Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-05-07
ITALY AS a NATION.

= = ~ - - a5s xAG9 "A 81 NAHUM
Minneapolis journal: This april
marks the end Of the fist half century
IN the life of Italy as a nation. Be
fore April, 1859, Italy was but a
geographical expression
Fifty years ago began the war of
liberation against Austria, the little
kingdom of Sardinia being supported
by all the power of the French Second
Empire. In June Magenta and
Solferino were fought, compelling
Austria to reilnqulsh Lombardy.
Meantime Tuscany, Modena and other
princlpalltles, INDUCED in peaceful
revolutions, SO that when the first
Italian parliament assembled in
Turn on Feb. 49, 1861. all Italy, ex-
cept the Bourbon kingdom OF Naples
and the States of the Church, was
represented.
Within the succeeding decade
followed those glorious events of
Garibaldi's landing in Sicily and his
victorious march to Naples. of Victor
Emmanuel's becoming king Of all
Italians, with Florence as his capital
of the cession of Venezia by the
Hapsburgs, of Rome acquired and the
removal. of the government to "the
eternal city, Those events stirred
every generous heart and enlightened
mind throughout Chrlstendom.
How has Italy, the nation, Jared
within the half century of its life?
AS always, when given half Oh ince,
the vigor of the Italian race has
asserted itself, the genius immortal
OF the Italian spirit has famed again.
Some of the greatest contemporary
names are Italian. The one great llv-
ing poet is 'Annunzio, the most
vltaliZiDg historian is Ferrero, the
most compelling tragic actress since
Rachel IS Elenora Duse, the inventor
OF wireless telegraphy is Marconi. A
prince of the house of Savoy rivals
Nansen and Peary In polar expedi-
ton. Lombroso has revolutlonized a
whole department of science. Italian
mathematician are among the tore.
most in the world.
A citizen of Minneapolis lately re-
turned from Europe, states that Italy
alone OF European countries does not
feel the present depression, but IS
advancing In energy in every direc-
tlon. Her economic progress has,
indeed, been enormous the last ten
years. Her agricultural peasants no
longer are halt-starved. Her lovely
cities have become hives of industry
Her waterpower in the Alps and
Apenninie is being harnessed. Educa-
ton is widening. production is in.
creaslng, the standard of living is
becoming raised. Italy, the nation,
in word, is a success.
In Victor Emmanuel II many think
Italy possesses the ablest, the sanest,
and the most progressive sovereign in
all Europe. He has made no mistakes
as his father. Humbert did. He has
shown that his people can command
his service to the uttermost. HIS
influence upon the politicians has been
SOLDERING. He is intensely practical.
insistent upon efficiency and a born
conservator of the nation 8 money.
Italy Is doing we'll. Her children
have as much reason to be proud OF
her today as have the French or
Germans to be proud of their respec-
tive lands. And Italians possess
traditions OF glory and splendor such
as no newer race can claim. For the
Italian, as the great French critic,
historian and philosopher Hlppolyte
Tame observed, Is the one great race
OF the world, tho creator of the two
civilizations which Europe has en-
joyed, of the Roman and OF the
Renaissance.
So that those who speak con.
temptlously of ''dagos'' are only ex-
hlbiting ignorance and barbarity.