The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-07-01
0nrfhR1di,a Carnan

have Especial cause for celebrating this
Fourth Of July. 1t is the one hundredth
anniversary Of the birth of Giuseppe
Garibaldi, the italian llberator, the
twenty fifth anniversary of whose
death was observed on June 2. All
other Americans can join with proprie-
ty in honoring the memory Of Carl
baldi, whose dong life was a struggle
against despotisms more grinding than
was that OF George Ill.
In some respects Garlbaldi was the
most remarkable agitator for liberty in
human history. For nearly forty years
he fought for the unification of Italy.
Free Italy, which meant united Italy,
was the purpose and the passion of his
life. The people of the various italian
states, under the despOtism of Austria
and Of their own petty monarchs, knew
personal freedom only by instinct and
desire until Garibaldi and his COM
patriot, MazElni, made their lifelong
protest against the divided tyrannIes
which held the peninsula and Its Is
lands In almost medieval bondage.
MazzinI was the intellectual superior
of Garibaldi, but while his schemes
were largely visionary, those of Carl
baldi in the main were substantial and
practicable. Both men tried to write
books. MaZzini was a literary success
while GaribaldI In that field was
failure. Mazzini wanted an Italian re-
public or nothing, while Garlbaldi was
willing to accept unifcation under a
constitutional monarch as a means to
the end for which both Of these great
patriots fought-the personal liberty of
the people.
For half a century Garlbaldl was the
idol Of the Italian populace, He was a
man Of the people, the son of a poor
fisherman. In early youth he dedicated
his life to the cause of Italian liberia
ton. No peril, no vicissitude, no tenn
porary failure could turn him q hair
breadth from that course. He fought
first with Mazzlni In the outbreak of
1884, for which he was condemned to
death. Escaping. he went to South
America, where for years he fought
with the republic Of Rio Grande against
the empire OF Brazil, always awaiting
his opportunity to return and strike a
new blow for Italy. He returned in
1S48, led his volunteer armies against
odds too great and was driven again
into exile.
In 1851 Garibaldl made his way to
the United States, where he refused to
be lionized, as we had lionized Kos-
suth, the Hungarian patriot Garibaldi
retired to Staten Island, now part Of
the city of New York, and for a year
and half made hla living as a manu-
facturer of sausages and candles,
The browning enterprise OF Garibal-
dts career was undertaken In 1860, |
when he defeated the royallst forces of
Sicily and Naples, becoming dictator
and voluntarily laying bis dictatorship
at the feet Of Victor Emmanuel, In
which monarch he foresaw the ulti.
mate unlfier of italy.
One historian In describing Garibal.
dis personal entry into Naples says
that "instead Of lighting he was obliged
to so through the ordeal Of kissing all
the children and being Rugged by all
the women" This reception proved
the love of the italian people for the
daring flllbuster and put a quietus
upon the criticisms of European pow
ers, which were inclined to denounce
him as bandit. 1t never was Diff
cult for Garibaldi to win volunteers to
his standard. He had but to make his
appearance in any italian city and
thousands hOcked to his side, eager to
obey his orders, His name was magic.
The red shirt, which he always wore,
was to the oppressed people the sym.
Dol of liberation.
1t is said that GaribaldI retired to
he island Of Caprera after Victor EN-.
manuel had refused to let him march
against Rome with but 10 shlllings In
his pocket For himself he sought
Nothing. All he asked was the priv.
eye Of lighting for popular freedom.
he became owner of the
title island, where at length he died
lie viii take his place In history as a
evoEutionist Of the Bolivar type-one
Who aimed at the general welfare OF
lis country and not personal advan-
age or the dominance Of faction or q
lass.