La rassegna. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1917-????, 1917-05-05
The Roman Capitol to
the Capitol at
Washington

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Capitol at Washington has be-
come e beacon light. A Roman
garland wreathes the bust dedi-
Gated to the hero whom free
men call the glorious Knight of
Humanity. 1t is a garland pure
as the branch of lilac offered by
poet on the bier of Lincoln. 1t
is sacred as the ever-flowering
bough with heart-shaped leaves
of rich green. 1t seems as
though in this April of passion
and tempest there re-echos the
cry of that April, tense with joy
and anguish:
y Captain! My Captain! Rise up
and hear the bells;
Rise up - tor you the flag is
flung!
Now the group of stars on the
banner of the great Republic has
become a constellation of the
Spring; like the Pleiades; pro-
pitious sign to sailors, armed and
unarmed alike; a spiritual token
for all nations fighting a right
eOus war. | give the salute OF
Italy, of the Roman Capitol to
the Capitol at Washington; a
salute to the people of the Union,
who now confirm and seal the
pledge that liberty shall be pre-
served.
To Italy alone of the allied
nations the possibility was open
of avoiding war and remaining a
passive spectator. Italy took up
arms gladly, less for the recon-
quest of her heritage than for
the salvation OF all the things
which symbolic the grandeur of
freedom. She armed herself, as
to-day the American nation is
arming herself, for the sake of
an ideal. The spontaneous act
consummated by the people of
George Washington is a glorious
sacrifice on behalf of the hopes
of all mankind.
America has achieved a new
birth. She has nodded for herself
a new heart. This is the miracle
wrought by a righteus war, the
miracle that Unexpectedly to day
we of Italy see performed beyond
an ocean dishonored by assassins
and thieves.
"Our war is not destructive; it
is creative. With all manner of
atrocities, all manner of shame
full acts, the barbarian has striv-
en- to destroy the idea which,
until this struggle began, man
had of man. The barbarian null
tiplied on the innocent infamous
outrages inspired by hate, al
ternating senile impudence, and
brutal stupidity. The barbarian
ground heroism to earth, cast
down the airy cathedrals where
congregated the aspirations of
the eternal soul, burned the seats
of wisdom decked with the
flowers of all the arts, distorted
the lineaments of Christ, tore off
the garments of the Virgin.
Now once again we begin to
have hope of the nobility of man.
Loves face is radiant, though its
eyes are moist with tears, for
never was love so much beloved,
Love overflows on all the world
like a brook in May. Our hearts
are not large enough to gather 1t
and to hold it. The people of Lin
coin, springing to their feet to
defend the eternal spirit of man
to-day increase immeasurably
this sum of love opposed to fury
the fury of the barbarian.
"Ah, Liberty! Let others des-
pair of thee. will never despair
of thee once cried your rugged
poet. In this hope your nation
arises to-day - in the North
South, East, West - to offer
your strength, proclaiming oui
cause to be the noblest cause fol
which men have ever fought
You were an enormous and OBJ,
tuSe mass of riches and power