Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 18th August 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 14, ITALY FOR THE ITALIANS. (Jb the Editor o...

Page 14
Page 14
14 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • jl rfty *t dftlWIT (ILlttltlf IL V!l^U ^UU»wu»
  • Text (6)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Mr. B0wyer And Our Popularity In Italy. ...

      every respect be mere mercenary . " Weimght . . t fd ^ pa **** butthese •» J !^ J ^ our purpose . When Italians wad Mr . Bowser * defenceoTthe Pope , they watt be *^ * _ £ ^ that in the land of Protestantism and liberty Papal absolutism has found a warm partisan and advocate , who , professing to be thoroughly acquainted with the Koman States , maintains that he speaks the language of truth , when he states that the Pope is the most popular of all the Italian rulers . This ill-timed advocacy will neither increase our popularity in Italy nor facilitate the formation of an Italian legion . Lord Palmerston , it is true , has endeavoured to heal the wound , but Italians

      wish for deeds , not words . 2 Tow , for the sake of humanity , we should be pleased if the -well-informed Mr . Bowyer could deny those facts which are daily occurrence in Italy , but unfortunately they are too authentic to be thus contradicted . The Roman correspondent of the Independance Beige relates that the French

      Minister at Rome lately insisted , m the name of his Government , that the present horrible condition of the Roman administration should be changed , that the Government should be secularised , and that the penal laws , the most barbarous in Europe , should be mitigated . The cardinals assembled , the question was discussed , and a formal refusal . g iven to the French

      representative . A few days after this , we read in an Italian paper that the Cardinal Antonelli , following the example of the " Bastonade Commission " instituted by the Pope ' s brother in the Immaculate Conception , the King of Naples , has revived a similftT- torture called the cavalletto . This may , perhaps , be regarded as a sort of emulation among the Italian Governments for the purpose of promoting civilisation and humanity among their people . The Piemonte ^ a Turin paper , informs us , on the authority of the Gazzetta dl Bologna ( a

      newspaper printed under Papal censure in Rome ) , that from 1850 to 1855 Austria executed for political offences in Bologna alone 204 persons , sent 324 to the galleys , and condemned 120 others to hard labour ( travaux forces ) ^ to say nothing of those who were impr isoned , fined , bastinadoed . The crime of many of these sufferers was that they had ' * abstained from smoking , " by which the Papal Gove rnment lost a portion o the enormous revenue arising from the sale of tobacco and cigars . Another proof of the social disorder to which

      the corrupt influences of Papal misrule has reduced the people of Italy , may be found in the o cial statistics of crime during the first six months of the present year . No fewer than-4133 sentences were pronounced on various criminals , among whom were 608 assassins , 25 parricides , and 12 uxoricides . This , in a population of 2 , 900 , 000 , makes 142 delinquents ( including 21 assassins and one parricide ) in every 100 , 000 inhabitants . If we

      inquire what the Government does to educate the people , and lessen this frightful immorality , we find that while instruction is prohibited , there is a resolute determination to corrupt the good , to make the masses still more depraved , to raise the worst men to the highest employments , and to countenance every enormity committed by the clergy , who , being above the law , can act with impunity . Yet Mr . Bowyer wishes to convince Protestants that the " Pope is popular in Italy . "

      H E B A D E B [ Of The Wishes And ^ _ *P...

      ^ _ * p H 3 E Ii-B A D E B . [ 3 fo- 282 r Sattopay ,

      Poisoning In Someitsetsmnk.—Mrs. Emma Ca...

      Poisoning in SoMEitsETsmnK . —Mrs . Emma Candy , a farmer ' s wife , has died at Midsomer Norton from the effects of anenic The circumstances are as yot involved In obscurity . -The inquest stands adjourned till Monday next .

      Fatal Shipwreck . —Intelligence has been received of the loss of the American ship Manchester near Cape Horn . The survivors reached an island , where they wore subsequently attacked by tho Indians , who atripped them of their clothoa , and afterwards murdered tho captain and some others . Tho rost , having nothing to excite the cupidity of the Indians , wore treated kindly by them . Only two ultimately survived , and -were taken off by the Meteoro man-of-war .

      Jl Rfty *T Dftlwit (Illttltlf Il V!L^U ^Uu»Wu»

      tftottii CnttttfiL

      Flnxius Nspabikkki, As Am. Opinions, "? ...

      flNXIUS nSPABIKKKI , AS AM . OPINIONS , " ? J 1 ™ 5 **™ i " * *" AUOffSD AN KXPBKSSION , THK HDIXOB KKOKSSAKIIA « OfcD » UiM . SJSLF BB 3 FOKSISI . B fOBHOKKj

      Italy For The Italians. (Jb The Editor O...

      ITALY FOR THE ITALIANS . ( Jb the Editor of the Leader . ) Sir , Your article on the Italian crisis contains in a few words the whole point of the Italian question : " Will it be better to keep the nation prostrate and in agonies until a Republic can be evolved from chaos , than to place between Southern Italy and Austria the broad barrier of a constitutional state rapidly developing after the example of England ?" From personal investigation not very limited , I am led to think that this question is already answered in the niinds of most Italians in the sense pointed at in your article . I have myself put it in nearlv the same form within the last few months to

      numbers of Italians who were identified with the revolution of 1848—Lombards , Romans , Tuscans , and Piedmontese—and I find among them a tolerable unanimity of opinion . Believing that Italian Independence can only be attained by the " amalgamation of the race under one government , " desiring the Republic as they desire the Millennium , I think comparatively few will be found who retain the belief that the Republic is at present possible as the Government under which Italy can be united . The rulers of Southern Italy are doing their best to ensure a revolution . Neglecting the advice given by the Marquis d'Azeglio , in his " Programme of the National Party in Italy , " that " if the Italian Princes from

      -wished to prevent their subjects becoming revolutionists , they must themselves become liberals , " they are doing more than all the patriots to precipitate the coming struggle . In anticipation of this , our only dread is lest the people be led to rise before they-have attained the one desideratum of Italian affairs—unity . Italian unity of hate to the Tedeschi needs no comment here , nor do the feelings of the nation with regard to Freuch occupation at Home lead us to think that the spirit has died out from among them which prompted Zambeccari ' s refusal of French aid to expel the Austrians from Ancona , adding that " he could see no difference between the Austrians and the French , except the impudence of the latter . " But is it yet clear under what name Italians , who look with equal dislike on the Austrian

      yoke , French impudence , Papal imbecility , and the Neapolitan Sbirri are willing to rank themselves ? It has long been the fashion in England to classify every species of Italian liberal under the generic term Mazzinian . M . Mazzini stands before England , rightly or wrongly , as the representative of Italian liberalism ; and his creed is generally supposed to be " a Republic , a Republic only , at any price . " Would it not be desirable to gain some more definite information as to what M . Mazzini ' s views really are ? Is it not due } alike to himself and to the Italian cause that , hia position should be better defined , and that we should know for what ideas his name really stands ? It will then be possible to ascertain whether all Italians wishing to aid in gaining " Italy for the Italians" arc willing to rank themselves under this generic term Mazzinian , alias Red Republican .

      And having stated his own views , will not M . Mazzini do well to compare them with the views of the majority of the champions of a united Italy ? One the leaders must bo in heart and purpose , or they can never be one in outward action , and to make their unity available , they must thoroughly understand what are the present wishes of the peoplo , what are the objects for which they are willing to risk another revolution . Are they determined to have a Republic , and to strike for it forthwith ? Will they accept no stepping-stone between their present degradation and the climax of their desires ?

      These questions have a practical value m the present case . It is earnestly to be desired that Italians should calmly ascertain whether they have a rallying point , whether they can unite , before they risk again Italy ' s best blood in a vague struggle after an undefined object . Surely witli the sad tale of Spezzia and other such tragedies fresh inmemory , no . one could incite the Italians to rise at nny call that does not ensure the co-oporation of all their countrymen holding liberal principles . Are not the affairs of ' 48 , proving as they do that Italians not only deserve freedom but are capable of themselves to obtain it , proof also , by the disunion that provented their retaining their liberty , that discords will not settle themselves in action after tho conflict is begun ?

      Let Italians-unite ; and if tho fourteen thousand defenders of Rome wore able to withstand for more than two months ninety-one thousand Austrian , French , and Neapolitan troops , a united Italy need not fear all the . despots in Europo . Wo can scarcely © xnggerato tho influence which tho English press may exert on tho coming struggle ; and it seems to mo a matter of the deepest importance that all that is written on the subject should be

      based on a correct knowledge of the wishes and feelings of the Italian people . A great step towards the solving of this problem would be gained could we ascertain the answer of Italian liberals in general to the question quoted above from your . article . A Bjujikvku in " Italy fob xhb Italians . "

      De Quibusdam Rebus. (Jto The Editor Of T...

      DE QUIBUSDAM REBUS . ( JTo the Editor of the Leader . ') Sir , —The want of novelty was a grievance when a , Solomon was a royal personage , and not necessarily a dealer in ** old clo ' s . " My business , however , with his Hebraic Majesty extends no further than to the most popular remark attributed to his pen . Some would-be economists plume themselves on having discovered a new subject for taxation in our domestic servants , and must , therefore , be ignorant of the fuct that such a tax was introduced in April , 1695 , and remained in force until the accession of Queen Anne Hear what Dr . Dorau says on this head : — " The moskseriously cruel portion of this law was that which affected a class of persons who could ill afford to be so smitten as this enactment thus smote them . Not only was every person who did not receive alms compelled to pay one penny per week , but one farthing per week in the pound was levied on all servants receiving wages amounting to 4 l . ix-r annum . 'Those , ' says Smollett , ' who received from 8 / . to ] 6 / ., paid one halfpenny in the pound por week . ' Tho hard-working recipients of these modest earnings , therefore , paid a very serious contribution in order that the war with France might be carried on with vigour . " It would seem , however , that the " Jeames" of those days was a more belligerent individual than the gorgeous gentlemen witli swelling calves who now inhabit Belgravia . Though it is possible , indeed , that even these might show some spirit If their own pleasures were in jeopardy .

      "On the 3 rd of May , 1736 , great numbers of footmen assembled , with weapons , in a tumultuous manner , broke open the doors of Drury-lane Theatre , and , fighting their way to the stage-doors , which they forced open , they prevented the Riot Act boiny read by Colonel De Veal , who , nevertheless , arrested some of the ringleaders , and committed them to Newgate . In this tumult , founded on an imaginary grievance that the footmen had been illegally exto

      cluded from tho gallery , to'which they claimed go gratis , many persons were severely wounded , and the terrified audience hastily separated , the prince and princess ( of Wales ) , with a large number of persons of distinction , retiring when tho tumult was at its highest . The Princess of Wales lAd never witnessed a popular tumult before , and though this was riiliculous in character , it was seriou 9 enough of aspect to disgust her with that part of ' the majesty of the people' which was covered with plush . "

      Here is- another curious parallel . During tho King ' s absence in Hanover , in 1736 , the Quoen-ltegent became exceedingly unpopular in consequence of an Act of Parliament which prohibited the sale of gin in unlicensed places : — " The popular fury was sometimes bo excited that it was found necessary , as in the Michaelmas of this year , to double the guards who had the care of her Majesty at Kensington . Tho populace had determined upon being drunk when , where , and how they liked . The Government had resolved that they should not get druuk upon gin at any but licensed places ; and thereupon tho majesty of the people became so furious that even the person of Caroline was hardlv considered safe in her own palace . "

      It is a pity that my Lord Robert Grosyenor did not bethink him of this precedent . Ho might them have hesitated to interfere with tho recreations of that ill-tamed monster , tho British populace . Yours , & c , & c , Q . Muhammad II . —Tho uame of the " Conqueror" with which tho Turkish hiotory distinguishes Muhammad II . from all other sultans , ia duo to him , not only as tho conqueror of Constantinople , but also as tho augmentcr of his empire in every direction . Ho subjected two empires , fourteen kingdoms , and two hundred cities . Many HtoricH have been told of his barbarity , but history does not require any myths , in order to form an impartial verdict , about hia inhumanity and lascivioiumoss , hit ) magnanimity and patriotism , about hia Crimea nnd hia irront qualities . His thirst for blood ia uhown by tho

      fratricide with which ho commenced bjs roign ; liy tho deaths of the Greek imperial family of Trebissoudo ; ot tho King of Boimia , and of tho Princes of Loabos nud Atheim . Muhammad , however , was not only a conqueror but also tho populator of towns ; not only a destroyer of churchot * and monasteries , but ulflo tho founder of moaqucH and schooln , of hospitals and charities ; not only tho destroyer of Greek cultivation and art , but tho promoter of Turkish wclonco nnd learning : for he had received a ttciciitina an well as martial education . Aftor tho conquest of Constantinople , eight of tho principal churches \ varo converted into mosques , und eventually Muhammad built four moru . Of all thoao twelve mosques tho moat conspicuous is tho one called aftor tho namo of tho conqueror , with tho oxcoptiou of St . Sophia .- — Turkey . By / Sir George JUtrpent .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 18, 1855, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18081855/page/14/