Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-19
THE BUILDERS OF
A UNITED ITALY
Steps in the Making of Nation Out
of Numerous Republics, King
doms and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
al Spirit Grew With Disasters.
Bv WILLIAM A. McGARRY

| VI csc, who founded the Society Of Young
Italy in the early thirties, is honored by pa
triotc Italians throughout the world as the
prophet Of the national unity later achieved
through the effort and leadership of three
men. 1t was Mazzini who first said, ITALY
might and must some day exist as one free
nation" II was Mazzini also who wrote to
King Charles Albert, of Piedmont shortly
after the latter's accession to the throne in
1881 letter containing the prophetic state
ment, you will be hailed by posterlty as
the first among the heroes or the last Of
italian despots"
The three men who fulfilled the vision Of
Maz2lni we're King Victor Emmanuel H.
Garibaldi and Count Camille Benso di Ca
YOUR. Ma22ini Garibaldi and Cavour were
natives of the old kingdom of Sardinia. These
three patriots, the prophet the warrior and
the statesman, all working toward common
end, were frequently at cross purposes. Yet
without the help of them Victor Emmanuel ii,
the grandfather Of the present monarch, would
never have accomplished the unification of
his land after centuries Of trouble and op-
preston, I'm which nearly every nation in
Europe had tried its hand at governing
Italy. The actual building up of the modern
nation extended it may he said, through the
years from 1S4S to 1871.
An Inheritance of Defeat
Perhaps the finest tribute that may be paid
the Italians is that they profted by their
reverses, making their defeats by the state
craft of Cavour pave the way to later vic
tories. Victor Emmanuel II, succeeding his
father to the throne, inherited defeat He
compelled by Austria to disband nearly
all his troops and to pay s50OO0,O0O in
demnity. The young monarch gave Count
Cavour almost undisputed sway, and the
two turned their attention to rebuilding.
Cavour saw chance to gain the favor
of France and England in 1853. All Italy
opposed him and protested, but Cavour was
looking ahead, and in spite of objections, he
put through in that year treaties with both
nations. The wisdom of this course was
demonstrated two years later by the Crl-
mean War Cavour reasoned that If Pied
mont proved a valuable ally in that conflict
1t would give her voice with the Powers.
He knew this to be essential, and accord
ingly $4,000 Pledmontese were sent into
Crimea. Her soldiers acquitted themselves
so nobly that in 1856 Piedmont as Cavour
had foreseen, was invited to participate in
the Congress of Paris
With at least tho moral backing of France
and England, Cavour felt strong enough to
arraien Austria at this congress He ac-
cused her of breaking treaties, and succeeded
in creating a strong public sentiment in
Europe for an Italy United. Thus he made
possible a treaty with France in 1858, the
latter country agreeing to intervene between
Austria and Piedmont If Austria were the
aggressor Count Cavour thereupon set out
on a course later taken by Bismarck with
France Within Il year he had provoked
Austria to declare war.
Louis Napoleon, in accordance with his
treaty, Joined the troops of Piedmont in
May of that year with 10000 French troops
The French monarch did not want the war,
but went into it because of the influence
exerted over him by Cavour. He Joined the
$4,000 soldiers Of Piedmont, and sew
eral victories followed. Just when the
Allies had Austria at their mercy France
suddenly concluded peace with Francis Jo-
seph without consulting Italy. Again, how
ever, misfortune reused the people of Italy.
Garibaldi was dlsgusted and almost heart
broken with the peace which his country
had to accept, but he shared in the martial
fever that swept over the nation, and in
1860 was deep in the conquest of the south
ern States. Here again the friendship of
England proved valuable, for the rest of
Europe did not look with pleasure on Carl
haldrs success. The annexation of the Papal
States was especially objected to. England
ened to destroy the empire which Cavour
was welding together out of the results of
Garbaldi's victories, and Victor Emmanuel
was proclaimed King of Italy In 1860, Rome.
held by the Pope, with the support of
France, and Venetia, held by Austria, were
the last of the Italian States to join the en-
pire Count Cavour did not live to see that
day. He died in June, 1861
Foreign Helm and Hindrance
The outside influences against which Italy
always had been forced to struggle in her
years of building up were never more of an
obstruction than in 1862, when Garibaldi,
with a volunteer army of 25OO. started out
to make Rome and Venice politically italian.
France halted Garibaldi at Asprimonte and
he was defeated and wounded All Italy
proclaimed him national martyr. Public
opinion in Europe turned in favor of Italian
unity. The power of France in Italy began
to wane, so much so that In the September
convention of 1864 France agreed to with
draw gradually it's garrison in Rome.
The next big step in Italian unity was the
treaty with Prussia in 1866. pledging mutual
support in case of war with Austria.
Austria tried to break away by offering to
give Venetia back TO Italy, but Victor EN-
manuel was loyal more so than Prussia,
which concluded peace with Austria July
%, 1866, not waiting for the consent of Italy.
The latter country benefited, however, be-
cause Austria was compelled In the settle
ment to yield Venetia to France, which i'm
mediately ceded 1t to Italy,
France in 1869, before the outbreak OF her
war with Prussia, sought an alliance with
Italy. but refused to withdraw her troops
from Rome as the price of the alliance.
Later after her early defeats in the war In
1870. her garrison at Rome was needed at
bnrna and WAS Withdrawn Victor En-