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    FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

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    ( special . ) „ Tubinv May 19 th j , 1860 . G UR Sovereign has returned to his capital ; after completing the tour of his new provinces . Nothing * could be more striking : and unmistakeable than the marks of affection and devotion lavished upon him by the population of Central Italy . Probablei as itjis that his new subjects may be called upon before long to make fre ' sh sacrifices for the national cause , it is well that they should have had the opportunity of deriving fresh vigour and courage from the sight of the . monarch who is its staunchest champion . In returning to his usually quiet and sedate capital , however , Victor Emmanuel was not suffered to indulge in any long repose from political demonstrations and loyal greetings . The celebration of the anniversary of the constitution , granted by his father to the Piedmontese , called forth the most enthusiastic expressions of personal regard for the King , who has so well maintained the promises made by his conscientious and seif-sacrificing predecessor .

    In the midst of the religious ceremonies with which the fete of thelJStaiuto is always inaugurated , the military display of troops , the firing of cannon , the assemblage of municipal functionaries , the delivery of addresses , patriotic and loyal , songs and hymns sung by the pupils of the public schools , horse and boat-i'acing , a public illumination , perhaps unsurpassed for splendour , an influx of provincials which at least doubled the population of the capital—by far the most interesting and encouraging feature of the whole was the deep and heartfelt gratitude and love manifested towards the King himself . In spite of floods of rain , women and children mustered in strong force , and it was tr-ulv a moving sight to see the mothers hug their babies to their breasts and smother them with kisses after having held them up to see the King , as if the little things were dearer than ever to their hearts because they had looked upon

    the hope of the nation . Truly , the Piedmontese are a gloriously loyal people ! \ .... Last year , invasion and war prevented the celebration of the fete of the Constitution . This year has , however , amply compensated for the past by permitting . Lombardy , _ Tuscany , and the Emilia to shate in tlie _ s 61 ein _ nity . The celebration of the Constitution is not only a homage paid " to liberty , ~ but the proclamation of the principle of Italian nationality . It is the Constitution alone . which , has given . ' political' lite and importance to the sub-Alpine people . The Constitution is the tie which binds the Sovereign to his snbjeCts , and is at the saine time the force which sustains _ and urges them onward . This it is winch raises their political position in Europe , and places the Government in a condition to defend and advance"the national cause , to struggle with absolutism , which , in order to maintain itself , is now obli ged ~ to preach a Catholic crusade , and summon vagabonds and idlers from other countries to aid in

    supporting tyranny in Italy . The political institutions of Piedmont are intimately connected with its * present comparative greatness and prosperity . No power is so irresistible as the ascendancy derived from a genero , noble , and self-sacrificing policy , carried out with wisdom , firmness , and courage , and with the" sole aim of securing independence and liberty for the State and people . The cbnstrfufional regime lfiTS """" which h

    iiever produced in any country the effects -. ave accompanied it in Piedmont . It has been the protector of order and quiet , without quenching a single generous and valorous sentiment ^ as is proved by the daring policy which , beginning with the Crimean war , has issued in the liberation of so large a portion of Italy , and so large an accession of glory to Victor Emmanuel . Liberty , which has been the country ' s strength in the past , must still be so in the future . Absolutism performs its work more expeditiously than Constitutionalism . It assimilates , unifies , and blends together various Drovinces without listening to disputes or opposition . But

    how long does its work last ? At the first breath of revolutionary storm , it disappears , with the edifice erected upon it . Representative iiibtitutions alone afford to each province the means of milking , known its wants , of guarding its interests , and expressing its desires . Parliamentary representation , by revealing dissentient opinions , opens tlie way for agreement , for mutual concession and compromise . The power of public opinion will be the greater and the more efficacious just in proportion to the more or less complete freedom of discussion , and as the legislators of the country consult the wishes of the electors and people .

    Compare the condition of Italy of the past year with its present state . Tim-JSte of the Constitution has been celebrated this year from the Alps to Ravenna , from the Doro to the Rubicon . Seven millions of Italians have been restored to life and liberty . The authority of Austria has been restricted—is become difficult in the extreme to maintain , and its duration infinitely precarious . Its sceptred satellites have almost all disappeared . The auxiliaries of the Austrian Government nro restricted to Rome and Naples , and the people , who still irroan beneuth Austrian or domestic tyranny ,

    course as that which they have now entered upon , the revolution in Sicily is a fact , and as such must be accepted . Like the revolution itself , the expedition of General Garibaldi is a necessity . True , the undertaking receives no support from the principles sanctioned by international treat ies , and is unsusceptible df defence on tlie . technical grounds of politics and legality . But the bonds of fraternity which unite together the Italian people rest not upon the : text of a treaty j and the sentiment which makes . it a duty to help a friend struggling

    for life is founded , not upon paragraphs signed by plenipotentiaries , but upon all that is noblest and best in the heart of man . Diplomacy has already uttered loud outcries against the King's Government for having suffered Garibaldi ' s expedition to depart , but without reason . But , even had it been despatched under the auspices of Victor Emmanuel and his Ministers , instead of setting out secretly and in defiance of their orders , as is the fact , in what respect would the case have differed from that of the Roman States , to which volunteers are flocking every day with a view to attack

    Piedmont ? . Rome is making vast efforts to restore her lost reputation , and render herself again respected and feared ; but her very efforts are such as to diminish the little prestige still remaining to her . The Papacy is in the hands of a faction . Until now , Rome governed by means of a conventicle of priests whose aims extended not beyond the limits of the State , and whose only object was to preserve tl : e Church territory intact . At present , however , the Roman Government is composed of a heterogeneous assemblage of refugeesfrom various countries , comprising French Legitimists , Spanish Cariists , and Austrian Absolutists . The army reflects the image of the Government . At its head is a French General ; under him

    are Swiss subalterns ; the head of the staff is an Austrian ; and the ranks are made up of Swiss , Bavarians , and Irish . The most honourable among this mixed multitude are nothing better than political adventurers and knights errant of monarchical despotism and dynastic legitimacy . Their glance extends far beyond the Romagna , and they represent a system which is not confined merely to the regaining of the Legations . The consolidation of the Roman army is connected with vast projects , the result of which would be to plunge the world again into darkness , and whose ramifications extend to every state in which liberty has gained a footing . The route followed by General Lamoriciere on his journey to Rome t stations of

    indicates the principal points and the mostimportan the European plot set on foot by Rome . From Brussels the General proceeded to Dresden , where he conferred with the Princes of Lorraine ; thence he went to Vienna , to hold counsel with the Duke of Modena and the Emperor of Austria ; -4 ind subsequently visited Vpiiiee , where he had an interview with the Comte de Chambord . The previous policy of Rome was that of inaction . It confined itself to uttering protests , and . awaiting the course of events . The policy which prevails now is one of activity—of military , preparation and menace—of the urging : forward of events , and the creation of complications . ... .... , the alreaddan

    The French element is tending to compromise y - gerous position of the Papacy , and bring about its total and speedy , ruin . It is , however , only fair to allow , that if the policy now pursued must infallibly lead to perdition in one direction , that of eardirarr-: A ^ TONEijia- ^ as-ai ^ in ( allibly-leadiiig to ; , it , m another ^ though with less celerity . Whether destruction come by means ^ consumption or plethorii is of little matter , when the result is the same . By affecting to withdraw , in a measure , from public affairs at the present moment , the Cardinal gives a proof of the characteristic astuteness of his sect and race . He may hereafter be able to wash his hands of counsels and acts conceived and carried out by those who are more fanatical and less far-sighted than . himself . Like General Filangieri of Naples , he may one day step forward from his retirement , and boast that he would have been the sheetanchor of the Pontifical system had his advice and assistance not

    been despised . , , . , , The peace and security of Italy , so ardently desired by Piedmont , are us yet far from being secured ; Much has been done , but much more yet remains to be accomplished . To overcome the dangers and difficulties which stand in the way of the attainment of complete independence and tranquillity , the wisdom of the sub-Alpine Government and Parliament must be combined with the energy and support of the whole people of the rogno uniio . . After tlie long experience which the Italians have had of their helplessness to withstand foreign aggression , or to resist municipal preponderance and tyranny when divided into small states , they will aurely now do their best to derive all the benefit possible from the partial unification already accomplished , and will steadily pursue it to the end , only keeping in view the principles of moderation and patience .

    nourish hope , from the redemption of others , that the hour of their own deliverance is not far distant . While celebrating the anniversary of their Constitution , the PiedmonteiM ) did , not forget that millions of Italians could only take part in spirit in this national festivity , and that for weeks past the Sicilians havo been engaged in terrific strife with Bourbon repreaHion , Groaning under a state of permanent Buffering , the gnefH of the Sicilians have at length assumed the form of paroxysms of desperation , which have necessarily resulted in the present movement . However much we may reflet that the subjects of Fuancis II . should have felt compelled to toko such a

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    May 26 , . 1860 . ' ] The I ^ ead ^ r Met tiaMrday ^ Aiikfyst . 503

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    Hanover , May 22 nd , 18 G 0 . "I ? ORTUNATELY , perhaps , for Germany , it is a puzzle for your J- correspondent to decide what items of news and what topics ot discusBiou are—not the most interesting , but the least dull for your readers . Action there is none , and can he venture to think that the talk would prove instructive or amusing P But what is uie talk P Just what it is at this moment in England , I presume—all about Garibaldi in Sicily . We are , indeed / not without home matters of debate , but they have been so long before the publw , without the slightest result , that they are gladly neglected loi the spectacle of Italian action . I can fancy those of your reade » who take special interest in German affair inquiring , . How ia it \ vitU the Schleswig , or SchloHwig-Holstein , affair P To judge by the fiery oratory vented in the Prunsian Parliament , a war > etwce » In «« * and Denmark was imminent . To such u queatiou I can only

    Foreign Correspondence.

    FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 26, 1860, page 503, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2349/page/19/