Italy. July 21, 1848
Italy.
* Florence, July 12. The latest deeds of the Frankfurt National Assembly are discussed in the local journal L’Alba. Just as examples are held up to people to arouse or strengthen moral feeling, in order to deter them from a similar course of action, so the Frankfurt Parliament serves as an example to other nations of how they should not proceed. “The Frankfurt Assembly of German representatives,” says the Alba, “had aroused great hopes in the hearts of all democrats. The old Federal Diet has been overthrown, that Federal Diet which, completely dependent on the Austrian Court Chancellery and the hypocritical liberalism of the Prussian court, had served so admirably to keep the individual German states separate, albeit within an iron ring, instead of uniting them.
The history of what the German Federal Diet has done since 1815 to support the oppression exercised by the princes against the peoples should now be constantly before Italy’s eyes, so that the Italian Federal Diet, if it comes into being, may not, like the German one, be a diet of envoys of the princes, but of deputies of the whole nation directly elected by the people.
We feel impelled to these reflections when we see how the National Assembly in Frankfurt has reduced every comprehensive and high-minded plan for the establishment of German nationality to a miscarriage, by having appointed an ‘irresponsible Imperial Regent’ and to this most influential post an Austrian Archduke.
Truly, the German people, when electing its representatives to Frankfurt, did not have in mind to appoint the grand electors or prince-electors of a regent or a new emperor. One popular speaker who protested from the tribune against that vote very rightly remarked: that this unwise vote, instead of ‘filling up the abyss of revolutions,’ will pave the way for new attempts at insurrection.
The 93 members of the democratic party who protested also understood it thus, and so did the deputy from Baden who tendered his resignation. And certainly: such a vote has betrayed the expectations (?) of democracy, and the latter will rise to defend its downtrodden rights.
Now the hope of an amicable solution is gone; every illusion too has vanished, and probably the serious dispute will be decided by arms. ...”
Thus L’Alba on the Frankfurt Assembly.
* Turin, July 13. In yesterday’s sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, the bill proposed by Gioia in consequence of disturbances that had taken place in Piacenza was discussed. This gave occasion for a rich gleaning of the secret and open machinations of the reactionary party in the Sardinian kingdom, especially in Savoy.
In the latter province, the bill on the perpetual expulsion of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in connection with the Jesuits has been used to stir up the people. Leaflets and sermons from the pulpits have represented to the inhabitants that all religious orders, even those loved and respected by the people, were to be destroyed. A pastoral letter from the Bishop of Annecy on the same subject has further increased the agitation. A host of most alarming facts and maneuvers are gradually coming to light, showing how active the reaction is.
Finally, Gioia’s proposal is rejected, while a commission with discretionary powers is to be set up to investigate the incidents in Savoy. – It is said that Giacinto Collegno has been entrusted with the formation of a new ministry, and Casati, who arrived in Turin yesterday, is to assume the presidency without portfolio.
On the 11th inst., several gunboats left the naval arsenal in Genoa on specially built wagons for Peschiera, for use on Lake Garda. According to reports from the theatre of war, the attack on Legnago has taken place, and sustained cannon fire has been heard in a wide surrounding area.
The proceedings of the Frankfurt National Assembly concerning Raumer’s report on the war in Italy give the Concordia occasion for a lengthy article and a few brief remarks. “It would now be time,” says this paper, “for Germany to think of its own interest and to give appropriate consideration to the new friendly relations not only with Lombardy and Venice, but with all Italy. Its