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in the flower of life and able to be ar arms have quitted Venice to swell the ranks of the Sardinian and Central Italian armies , and that women and children are following in almost equal proportions . A fact more signuicant of long repressed hatred and final intolerance of foreign rule need not be sought , and would be hard to find . The freedom now enjoyed by the neighbouring provinces of Lombardy offers a contrast to Austrian misrule , which is more than the enslaved Venetians can bear , and Napoleon HI . may yet learn that he would have done better not to draw his sword
at all rather than replace it in its scabbard before he had carried out his own spontaneous boast that he would leave Italy free from the Alps to the Adriatic . It is not hard to conceive , however , that though , for the sake of appearance and the maintenance of his sovereign dignity , he has thought it right to crush , as far as possible , all manifestations of popular will at variance with the programme traced by him at Villafranca , yet the hero of the 2 nd of December would not really blame the Italians if they took their affairs into their own
hands and helped themselves by a vigorous coup de main , after his own fashion . Indeed it may well be believed that he would feel under deep obligations to them if they had the kindness thus to help him out of the difficulties and perplexities with which he i § surrounded , and would spare him the trouble of furnishing a solution to the knotty questions involved in the return of the Dukes , the restoration of the Legations to the Pope ' s temporal jurisdiction , and the adjustment of Sardinian and Austrian claims .
To all but the wilfully blind and those who have interested motives in seeking to prevent Italian unity , the idea of the Austrian element in combination with the Italian fusion is altogether inconsistent and anomalous . The conduct of Austria towards Piedmont has ever been most" harsh and unconciliating . In peace she has unceasingly sought to shackle her neighbour ' s movements and quench her every aspiration and tendency to progress and freedom . In war she has shown herself truly barbarian , and in the conclusion of hostilities covetous" and grasping in the extreme . The hard bargain she attempted to drive on the settlement
of affairs between the two countries in 1848 has been forcibly brought to mind during the present conferences at Zurich by her exorbitant demands of compensation for Lombardy . Eleven years ago it required the utmost caution and judgment on the part of Victor Emmanuel , in dealing with Francis Joseph , to save the honour of his kingdom , maintain the independence of the State and the integrity of its territorial extent . Then as now Austria made pecuniary claims upon him which were outrageously extravagant , and would have absorbed the revenues of his State for three years in advance . Just in proportion as it is against the interests of
Austria that the Duchies of Central Italy should be annexed , to Piedmont so is it favorable to that portion and the rest of the Peninsula that the plan should be accomplished . The late sovereigns of the Duchies represent branches of the same House of Hapsburg to which Francis Joseph belongs : by family ties and by secret treaties , they ever were ami would again be associated for the misfortune of their respective subjects . Consequently it requires nothing more than the simplest reflection to be convinced , that wore those princes to bo reseated on their tlirones the power
of Austria would again domininate in Italy exactly as heretofore . Common sense would suggest that the mnnifi'st interest of the French Emperor should urge him to second the wishes of the people of Italy for annexation with Piedmont ^ that the slight increase of power and influonoo gained by thePeninsula would bo insufficent to cause any uneasiness to France , while the cessation of the undue weight given to Austria by her relations , with the Dukes of Italy would conduce to the maintenance of that balance of 41 power which it is the interest of Franco , in combination with the other to seek to niain witn tno other 10 iu imuu
European powers , - Jiiuropoan powers , sees - tain . But notwithstanding tho man y proofs of farsightedness and wise policy -winch might be pointed to on the part or the undeniably great sovereign now at the head of tlio French empire , matter of fact and practical judgment have not invariably marked the conduct of the conspirator of Strasbourg , and the prisoner of Ham . It is , therefore , well that the Italians should have taken tho determination to deliberate upon , and man ago their own affairs , independently and even in spite
of their great ally , from whom , as they willingly allow , they certainly received no slight favour and assistance during the past summer . That the approaching Congress may free the whole of Italy ironi Austrian tyranny , with the exception of Venetia , which seems doomed to bear it yet awhile , and ratify the wishes of Central Ital y ^ to be united with Piedmont must be the desire of all the friends of freedom and progress . Though the time may yet be distant , we do not despair of seeing the Peninsula eventually liberated alike Jg-om the foreigner ' s yoke and the degrading subjection of the Papacy .
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LIBERAL WRITERS OF ITALY . It may be regarded as characteristic of Italian tastes and tendencies that the Provisional Government of Tuscany finds leisure and inclination to patronize the arts and give orders for the execution of pictures and statues . We think it doubtful if in any other country under the sun an avowedly exceptional and temporary executive body would , in these matter-of-fact days , devote a portion of its limited time and restricted prerogatives to the sentimental recognition of the claims of defunct individuals upon their country ' s gratitude , however high their patriotism might have ranked . Far be it from us , however , to
echo the reproaehes of political apathy and indifference made against the Tuscans and their rulers on this ground . We rather look upon such demonstrations with curiosity and wondering admiration , as forming so complete a contrast with the poiinds-shilli ngs-and-pence-soidier-and-sailor calculations which would in all probability engross the attention of a British Legislature under the same circumstances . Each nation has its specialty , and to Italy has been conceded , by universal consent , the character of nurse and guardian of acts to her
the fine arts . She therefore only up responsibilities in decreeing and carrying ou _ t the artistic measures in question . Nor should it be considered extraordinary that Tuscany avails herself of her momentary freedom to indulge her special and favourite tastes . Like a school-boy let loose for a single day , she determines to make the most of her holiday and enjoy it to the top of her bent . It must ever redound to her credit that her rulers are enabled , thanks to the moderation and self-government of the peop le , to give their attention to the elegant and patriotic embellishr of intense
ment of the country at a period political anxiety and painful incertitude . In addition to bronze and marble statues of sovereigns and other celebrated men , and historical paintings connected with the wars of ' 48 and ' 59 , six portraits are to be executed of the political writers , Vincenzo Gioberti , Cesare Balbo , Silvio Pellico , Giovanni Berck < $ , Carlo Troya , and Giuseppe Giusti . The Abbe Vincenzo Gioberti first became celebrated as a writer by means , of hia " Primato Morale e Civile degli Italiani , " published in 1843 . He had formerly been one of . the royal
chaplains at Turin , but having been exiled , ten years previously for supposed complicity with the Mnzzinists , he had lived in honourable poverty and seclusion at Paris . This book was published ¦ % t Brussels , but was introduced a circulated throughout Italy , in . defiance of the efforts of the police to intercept it . Though opposed to the popular current of the day , the " Prunacy" bore a title flattering to Italian feelings . At a time when the prinoipal efforts of tho revolutionary party wore directed against the Papacy , and-when the Papal Gfoverment was carrying out the sternest measures of repression , Gioberti sustained the theory that nothinir should be done ajrainst the Pope or
independently of him , for that no real good could be brought about save by and through the Papacy . The " Primato" unites force of reasoning with the charm of eloquence , in urging a reconcilement of princes and people , and in advocating a oonfoderaoy of which the Pope iras to bo the head . Though . Gioberti led the way in a previously untroddon path , and his -writings produced a serviceable and lasting impression , yet his views in this book must be held ns over speculative and ineomnatiblo with praotical and actual events .
After tho first successes of Charles Albert , in 1848 , Gioberti returned to his own country . A short time before tho renewal of the ( struggle against Austria , in 1840 , he became prime minister , and used every exertion to support the moderate
party throughout the Peninsula , and to effect a rally in favour of constitutional monarchy . But his zealous efforts met with no adequate response , and he was obliged to resign office . In his last work , the " Rinnovamento Civile , " published at Paris in 1850 , he treats of the temporal power of the Papacy as a thing that las been tried in the balance and found wanting . Thus did he and his party renounce the hopes which they had once entertained , that the temporal government oi Rome might be rendered compatible with the freedom and prosperity of Italy . Gioberti's lattei days were spent at Paris , where he , died , October , 1852 , in the forty-fifth year of his age .
Cesare Balbo , cousin of the Marquis d'Azegho , was born at Turin in 1789 . At the age of seven he was taken to Paris by his father , Count Prospero Balbo , who filled the office of Ambassador of the King of Sardinia . In 1807 , when only m his eighteenth year , he was nominated , by Napoleon Bonaparte , Auditor to the Council of State , and from that time was connected with the administration during nearly the whole of Napoleon's career . Upon the downfal of the empire he entered the military ranks . Passing through the
various grades until he became major , he was then attached as one of the embassy to the Sardinian legation , at Madrid , at the , head of which his father stood . After holding this office two years he returned to his country ; but again left it as an exile three days before the battle of Novara , in 1820 , and lived in England and France until 1824 . It was on his return to Piedmont in this year that lie entered upon the career of letters . A series of works—historical , political and critical—which issued from his pen , made his name famous throughout Italy from 1824 to 1839 : but the appearance of his " Speranze
d'ltalia" in 1844 , a few months af ter the publication of Gioberti's "Primato , " was quite a national event . It was the first time that an Italian , residing in an Italian city , had ventured to write openly upon political affairs , and frankl y state his opinions , and his countrymen felt proportionately grateful to him . This book—like that of Gioberti—advocates the idea of an Italian Confederation ; but Baibo demonstrates , by means of historical and political while
examples , thai this is impossible , any portion of Italy is in the occupation of foreigners . If the work did not increase the hopes of Italy , it , at least , taught Italians to fix them upon a desirable , though distant object , and minutely described the means by which they might be realised . The publication of this book presented so many difficulties , and was so fraught with peril to the writer , that , before venturing to bring it out , Balbo called his sons ton-ether , explained the risks , and asked it
they were disposed to accept the consequences . With true filial respect they answered in the affirmative , and it made its appearance accordingly . In 1848 Balbo was made chief Cabinet Minister by King Charles Albert , and , on the outbreak of the war very shortly afterwards , he temporarily filled the post of Minister of War . Men of a . opinions and parties agreed in expressing esteem and admiration for his moral aud intellectual wortii . A Conservative by inclination and conviction , it was alwavs his aim to strengthen tho government wituout
and establish the principle of authority , which , he justly held that liberty was a chimera . He was dispatched as Envoy Extraordinary tp Gaeta and Staples in May , 1849 . So sincere ; and ardent a patriot was he that he suffered from evcry national misfortune as from domestic affl" * og-His health , naturally feeble , dcolmod greatly ^ m consequence of the poUtloia evonta oontpmponuy with and subsequent to the Revolution of 48 , and , Z the 3 rd of Juno , 1853 , after a few days of severe illness , Count Cesare JBulbo ^ breathed his last It is not ' nlono as a writer that Balbo deserves the praise of posterity , but as a virtuous , honest , ami dgnif » e / citizen , desirous of advancing tho mtoresfs of his country by every means . nhis Wt lamonwu
power , and his denth was » ana »„ »* Dublic calamity . Ho was associated with varous founials and periodicals , and assisted in ctubhshin" " » KiUgimonto , " the political or « an of ^ o ^ eK ^ l ^ Tetknovvn author of the " Prisons , " was born at SoIuwbo in Piedmont ^ in 1780 In conjunction with Bor « het , Manzom , and other ' s , ho established the literary periodical called S e » Conciliatore . " It was intended professedly to regenerate Italian literature , and its declare * objeot was to conduct to truth by moans of tlxo
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Wrv 503 . Nov . 12 . 1859-1 THE LEADER . 1251
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 12, 1859, page 1251, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2320/page/15/
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