Year: 1867

Manifesto of the roman Nati0haI OOm-


mittee.


The Roman National Committee issued the
following manifesto in consequence of some
individual having exploded bombs in the Piazza
Santa Chiara on the eve OF the Epiphany,
although without provoking any manifestation
whatever on the part of the people assembled


10 the Romans:-On the evening of the 9th of
January, some bombs were exploded near st.
Eustachio. The good sense OF our fellow-citl-
zens will have already properly estimated this
fact, contrary TO the dignity OF the party and
OF the National Committee and contrary to our
principles and our programme. In addition to
this, we have the signincant tact of the sudden
aud almost simultaneous appearance OF police,
PontifCal soldiers, and particularly OF Aouaves,
on the scene, and the immediate and
tumultuous arrest of many citizens throws
light enough upon the matter to enable
us to form correct opinion respecting 1t.
The affair." in fact, is one OF the series OF acts
by which the nefarlous league OF the Govern
ment with the reactionary party is constantly
seeking to provoke us-thaJ series to which
belong the intrigues carried on to drive the
Pontltf from Rome and to appeal to religious
tanaticism; the numberless searches made, re-
gardess of all considerations, by which our houses
and domestic peace are disturbed; the endless ar
rests which crowd the prisons; and the waTlike
preparation and alarming rumors by which it
is sought TO inspire terror in the public mind.
The conquest achieved by the noisy activity
hitherto displayed by the sacerdotal police is
letter which is proclaimed as belonging TO an
agent who neither appertaIns to our ranks nor
is partisan OF our programme.


Our enemies are evidently making every effort
10 weary us under the last of our sore trials
toleration-and desire TO surprise and defeat us
in detail. We still resist like men who. looking
forward direct TO their end, disregard the
temptations thrown in their way. But most
sacred and irrepressible demonstration is that
OF the severest reserve towards the foreigners,
and above all the eXecrable corps of Zouaves.
This body Of men represent the most essential
fniG fIna.V
Contederates and most trustY myrmidons of
saCerdotal despotsm and the last arm of the
/ tyralt priest. Between the scum of mankind and
ourselves there can be nothing In common eX-
/ cept struggle to the DEATH which Will be fought
sooner or later. With them we must have no
/ thing in common-neither the root that covers
! us nor the air we breathe. We do not give
advice to our felow-citizens, since their admi
rable intuition will anticipate it. We shall
rather praise their noble behavior upon every
! occasion in keeping aloof from the theatres and
| every public place where the odous uniform
may be seen. We only encourage them to per-
! sst in the course absolutely required by our
honor. The example of Venetia who for
seventeen years relinquished her favorite
| amusements for a similar cause is before our
! eyes. To our ladies especially we appeal, not
| only that they may make these slight sacrifices
tor the honor OF the country, but that
! they may inCulCate them upon those over
whom they have some influence. 1t is time
! that our lady fellow.citizens also should elevate
| themselves to patriotic and national sentiments.
United by unanimous accord we shall leave to
! the few vile friends of the foreigner and their
own ignominy the contact either at the theatre or
other places of public resort with the infamous
uniform of the papal mercenary. We shall not
fail to note such and publish their names, in
! order to consign them to infamy and to the
reprobation of a justly irritated patriotism and
the opinion of all those who. feel that they have
! a dear native country of their own.


The ROMAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.


Rome January 7, 1867