The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-12-07
AN HISTORICAL LECTURE.

Prof. Scott on ssCavOur and the
Unification of Italy,"
Friday evening at the Baptist church
Prof. VIM. A. Scott of the state uni
versity gave scholarly lecture on
"Cavour and the Unification of Italy,"
1t was characterized throughout by
the cause-seeking spirit of philo-
sophie historian and was deeply ap-
preciated by the fair sized audience
who were privileged to hear it. Prof.
Scott in an earnest manner and with
clear enunciation read his lecture, of
which the following is an abridged re-
port:
In every period of history great men
and great events we're contemporary.
Between the men and the events there
had been reciprocally caussl relation.
In this was manifested the supreme
intelligence of an overrulins provi-
dence. In the study of such man as
Cavour and Of such an event as the
unification of Italy unfailing faith in
providence was necessary to under
stand the one and explain the other.
Cavour was product of the histor-
ical forces Of his time and he so guided
those forces as to accomplish the uni
fcation of Italy. With this relation in
mind he would aim on the one hand to
make that analysis of Cavour's life
that would reveal the sources of his
greatness, and on the other the process
by which the work of uniting Italy was
cOnsummated.
Cavour's native land was Piedmont.
1t was a country which had been made
attractive and interesting by both ma
ture and history. 1t was almost sur
rounded by lofty mountains. 1t pos
sessed fertile soil, rich mines and fine
forests, which for 1000 years had sup
ported dense population. 1t was the
country through which Hannibal
passed to Italy. 1t was there that
Charlemagne wrested the iron crown
from the Lombards. 1t was there, in
the great battle of Marengo, that Ma
poleon defeated the allies and gained
control of Italy and it was there that
the Waldenses maintained their relig-
ious freedom-in spite of the inquisi-
tion and the anathemas of the popes.
In fact the whole European drama had
been enacted in the little province. All
the inspiration and education that
could come from majestic mountains
and beautiful landscapes and from
thrilling and ennobling historic asso-
Citations Cavour enjoyed. In Turin,
the metropolis of Piedmont. was his
home. He came of a noble and virtu-
Gus ancestry. On his fathers side the
genealogical tree. was rooted in the
family Of st. Francis, the founder of
the order of the mendicant friars
known as the Franciscsns. From this
side Cayour received his pride of an
cestry and instruction in the system of
Catholicism. In his mothers family
he came in contact with the best type
of protestant aristocracy who cher
ished the name of John Calvin. His
home education, therefore, was not
one-sided or narrow. Instead from his
birth he was surrounded by the best
religious, moral and political influen-
ces of his time and he naturally be
came possessed Of sound principles
and liberal opinions.
The political condition of Italy and
Of Europe in Cavours youth was care.
fully outlined. Nspoleonic conquests
in Italy and the introduction through
them of republican and constitutional
ideas; the dismemberment of Napo.
Icons empire after his defeat at Water
loo; the congress Of Vienna and its re-
construction of the political map of
Europe; the absolutism which sue
ceeded with its accompanying calm of
despair; the revolts against that alb
solutism-the one in Spain which Sc
cured from the king constitution, an
other in Piedmont, following soon
after, which was suppressed by that
invincible Austrian monarchlst, Met.
ternich. During this time Ca.
YOUR was attending the military
academy at Turin. He was persist
ent student of history. His sympa.
thies were ever with those struggling
for liberty. He was in Turin during
the revolution and though but boy
of II he wrote q history of 1T. On
completing his course at the academy
he entered the army. He was often
stationed in the country where he had
leisure which he eagerly devoted to
reading French and English writers
who gave expression to the sentiment