The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-09-20
Itnl,,, Fiftleth AnnI,ersary.

ItaIy's FiTtieth Anniversary.
To-day Itnly celebrates the Gftleth
anniversary Of her national unity. On
September 20, 1870, the ftalian ma
tlonal army. after overcoming the
brief resistance offered by the Papal
State troops. occupied Rome. With
the capture OF this ancient city the
rule OF VICTOR Emmanuel H., who
nine years before had been proclaimed
Klne Of reborn Italy, extended over
the Italian peninsula, and struggle
of half century against great odds
and apparently lnsuperable difficulties
ended in the unlhcntion and liberation
Of the nation.
In the consideration Of the prob
lens now confronting Italy It is inter
esting 10 look back over this half
century struggle from which she
emerged victorious in 1870. VrcroR
EMMANUEL I. OF Sardinia In 1920 was
the only native King; Austria was
the real ruler Of ItAiy. At the Vienna
Congress Austria and Austrian princes
had divided among themselves tue
provinces OF north and central ltaiy,
and II was the ambition OF the crafty
MErTERNicH to place Hnpsburg
archduke on the Sardlnlan throne and
thus complete the Austrian dominance
OF the peninsula.
The fight against foreign domina.
ton began with the revolution in
Naples; It was followed by the MILL
tary revolt in Piedmont, the uprisingS
In favor Of Italian federation In LON
burdy and the north, and the final
widespread revolution Of 1917 and
1s4S. The history Of the half century
is u recital OF expressions by Austria,
Of lntrlgues in the furtherance of for
eign interests and Of opposition and
strife at home. The years were years
Of bitter disappointments for the ad.
vocates of unity.
Throughout Rome remained the
great problem, the one demanding the
most serious consideration and N the
same time the one most difficult of
solution. CAvoUR had obtained from
NAPOLEON III. a promise for support
Of Italian unity, but the Emperor was
never able to carry out his promise,
principally bechuse of the position
which Rome occupied as the head OF
the Catholic world. The unfortunate
clash between CAvouR and GARlBALDl
in the italian Parliament seemed ia
have had its real origin In differ
ence Of opinion regarding the occupa'
tion Of the seat Of the Papacy. Ca
YOUR had frequently declared that In
the end the capital of Italy must be
Rome, but he opposed GARIBALDfs
plan of taking It by force Of arms
J CAvoUR did not live to see Rome the
italian capital, and NAPOLEON Ill. III
the end was unable to prevent It's oc
cupation by the italian troops. witt
his declaration of war against Prus
sia the Emperor withdrew the French
soldiers from the defences Of Rome
and Italy was left free to march intC
the city.
1t is the memory Of this long strug
gle for national independence and ex
istence, of the gradual upbuildlng Of
a State prosperous and strong enough
to hold its old enemy at the Piav'
aud finally to crush the mighty powel
Of the Hapsburg Empire at the battle
of Vittorlo Veneto that Italy and heI
sons and daughters scattered over Va,
world celebrate to-day. There Is {
Just reason for pride In the wisdom
of vICToR EMMANUEL, In the patriot
ism Of GARIBALDI and MAzzINI an,
the untiring national devotion Of Ca
YOUR, a pride which certainly will no
permit the achievements of these mas
ter wOrkmen to be overthrown.
Italy's fight to-day is against for
elgn influences as much as it was 10'
years ago. 1t is fight now agains
the insidious, destructive propagand,
of foreign agltators, who would max,
OF her another Russia. But at tn,
same time 1t is the true spirit o
Italy, the spirit that prldes iself il
the glorious achievements Of her fore
fathers which gives hope that nnothe
Cavour or Crispi will arise to rcplac,
the trafficklng, weak, opportunlst poll