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Untitled Article
It is the life of Austria , her sole hope of conservation . The statesmen of Vienna have always been familiar with the doctrine , have always enforced it ; and , though externally they have seemed to swerve , hare maintained it firmly and consistently since the peace of 181-4 . In the East , then , a common policy prevails ; in the West prevails a common principle ; for the Western nations , whatever forms of government they may adopt or tolerate ,
introduced under the decision or * the Congress , the Ministers of Prance , Sardinia , and England ought to concur in supporting every project of political and administrative reform in the Papal States , and in all other Italian territories , to carry on open communications with influential men throughout
Plenipotentiaries , however , have dispersed without formally entertaining the Sardinian idea . the next probability seems to be that a Conference of French , British , a . nd Sardinian representatives may be convened ad hoc to discuss Italian airairs . Cbtint Cavour bias acted well y but does % e trust to tlie generosity of the Frencli Government , or to the sincerity of the English ?
Italv . and to sustain them bv manifestations Italy , and to sustain them by manifestations of sympathy . These diplomatic representatives should be men of moderate and liberal views , familiar with Italian history , necessities , and ha , bits of mind . The establishment of a British . Legation at Rome would be the first step . At the same time negotiations should be pursued for the formation of an Italian
Customs' Union . Upon this it may be remarked that , since all the eminent men in Italy — Constitutionalists or Republicansare free-traders , it is the obvious interest of a free-trade community to promote their influence , which represents the national spirit , in opposition to the influence of Austria , which clings to the Russian prohibitive system .
Even in Piedmont the Reform party has been discouraged , and baffled by the want of practical sympathy on the part of the Western Powers . England , Sardinia complains , sent Lord Minto to Home in 1847 , and deserted Rome in 1849 , when the Reformers wejre persecuted and Suppressed . 1848 disturbed all tlie calculations of statesmen . From that
date the Pa , pal Government ceased to exist . It has since been the appendage of a foreign army of occupation . The memorial admits that , in former days , great administrators wore the Roman scarlet , but now a race of feeble bigots misgovern the Papal States , and the people , awed by French bayonets , submit "in agony . "
" What can one do for Italy V * Leave the provinces of Rome , from Aneona to Perrara , from the Po to the Apennines , under the domination of the Holy See , but with a complete separation of clerical from political functions . Secularise and re-organise the administrative , judicial , military , and financial departments , and render them independent of the Church , and altogether distinct from it . The Court of Rome would still control the religious affairs and diplomatic relations of the State .
Promulgate the Napoleon code , establish a Ministry , with a general Council of State , appoint a secular Vicar , under nomination from the Pope , for a period of ten years , and leave to the Pope , also , the appointment of ministers , councillors of State , and all subordinate officials . Provide that the legislative and executive powers of the secular department should never extend to religious affairs or to mixed matters ; stipulate for the maintenance of the Roman
Court , and the liquidation of the existing debt in an equitable proportion , by each of the provinces ; organise , by means of a conscription , a national array . To such a scheme , which has frequently been suggested at Rome , not even all the Holy College would be opposed . To carry it into effect , however , it must not bo entrusted to the Pontifical Government ; , but to a High Commissioner , appointed by the deliberating powers .
The Sardinian Government never proposed to the Congress the exclusion of Austria from Italy , nor does it seom that ,, Count Oavotjk , or the Marquis D'Azeglio , defined Ms idea of a sohome for the regulation of Naples . But wha , b they did was to protest , in the name of the one national Government in Italy , against foreign domination , upholding a miserable anarchy of priests , and though wo look for no direct results from this bold and magnanimous appeal , it is a sign of lifo and hope , and places in the oloarest light the claims acquired by fcho Government of Sardinia upon tho sympathy audi recognition of tho Western Powers . The
represent the same constitutional freedom , and breathe the same political breath of life . It is Impossible that the East should not be united ; the suggestion of Sardinia is , may not the West be united also % The point of contact is in Italy , where Piedmont exists as an outpost of enlightenment and liberfcyv It is tliere that the action of constitutional politics can be carried furthest into the field ; and , if danger results ^ Sardinia says , in the spirit of old times , that she has not been in the habit
of counting her enemies . She Las aLready made attempts to revive the Italian nation ; but all of Italy that is not Piedmontese is virtually Austrian , and beyond its own frontiers the government of Turin is powerless . Although in alliance with the Western governments , it is not an aid , but an embarrassment . Tet without her concurrence , what can be done to counterpoise the Eastern coalition ? Being , therefore , necessary to the West , and being , in her actual condition ineffective , her deduction is , that the West should reconstitute her , and open Italy to her influence .
She declares a fixed plan to be essential , and that this plan must be established on the basis of Italian nationality . She has paid the price of independence by her efforts in the Russian war . The diplomacy of the West , substituting its own principles for those imposed at the last general Congress , by the diplomacy of Yienna , should work in an opposite direction , and , as far as possible , exclude front Italy the moral and material influence of Austria , which is actual mistress of every Italian State—excepting Piedmont—which intervenes everywhere ,, " . appeases" all
troublessuppresses all agitation . The difficulties springing from this condition of things have become so formidable that they must be diplomatically or violently solved . Sardinia invites the West to participate with her in preventing . Revolution by introducing Reform . Austria reigns in the fear of Revolution ; but her police fcaow how to turn Insurrection to account , h <> w to light the beacon that leads them on ; for at every successive outbreak , Austria has gained something in Italy . It results that , notwithstanding the French occupation of Rome , her influence is greater than ever . A popular ebullition in Parma is not to her the
source of such fear as is inspired by the Reformers of Piodmont , who were at work when tlie convulsions of 1848-49 interrupted their action . It is the progress of legal , liberal , and pxcific changes , approved by "Europe , that disquiets the Government at Vienna . . One example of the fallacies of polioy is supplied in the refusal of England to appoint a diplomatic representative at Rome . The Protestant nation dreads tho advent of a
Monto parade tlie streets of London . But the precaution operates to tho direct advantage of the Papacy . What could bo tlie influence of a MoNsiaNoius in London compared with the influence of an enlightened English ambassador at Rome , who might openly and loyally give Jlis support to political reforms , in liarmony with tho wise and liberal statesmen of the country 1 Rome , as it exists , ia the receptacle of corruption . Tho Sardinian plenipotentiaries , }> orn in ita communion , stigmatise tho government of tho olerical onsto as tho blight of Italy . If , then , formal ohangoa cannot bo
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THE CITY FUEROS . The bill for the reconstruction of the City Corporation deserves a separate scrutiny . It is a . reform of that kind that destroys what wo might desire to keep , without securing a . complete substitute . It wi-forms rather than re forms . Many of the objections urged , against the measure in the City are of considerable force . Ifc is , for example , urged that tlie Lord Mayor exercises political functions which should be extended rather than destroyed . At present
elected by the very numerous constituency of the Livery—16 , 000 strong—he is tb _ e representative of the commerce of the Metropolis * He is the more so , since the Livery , by whom he is elected , is not limited to residents within the City technically so called , but comprises persons who Teside in all parts of th > Metropolis , who have become members of the several companies and entitled to wear the liTeries of those Companies . ' Were the Loed » Mayob elected by the 96 members of the Common Council * he would cease to possess the independence secured by the present mode of
election . A very little well-distributed patron age used among the Ninety-six would deprive him of mucli weight which he now carries from the nature of the electorate .. Speaking to foreign states , or to the country , as tihe representative of the Metropolis , th-e Lobd Mayob possesses a use which wovild entirely pass away ; whereas , we repeat , that use might be extended * We have an example ready to our hand : has there not been great utility in the existence of such a p ublic representative to speak the sentiments of the people , at this day / , to the United States ?
The change in the position of the Aldermen would be somewhat the same ^ and we much doubt whether men vfho now accept the offi . ee would accept it , or whether those who at present hold ifc would continue to give attendance or perform the duties . We do mot speak without reason in expressing this opinion t There is a point which will co-me mo-re practically home to most readers . Whatever mis * takes the Aldermen m&y ^ make as magistrates , they are afc all events independent . Mr ,
Arnold , one of the Stipendiary Magistrates of the . Metropolis , has shown that his brethren are not in that state of independence . It has happened that a Stipendiary Magistrate has received an order from the Home Office to remit a fine ; he is liable to removal by the Home SEoitBTAitar , and the power has been exercised . It is proposed by the bill to abolish tho Aldermen as Magistrates , and to substitute for them these Stipendiary Magistrates , who may become but head policemen under the Home Office .
In tho case of the Sheriffs this objootion grows still stronger . With respect to the Counties , tlie Sheriff is virtually chosen by the Crown : in the City , the two Sheriffa are eieofced by the Livery j the two to-gether are ?' the Sheriff of Middlesex , " acting for the Metropolitan county . It is in the Metropolis particularly that the executive duties of the
Sheriff assume afc periods of excitement their most important political oha . racter . The bill would abolish their independence , and so remove that counterpoise which exists at present for tho representation of the public by independent , looal executive officers , and ifc would place tho City and Metropolitan county undor the direct control of the contial Government .
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April 19 , 1856 . 1 fHE LEABEl _______ ..... _ 371
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 19, 1856, page 371, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2137/page/11/
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