Things and Thoughts in Europe . . . XXVIII.

Things and Thoughts in Europe.
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Special Correspondence of The Tribune[No. XXVIII.

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Gioberti, Mamiani and Mazzini . . . . Formation of the Constitutional Assembly . . . . The Right of Suffrage . . . . A Procession . . . . The Proclamation of the Republic . . . . [illegible] . . . . The Decree of the Assembly . . . . The Americans in Rome, Difference of Impressions . . . . The Right of the Grand Duke of Tuscany . . . . Charles Albert . . . . The Present State of Rome . . . . Reflections and C[illegible] . . . . Latest Intelligence.
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ROME, Evening of Feb. 20, 1849.

  The League between the Italian States, the Diet which was to establish it, had been the thought of Gioberti, had found its instrument at Rome in Mamiani. Its Deputies were to be named by Princes or Parliaments, their mandate to be limited by the then institutions of the several States, measures of mutual security and some modifications in the way of reform would be the utmost that could be hoped from it. The scope of this party did not go beyond more vigorous prosecution of the War for Independence, and the establishment of good Institutions for the several Principalities on a basis of assimilation.

  Mazzini, the great radical thinker of Italy, was on the contrary persuaded that Unity not union was necessary to this country. He had taken for his motto GOD AND THE PEOPLE, and believed in no other powers. He wished an Italian Constitutional Assembly, selected directly by the People, and furnished with an unlimited mandate to decide what form was now required by the needs of the Peninsula. His own wishes, certainly, aimed at the Republic, but the decision remained with the Representatives of the People.

  The thought of Gioberti had been at first the popular one, as he, in fact, was the seer of the so-called Moderate party. For myself I always looked upon him as entirely a charlatan, who covered his want of all real force by the thickest embroidered mantle of words. Still, for a time, he corresponded with the wants of the Italian mind. He assailed the Jesuits, and was of real use by embodying the distrust and aversion that brooded in the minds of men against these most insidious and inveterate foes to liberty and progress. This triumph, at least, he may boast: that sect has been obliged to yield; its extinction seems impossible, of such life-giving power was the fiery will of Loyola. In the Primato he had embodied the lingering hope of the Catholic Church; Pio IX, had answered to the appeal, had answered only to show its futility. He had run through Italy as courier for Charles Albert, when the so basely styled Magnanimous entered, pretending to save her from the stranger, really hoping to take her for himself. His own cowardice and treachery neutralized the hope, and Charles Albert, abject in his disgrace, took a retrograde Ministry. This the country would not suffer, and obliged him after awhile to reassume at least the position of a year since by taking Gioberti for his Premier. But it soon became evident that the Ministry of Charles Albert was I the same position as had been that of Pio IX. The hand was powerless when the head was indisposed. Meantime the thought of Mazzini had echoed through Tuscany from the revered lips of Montanelli; it reached the Roman States, and, though at first propagated by foreign impulse, yet, as soon as understood, was welcomed as congenial. Montanelli had nobly said, addressing Florence, “We could not regret that the realization of this project should take place in a sister city, still more illustrious than ours.” The Romans took him at his word; the Constitutional Assembly for the Roman States was elected with a double mandate, that the Deputies might sit in the Constitutional Assembly for all Italy whenever the other Provinces could send theirs. They were elected by universal suffrage. Those who listened to Jesuits and Moderates predicted that the project would fail of itself. The people were too ignorant to make use of the liberty of suffrage.

  But ravens now-a-days are not the true prophetic birds. The Roman Eagle recommences her flight, and it is from its direction only that the High Priest may draw his augury. The people is certainly as ignorant as centuries of the worst government, the neglect of popular education, the enslavement of speech and the Press, could make it, yet it has an instinct to recognize measures that are good for it. A few weeks schooling at some popular meetings, the clubs, the conversations of the National Guards in their quarters or on patrol, was sufficient to concert measures so well that the people voted in larger proportion than at contested elections in our country, and made a very good choice.

  The opening of the Constitutional Assembly gave occasion for a fine procession. All the troops in Rome defiled from the Campidaglio; among them many bear the marks of suffering from the Lombard war. The banners of Sicily, Venice and Bologna waved proudly; that of Naples was veiled with crepe. I was in a balcony in the Piazza Di Venizia; the Palazzo Di Venizia, that sternest feudal pile, so long the headquarters of Austrian machinations, seemed to frown as the lands each in passing struck up the Marseillaise. The nephew of Napoleon and Garibaldi, the hero of Montevideo, walked together, as Deputies. The Deputies, a grave band, mostly advocates or other professional men, walked without other badge of distinction than the tricolored scarf. I remembered the entrance of the Deputies to the Council only fourteen months ago, in the magnificent carriages lent by the Princes for the occasion; they too were mostly Nobles and their liveried attendants followed, carrying their scutcheons. Princes and Counselors have both fled or sunk into nothingness; in those Counselors was no Counsel.—Will it be found in the present? Let us hope it! What we see to-day has much more the air of reality than all that parade of scutcheons, or the pomp of dress and retinue with which the Ecclesiastical Court was wont to amuse the people.

  A few days after followed the proclamation of the Republic. An immense crowd of people surrounded the Palazzo delia Cancellerio, within whose courtyard Rossi fell, while the debate was going on within. At one o’clock in the morning of the 9th February, the Republic was resolved upon and the crowd rushed away to ring all the bells.

  Early next morning I rose and went forth to seek the Republic. Over the Quirinal I went, through the Forum to the Capitol. There was nothing to be seen except the magnificent calm emperor, the tamers of horses, the fountain, the trophies, the lions, as usual; among the marbles for living figures, a few dirty, bold women, and Murillo boys in the sun just as usual. I passed into the Corso; there were men in the liberty cap, of course the lowest and vilest had been the first to assume it; all the horrible beggars persecuting as impudently as usual. I met some English; all their comfort was, “It would not last a month.” — “They hoped to see all those fellows shot yet.” —The English clergymen, more mild and legal, only hopes to see them (as the Ministry, Deputies, &c.) hung.

  Mr. Carlyle would be delighted with his countrymen. They are entirely ready and anxious to see a Cromwell for Italy. They, too, think it is no matter what happens in “the back parlor,” when the people starve. What signifies that, if there is “order” in the front? How dare they make a noise to disturb as yawning at billiards!

  I met an American. He “had no confidence in the Republic.” Why? Because he “had no confidence in the People.” Why? Because “they were not like our People.” Ah! Jonathan and John—excuse me, but I must say the Italian has a decided advantage over you in the power of quickly feeling generous sympathy, as well as some other things which I have not time now to particularize. Mais nous nous reverrons. I have memoranda from you both in my notebook.

  At last the procession mounts the Campidaglio. It is all dressed with banners. The tricolor surmounts the Palace of the Senator; the Senator himself has fled. The Deputies mount the steps, and one of the reads, in a clear, friendly voice, the following words:

FUNDAMENTAL DECREE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY OF ROME.

  ARTICLE I. The Papacy has fallen in fact and in right from the temporal Government of the Roman State.

  ART. II. The Roman Pontifex shall have all the necessary guaranties for independence in the exercise of his spiritual power.

  ART. III. The form of Government of the Roman State shall be a pure Democracy, and will take the glorious name of Roman Republic.

  ART. IV. The Roman Republic will have with the rest of Italy the relations exacted by a common nationality.

  Between each of these expressive sentences the speaker paused; the great bell of the Capitol gave forth its solemn melodies; the cannon answered; while the crowd shouted, Viva la Republica! Viva Italia!

  The imposing grandeur of the spectacle to me gave new force to the thought that already swelled my heart; my nerves thrilled, and I longed to see in some answering glance a spark of Rienzi, a little of that soul which made my country what she is. The American at my side remained impassive. Receiving all his birthright from a triumph of Democracy, he was quite indifferent to this manifestation on this consecrated spot. Passing the Winter in Rome to study Art, he was insensible to the artistic beauty of the scene—insensible to this new life of that spirit from which all the forms he gazes at in galleries emanated. He “did not see the use of these popular demonstrations.”

  Again, I must mention a remark of his as a specimen of the ignorance in which Americans usually remain during their flighty visits to these scenes, where they associate only with one another. And I do it the rather as this seemed a really thoughtful, intelligent man; no vain, vulgar trifler. He said—

  “The people seem only to be looking on; they take no part.”

  “What people?” said I.

  “Why, these round us, there is no other people.”

  There are a few beggars, errand boys and nursemaids.

  “The others are only soldiers.”

  “Soldiers! The Civic Guard; all the decent men in Rome.”

  Thus it is that the American, on many points, becomes more ignorant for coming abroad, because he attaches some value to his crude impressions and frequent blunders. It is not this that any seed corn can be gathered from foreign gardens. Without modest scrutiny, patient study and observation, he spends his money and goes home with a new coat perhaps, but a mind befooled rather than instructed. It is necessary to speak the language of these countries and know personally some of their inhabitants in order to any accurate impressions.

  The flight of the Grand Duke of Tuscany followed. In imitation of his great exemplar he promised and smiled to the last, deceiving Montanelli, the pure and sincere, at the very moment he was about to enter his carriage, into the belief that he persevered in his assent to the liberal movement. His position was certainly very difficult, but he might have left it like a gentleman, like a man of honor. ‘T was a pity to destroy so lightly the good opinion the Tuscans had of him. Now Tuscany meditates union with Rome.

  Meanwhile, Charles Albert is filled with alarm. He is indeed betwixt two fires. Gioberti has published one of his prolix, weak addresses, in which he says that in the beginning of every revolution you must fix a limit beyond which you will not go; that, for himself, he has done it—others are surpassing his mark and he will not go any farther. Of the want of thought, of insight to historic and all other truths which distinguishes the “illustrious Gioberti,” this assumption is a specimen. But it makes no difference; he and his Prince must go sooner or later, if the movement continues, nor is there any prospect of its being stayed unless by foreign intervention. This the Pope has not yet, it is believed, solicited, but there is little reason to hope he will be spared that crowning disgrace. He has already consented to the incitement of civil war. Should an intervention be solicited, all depends on France. Will she basely forfeit every pledge and every duty, to say nothing of her true interest? It seems that her President stands doubtful, intending to do what is for his particular interest, but if his interest proves opposed to the republican principle, will France suffer herself again to be hoodwinked and enslaved? It is impossible to know, she has already shown such devotion to the mere prestige of a name.

  On England no dependence can be placed. She is guided by no great idea; her Parliamentary leaders sneer at sentimental policy, and the “jargon” of ideas. She will act, as always, for her own interest; and the interest of her present Government is becoming more and more the crushing of the democratic tendency. They are obliged to do it at home both in the back and the front parlor; it would not be decent as yet to have a Spielberg just at home for obstreperous patriots, but England has so many ships, it is just as easy to transport them to a safe distance. Then the Church of England, so long an enemy to the Church of Rome, feels a decided interest with it on the subject of temporal possessions. The rich English traveler, fearing to see the Prince Borghese stripped of one of his palaces for a hospital or some such low use, thinks of his own twenty-mile park and the crowded village of beggars at its gate, and muses, “I hope to see them all shot yet, these rascally republicans.”

  How I wish my country would show some noble sympathy when an experience so like her own is going on. Politically she cannot interfere; but formerly when Greece and Poland were struggling, they were at least aided by private contributions. Italy, naturally so rich, but long racked and impoverished by her oppressors, greatly needs money to arm and clothe her troops. Some token of sympathy, too, from America would be so welcome to her now. If there were a circle of persons inclined to trust such to me, I might venture to promise the trust should be used to the advantage of Italy. It would make me proud to have my country show a religious faith in the progress of ideas, and make some small sacrifice of its own great resources in aid of a sister cause, now.

  But I must close this letter, which it would be easy to swell to a volume from the materials in my mind. Mazzarelli, chief of the present Ministry, was a prelate, and named spontaneously by the Pope before his flight. He has shown entire and frank intrepidity. He has laid aside the title of Monsignor, and appears before the world as a layman.

  Nothing can be more tranquil than has been the state of Rome all Winter. Every wile has been used by the obsecrantists to excite the people, but their confidence in their leaders could not be broken. A little mutiny in the troops, stimulated by letters from their old leaders, was quelled in a moment. The day after the proclamation of the Republic, some zealous ignoramuses insulted the carriages that appeared with servants in livery. The Ministry published a grave admonition, that democracy meant liberty, not license, and that he who infringed upon an innocent freedom of action in others must be declared traitor to his country. Every act of the kind ceased instantly. An intimation that it was better not to throw large comfits or oranges during the Carnival, as injuries have thus been sometimes caused, was obeyed with equal docility.

  On Sunday last placards affixed in the high places summoned the city to invest Giuseppe Mazzini with the rights of a Roman Citizen. I have not yet heard the result. The Pope made Rossi a Roman Citizen; he was suffered to retain that title only one day. It was given to him 14th Nov. he died the 15th. Mazzini enters Rome at any rate for the first time in his life as deputy to the Constitutional Assembly, it would be a noble poetic justice, if he could enter also a Roman Citizen.

  24th.—The Austrians have invaded Ferrara, taken $200,000 and six hostages and retired. This step is no doubt intended to determine whether France will resent the insult, or whether she will betray Italy. It shows also the assurance of the Austrian that the Pope will approve of an armed intervention. Probably before I write again these matters will reach some decided crisis.        *

“Things and Thoughts in Europe . . . XXVIII.” New-York Daily Tribune, 4 April 1849, p. 1.

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