro-
found love for humanity which they reveal
His personal devotion to the soldiers who
followed his fortunes was something sub
timely touching. at the close Of the
Franco-Pgussian war, in which, detestirg
Napoleon, but full OF compassion for the
French people, he had offered his sword
to France, his first act was to impl0re the
National Assembly to pension the wounded
and the widows Of the dead of his command
He who held his own life in such light
esteem set the highest store on the lives Of
his soldiers, and the heart that was steeled
against all personal danger and suffering
bled freely fer the mistortunes and sorrows
of his comrades. 1t was this nobility of
soul and this child like tenderness of feeling
which, even more than his military prowess,
made him the idol of his people, and which,
Though he long ago ceased to be an import
ant figure in the affairs of his country, has
kept his fame fresh and pure in the hearts
of his cOuntrymen.
We Americans may well emulate the
example of this unseltish and single minded
patriot, ard see to it that our own brave
soldiers are encompassed with the loving
care which ne held to be the eternal due of
those who shed their blood in defense of
human liberty.