New-York tribune., 1890-01-12

convictions but am not so proud and naughty
scorner of the ground that any other form Ol
government may occupy that Will not hoSpi'apN
meet half way all the kings and queens, empcrors
and expresses who desire to beneht by my c'
perience to learn my opinions, or to seek my
acquaintance If this be toadylng,' make the
most of II M
This. however, If not toadylng, Is trlnlng'
Vbep i, comes 70 the serious king-trade, Ameri-
cans do not begin to appreciate the adNah'"-c Vi
belonging to "A country that has no past. Our
problem is the future. and even we are some
times appalled, by It's magnitude and us lntHcacy.
7, i chiid's play compared with the TASK of
Furon, Just the same aS America, Europe con-
fronts the future, whose spirit and substance are
The welfare of the indiVidual-thc one difference
belwecn the ancient and modern world, the IDEA
which marks and measures the line OF advance
In the far ages Of history, not unknown were
luxury, elegance, ease art liberty. put th'y were
ALWAYS for the few, never for the many. IN
dividuals were slaughtered in the mass, without
mercy. without thought by war or hy work In
dividuas were of moment, except as thty
minislcrcd to the pride or the ndolence OF masters
The modern world. all wrong-hcadcd ana Duile'-
headed os il may be is at least rght-heartcd enough
to have made the revolutionary discovery that 'he
human soul has Of itself distinct and infinite
to be recloncd with
II was the human being. impressed with weak
but fresh and vital consciousness of his own worth,
who originated this Nation. All who may nave
lived on tie soil before had passed away, lca'lhg
neither institutions nor history. The Indians
might have been their OWL buiialoes for any mark
they made upon their time. We had no'hlhS 10 90
when we arrived but work ont our IDEAS on Tree
standing ground with unlimited clbow-ro"m' NO
one had to be considered but ourselves Inc
ncople who thought the other way had stayed at
home.
In Europe our ideas are in the air-hherty,
selfroverrment home rule the right OF the human
bcng-and inlmeasuraDy strengthened by the
knowledge that across the sea Is great -'htlon
founded on these ideas, and 50 rch ana prosperous
that its citizens travelling IN Europe are iharKeu
as the proper prey of landlord. Shopkeeper' guldc
and bcggar: have, indeed, spoiled the economy
Of Continental travel DO Americans, wonder,
ever think whau must be the enec' upon "'e
Furonean peasant. weighed down by toll and tax,
of hearing that the greatest difficulty
70 be met by American politics at a certain time
not long ago, was-lliE st CkFLUN.
Ab,~ said reicning king, in earnest conver-
sation with an American-kins just then holding
bolidav-and casting an arch glance at bis Nccfc-
,arv Of the Treasury. " ! am always asking why
don't Won do as they do in America? Why don't
vou nroduce me a great surplus? viii not find
fault with you as the Americans do with their
Minister of Finance +"
The king knew we'll why be had no surplus 20
Quarrel over: but the men who are paying tax
Of half a cent a day every goat they drive IN
through the city gate al night, to MIX on 'ir
sidewalk into pint can. let down 10y "A cord from
ffth->tory window with II, penny payment III
closed, TO be drawn up again with lis penny pHr-
chase-do they know why the Great Republic is
wranghnC over surplus while they are strainnS
every nerve under growing debt
These men, toi'cr> and mocr', peasants, farm
erS. mechanics, living in a fashion of vines the
readers Of American newspapers do not dream
men and women, 10 whom the neat ani DAINTY
family table, the white table-coth, the piacN
silk, the china and mahogany and mohar oi 'Ne
New England farmer would bee far more strange
and inaccessible spcndor than any royal splchdor
would be 10 the Ncw-LnGland iarmcr-thesc men
have felt the moving Of tie Iimc-Splrit, and lnio
their eyes has shonc the light of the Great Eepub-
lie far Off They are 10 be reckoncd with.
But prince and peasant, priest ana noble, are
all alike clamped into the institutions Of the past.
The masonry that weighs down the soil Of Italy
is not more solid than the organizations, the cor
porations, the customs, the modes Of thou-ht even
that have survived civilization which has
reri>hcd Movement means not simply, As with
US upbuilding but upheayal Advance may be
not simply evolution, bat revolution. How -
20 forward without disaster, without destruction
10 vested interests, without change So radical as
70 involve ruin-this Is the problem set before
kings
Italy. the most interesting of all European ma
Il. Wit
and thus far successfully but success IS not per
mancntly assured Americans cannot afford 10
withhold from her their kccnc>t sympathy.
Within the memory OF men not yet old, Italy has
gathered herself from the divisions, the weak
ness, the unci iactivcncsS Of many centuries ana
of many nationaiticS, and has consolidated her
self into Nation. From being what Nclcrnl'h
satiricag called her, a mere geographical cA-
prcs,ion,7 >he has become the United States Of
Italy, and she has become 80 not hy conquest OF
tle strongest State, but by consent Of all the
States. given by free ballot in the interest Of
liberty and equality for all. lIumbcrt Is not
simply a relic Of the old he is also leader Of the
new time Revolution, the common enemy OF
kings, did not tramplc him under foot, but bore
him alof, head and hands for lie service
The Italians have for their new unity, for their
young Nation, attachment pathetic and sur
prising in its intelligence, its spiritual reach
II is loyalty to an idea. and is therefore noble
and cleyating Their experimental autonomy ana
unity roll heavy weight on their shoulders but
the idea swcs their hearts with buoyancy that
helps them 10 bear it. Foreign residents grun-
BILE over the taxes, but Italians pay them cheer
fully. And the taxes are terribe-30 per cent on
incomes, said one in authority. The price OF
self-govcrnmcnt 10 Italy, the price Of nati0nnuiy
and constitution is National debt, in ratio
far heavier than at It's heaviest war-wclSht.
To be a Nation, in civilization not yet beyond
the war stage, Italy must be able 10 hold her
own in war With seacoast enormous for her
area, she must have corresponding navy, ana
her ron-clads better and, 1t Is claimed, cheaper
than those Of stronger nations notice, too that