MAZZINI AND YOUNG ITALY.—Italy is not weaned from Mazzini [writes Margaret Fuller from Rome]; her youth—those who are to be the animating spirit of the future—revere his name. Despite of prohibition and restriction, his thought has penetrated here; and his unwavering faith has warmed and exalted the heart of his country. The moderate party which at present moves in Italy, certainly hopes salvation by means which are not Mazzini’s. One so deeply penetrated as he with the truth that shall be a truism to the coming age, but which as yet finds few souls strong enough to understand and embrace it in all its meaning—the truth that liberty is an inborn right of man—cannot demand it as a boon at the hands of princes. The noble heart of the present pontiff has opened an unexpected door. It remains to be seen whether old bottles will contain the new wine; but those who are now in Italy, whether they hope this or not, must rejoice for the hour in the fine action of love for this good man, this truly pious Pius, on the heart of the nation, and that a degree of liberty of the press, and the rudiments of civil institutions, are introducing some light into the joy that has rested on the lower orders. It does not follow that this people disowns the blood of the martyrs which has been shed seeking Italian liberty by other means. It does not follow that they look coldly on those who have sealed a holy faith by a holy life of renunciation, a zealous effort. Were it so, Italy would, indeed, be unworthy of happiness; but she is not so base, so ignorant of who loves her, as English paragraph-writers fancy.—People’s Journal.
“Mazzini and Young Italy.” Manchester Times (UK), 21 Dec. 1847, p. 3.
