Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-01-20

Milan, is an illustration of the iron rule
which held sway. Arrested on suspicion
of belonging to a secret society inimical to
Austria, he was condemned to death, but
his sentence was committed to - years of
penal servitude in an Austrian prison.
Here he remained till, i'm 1880, the effects
of the second French revolution brought
about his release. The publication of his
pathetic story, which soon followed, had
strong influence in cultivating and shap-
ing the patriotic sentiment of Italians
against their oppressors.
Underneath the surface calm much was
stirring. The country was honeycombed
with secret societies, which had political
purpose as their basis. The chief of these
was the Carbonari, or charcoal-burners-a
name, however, which had no connection
with the occupation of its members. its
animus was much like that of the Nihilsts
in Russia today. 1t was for his connec-
tion with this society that Silvio Pellco
was condemned to death. But its most
distinguished member was the young patri-
OF Mazzini, native of Genoa, who had
sublime vision of an Italy freed from for
eign control, its states united into one re-
public, and priestcraft and political and
civil inequality abolished. In 1890 when
only - years old, Mazzini was arrested on
charge of plotting, and it was during his
imprisonment that he thought out the plan
of new society which should redeem tia
ly. This was the "N Dung Italy, to whose
organization and work MazZini gave his
attention as soon as he was released in the
following year. Through the pamphlets
and papers which he prepared and Struggled
into Italy and caused to be circulated in
great quantities, he made himself the great
educator of the Italian people in the school
of liberty. 1t was in this that his great
work for his country was done.
Events moved rapidly in those days. 1t
is now clear that by 1880, when the Bour-
bons were driven from France, the reac-
tiOnary spirit had run its course, and by
1916 Europe was ready for a new revolu-
ton which should reGstablish what had
been best in the great revolution of 80
years before. \ symptom of this was
seen in the election of Pope Plus TX. in
1916 and the liberal policy which he began,
but which he soon abandoned largely I'M
der Austrian pressure, and became a strict
conservative. In 1S4S Charles Albert, who
had been king of Piedmont Sardinia since
1881, urged to the step by variety of mo-
tives, granted his people constitution and
representative government, which sur
]
basis of the modern kingdom of Italy.
/ These movements produced an uneasy
feeling in the Austrian provinces of LON
hardy and Venetia, and led to the severest
measures by Marshal Radetzky, Meter
| nichs representative, to suppress it. Then
| followed in startling succession the new
| French revolution of 1S4S and the second
/ republic in France, the gross usurption of
| the throne by Louis Napoleon, and the
/ great tidal wave of political excitement
which swept over Europe Metternich had
| to fly, and the Austrian emperor to prom
| Use to establish constitutional government.
/ Charles Albert of Piedmont Sardinia
thought he saw his opportunity and NOV
ed for the overthrow of Austrian rule in
Italy, but suffered overwhelming defeat at
! Custozza by Radetzky, who, though vet
eran of more than so, had all the fire and
vigor of young man of 80 Renewed
oppression under Austrian rule followed
instructions broke ont, the pope fed
! from Rome, and Mazzini and his associate
! Garibaldi, like children with new toy
| placed in their hands, declared a republic
in February, 1919. The next year, with the
rebellion of Hungary, led by Kossuth,
events had so shaped themselves in Austria
that Charles Albert moved once more for
| Italian freedom, but suffered, still at Rad
etzky's hands, at Novara, one of the most
| crushing defeats in modern history. In the
| hope of securing better terms to his coun-
try at the hands of the victor, Charles Al
bert abdicated his throne on the evening
following the battle and handed his sover-
eighty over to his son, Victor Emmanuel.
Here appeared on the scene, in this young
man of 20, him who was to be the first
| rttla NJ Tod TfalV 40 fntn
black enough. He was the ruler of a
thoroughly defeated state. In every part
of Italy the party of liberty was crushed
Even the French republic seemed turned
against Italy, for her troops laid seige to
Rome and restored the pope, and from
then on till 1870 he had their aid. But
even in these straits the young Victor
Emmanuel showed his patriotism and his
good sense. He refused to withdraw the
constitution which his father had granted
to his people, and this act gave the future
to him. The pope had gone back to the
conservatives, the king of Naples was as
great tyrant as ever but, defeated as it
was, Piedmont had greater liberty than
any olher Italian state because its young
ruler was loyal to the cause of freedom.
The next ten years, from lS49 to 1859,
were years of slow and silent growth.
That they amounted to so much in making
ready for the next conflict with Austria
was chiefly due to the work of one man
whom Victor Emmanuel associated with
himself in the government of his little
kingdom. This was Count Cavour, the
greatest Italian statesman of this century.
He came of distinguished Pedmontese
family, was in sympathy with reformatory
measures, and was one of the leaders in
obtaining the constitution of 1S4S. His
policy embraced two main features. One
was that of internal development by means
of railways and manufactures and the alb
rogation of all official exemptions and priv
ileges for the church. The other related
to the foreign policy of the little kingdom.
He realized that Sardinia could never hope
to cope successfully with Austria single
handed. He therefore sought to make
friends with other countries so as to gain
their help when the next struggle came. Ii
was for this reason that Sardinia, to the
surprise of all Europe, joined France and
England in the Crimean war and sent heI
troops to aid those nations against Russia.
This move was successful. Louis Napo
leon promised that if new war between
Sardinia and Austria should come he
yvould holm the Sardinians A Dril 1870