Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-05
Italian Senator
Praises u. S. and
It's Fight for Liberty

president OF tne ildildH SeHdtc, III iho
first public address in this country
and the opening lecture of his course
before the Institute of Politics at
Williams College tonight. The speak
er warmly saluted the people Of
America and "all those other peoples
in whom selfish considerations have
not extinguished the flames of great
ideals
Speaking on modern Italy: its in
tellectual, cultural. and financial as
poets" President Tittoni said in part:
1.-THE great Italian historian, Carlo
Botta begins his history of the great
American war OF independence by
paying Il tribute 10 the qualities of
the American people. Let me>pay like
tribute today in beginning the lee
lures | am to deliver in response to
the courteous Institute Of Politics.
Ever since | read, as youth. the
classic work of Alexis de Tocqueville
on American demo :racy / have re-
membered these words of his:
Although the desire to acquire
wealth is the dominating passion of
the American, there are times when
their soul seems suddenly to burst
the martial bonds whchi bind it and
, to rise impetuousIy HeaVcnward'
Honor he to YOU, people of Amer
lea. and to those peoples in whom
seltiesh considerations have not eX-
tineueshed the flame of great ideals.
ALLOW me, my American friends, to
cite . passage from Titus i.iveN s
roman History CBook so which
seems 20 me to express admirably the
motives and the character OF Amer
ica's Intervention in the world war:
a wonderful thing: That there
should exist q people who at their
own cost. with their own means and
at their own peril should undertake
a war for the liberty Of others. not
merely for their neighbors or those
close at hand, on even for peoples Of
the same continent--but that they
should cross the seas in order that
nowhere in the world should there
remain an unrightcouS empire and to
the end that richt-justice-la
should rule all things and all ma
tons
This cult Of the ideal the Italians
hold in common with You. Speak
ing recently of our nation. the for
mcI British ambassador, Sir Rem
nell Rodd said in a lecture he gave
at the British Academy:
"'Onc of the characteristics which
has always impressed me in the
Italian people as a whole is their IN
tense feeling for justice and pas
sionatc resentment OF injustice"
This bond of spiritual union
should always unite Italy and Amer
lea, an idea which was admirably
expressed by President Harding
when. in his message to the preSi
dent OF the Italy America Society.
gathered to welcome the Italian
ambassador. Rolandi Ricci, he said:
Like our own, tho aspirations Of
the Italian people are directed to-
ward wcll ordered progress based
upon material welfare. in part. but
founded first Of Ill upon the merit
and worth OF human character and
aimed at human achievement
And these words Of tho prcsi-
dents echo the Thought expressed
- Years before by his predecessor,
Abraham Lincoln. to the rcpresen-
tativ" Of Italy in Washington:
At no time in this unhappy fra
tricidHl war in which We are only
trying To save and TO strcn2 then the
foundations of our national unity.
. have the king and pcoplpc of Italy
failed to address us in terms Of &c
Spect, confidence ard friendship.
pray God 10 protect Noln' country
ana grant that Nuu may crown its
ancient achievements in the fields Of
art. Of science and of liberty
And | do not fear to multiply
these quotations by reminding YOU
also of the beautiful words addressed
to Abraham Lincoln by Guiseppi
Garibaldi:
"'Amclica. Mistress Of Liberty.
opens once more the solemn era of
human progress
Were | only to cnumeratc the in
tcllectual relations which have eNls-
ted for years between the. United
States and Italy, IT would take me
| too far atield."
After paying high tribute to the
work OF the American Red Cross in
I tho war, senator Tittoni said:
/ valuable help was given us by
/ The Italian war relief fund OF Amer
: lea, by Young Mems Christian Assoc
( citation, by tho Association of Amer
lean Poets ana Ny the tIalo- Amer
i lean committee to supply Milk for
F.! the Babies. | account ii a privilege
! to be able to renew here the public
; expression Of the thanks Of the Ital-
= ian people to all these mrritorious
{ organizations.
Nevertheless it is only too true
/ that in spite of frequent 2ontac ct
/ most Italians know little Of Amer
! lea Just as most Americans know
! little of Italy. Too many come to
! Italy only to tldmire our monuments,
: to study our art treasures. to enjoy
! the beauties of our climate and our
scenery.
The purpose of my lecture is to
Z make Italy better known to YOU.
/ begin with the development of he's
/ culture and the evolution of her
! thought The real pride of people
/ consists in these. for as julius Caes-
al said to Cicero:
; 1T is a greater thing to have en-
largcd boundaries of the Roman in
! tellect than the boundaries of the
| Roman Empire
TT g O&oio1c Gov,