New-York tribune., 1912-01-28

Thayer has given us. An enthusiast he
IS. perhaps even somewhat of a par
tisan. but ever so with reason. 1t is
good. indeed with last years Italian
celebration of unity still in mind. TO find
the noble Anglo partisanshlp
of the period of the Risorgimento still
burning bright and clear in these pages,
even though in them the greater
stcadier light Of Cavour is made, in all
,historiCi justice. TO dim the romantic.
Pickering flames Of Mazzini and Carl
haldi. In the true perspective of half a
century the statesman looms far larger,
indeed, than do his soldier-king. the
dreamer consnirator and the inspiring
leader of the Thousand in. Sicily.
Cavour, too. was a Man of Destiny.
Nothing proves this better than the story
Of his early life in circumstances that
seemed TO preclude all hope Of his ever
gaining the power to serve his father
land. The genius he had-he was born
statesman of the first rank-but his Op-
portunity was slow in coming. The
younger son Of an ancient noble house.
he was destined for the army, from
which. the soul of honor. he resigned be-
cause he judged the service of his re-
dictionary King incompatible with his
liberal opinions. with the aspirations for
4 free, united Italy which were even
then terminating IN his brain. Nothing
remained for the young eX-soldier. sus
pect TO his government, but to go into
exile as his fathers land agent at LeTi.
And yet it was there that he gathered
his knowledge of political economy his
appreciation of the value TO the state of
scientific agriculture, industry and sound
finance. of railroads and popular educa-
ton. 1t was during these years also
that he found time TO visit the strong
holds of liberalism in EurOpe-Switzer-
land. England and the France of Louis
Philippe-bringing back with him that
faith in a constitutional monarchy as
Italy's true salvation for which he
fought till the day of its realization in
the face OF many republican dreams.
conspiracies and propagandas Cavours
banishment in early life. the apparent
end of his career. proved 10 be his best
apprenticeship for his glorious lifes
work.
Cavour the statesman has been ac-
cused of duplicity, of treachery, even.
Mr.. Thayer shows him to us as an OPP
portunist in the highest sense of the
word, as a master builder who used cir
cumstances and men toward the realiza-
tion of the noblest and highest of aims
only, who used them and knew how to
check them when they threatened to
forge beyond his control: who even,
when necessary. knew how to create sit
uations favorable to his vast. steadily
developing plans. A liberal Of the lib
erals of his time, imbued with English
principles. +, employed the diplomacy o.
his opponents. 1t was the only weapon
that could possibly lead to results Met
tcrnch is reported 10 Fave said on his
deathbcd: There is only one states
man in Europe to-day. That is NJ
CaVour-and he is against us" And Bis
marck. historically the Italians junior
by .ar more than the five years that
elapsed between their births, declared Of
'CtN'
which effectively counteracted the many
dangers Of Garibaldis landing at Naples
and brought the kingdom into being.
that "Cayour raised himself to the high
est degree of human morality by en-
ploying the most astute immortality in
the construction Of Italy. TO warm ones
hands at the smoking ruins of ones
country while giving ones self the facilc
congratulation Of never having lied is
the virtue of monk. not Of man."
Withal, Mr. Thayer proves the personal
honor Of the man, his disnterestedness
and probity in an age when fnancia,
corruption in Office was the accepted
rule Charges of dishonesty were
made against him time and again. but