The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-09-21
MARK ANNIVERSARY OF
ITALIAN INDEPENDENCE
FINE PROGRAM GIVEN AT THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Semi Centennial Of Great italian An
niversary is Marked.

Exercises i'm commemoration of tn,
semi-centennial anniversary of Italian
unity and independence. were held a
the basement of the First Presbyterian
church last evening The attendanc,
was large and the program one of tn,
best ever prepared for similar occa.
sion. Anthony zanotti acted as chair.
man of the evening and in his address
iof welcome briefly called attention e
the meaning OF the celebration. The
Calumet high school orchestra assisted
with the program and there were sew
eral interesting vocal and instrumental
numbers and recitations. The addresses
of Rev. NJ. r. Casanova and DR.. stalk
eI were particularly strong.
In his address on the Unification of
Italy. Rev. NJ. r. Casanova spoke in
part as follows:-
Fifty years ago at Turin. the proc
lamation was formally made. of the
unity Of the Italian kingdom, with
Rome as its capital At the time of
the proclamation. Pope Plus TX. still
ruled the temporal destinies of the
Eternal City. but the Turlnase procla-
nation was issued in good faith, and
nine years later. Sept 20. 1870. the city
OF Rome was taken by the forces of
Victor Emmanuel H. The dream of
centuries had at last been realized and
italian Unity was an accomplished
fact.
"The significance of this celebration
of United Italy, is. therefore. of the
greatest moment. 1t marks an his
torical effort the freedom of con-
science. a new nation was born in
1861, great people proclaimed them
selves free and united. In fifty years.
they have made progress which is
i'm the history of the world"
on behalf Of the American people
present, Rev. ID. d. Stalker. accepted
the invitation To join with the Ital-
ians in marking the celebration Of the
mi-centennial of Italian unity and
the adoption by the country of a con-
form of government.
Freedom is a watchword of Ameri-
cans" said DIR. Stalker This country
was founded by men and women, who
desired to escape the tyranny of the
DID World, and in this new land.
planted the flag of freedom. Hence.
Americans are in deep sympathy with
I'll classes of people. who seek civil
and religious freedom, and with every
movement calculated to promote the
cause Of liberty and place the power
IF government where it properly be-
longs, in the hands of the people.
America has profited much by Italy.
We have been benefited by Italian art.
science and discovery and many Ital-
ans have come To our land to make
heir homes with us. and constitute
come OF our best citizens. They help
N the Construction of our railways, in
he development of our mines. and are
lie producers of much of our wealth.
Hence America is deeply interested in
his celebration. a celebration that is
alling place tonight in every part of
.he whole land and wherever Italian
patriots dwell.
"The motto of Italy is a free church
and free state embodied i'm the dying
words of that eminent statesman,
Count Cavour Prior to the revolu-
ton, which ended with Italian unity,
Itely was divided into nine petty ma
tons. kingdoms, dukedoms and papal
states, that were constantly clashng
with each other, while the people Ian
suished in poverty, ignorance and SUI
perstition disagreement ended with
the revolution that welded together the
parts of the Italian PEN
insula, into a compact and self respect
ing nation, to take its place among
the leading powers of the world
This semi centennial is celebrated by
a worlds exposition i'm Rome. at
which the progress OF the last fifty
years is exhibited. showing that great
strides have been made in education.
agriculture manufacture and the arts.
Fifty years ago. sevehty-fve per cent
Of the population was illiterate, but to-
day. only forty per cent, and the ma
ton is going forward by leaps and
bounds"
In conclusion DIR. Stalker compli-
mented those In charge of the exer-
cises and celebration upon the COM
pletencss of the arrangements and the
excellence Of the program.