Italy and the Italians (Volume 2) online

journals, to depreciate the real merits of journalists; but the
salvation of the world will not proceed pre-eminently from that
quarter.



870 MEANS OF REGENERATION.

only two divisions of the same kingdom, Naples, and
Sicily. The idea of a unity of Italy must, there-
fore, be much more profoundly conceived, and much
more judiciously executed ; or the new defects that
would not fail to break forth would be at least as
great as the old ones which it were so desirable to
remedy.

True it is that revolutions proceed not from the
dark side alone of the human mind. There have
been revolutions which have broken fetters and
emancipated mind, and which have not established,
but abolished, injustice and violence. Wherein,
then, is the difference between condemnable and
salutary revolutions ? It consists in this, that in
the latter presides the spirit of God, and this is no
other than the spirit of love. Without this dis-
tinctive mark, this touchstone, men give themselves
up only to the illusions of the devil.

Every thing considered, Italy has certainly made
great advances in many points, in comparison with
the seventeenth century, yet much is still to be de-
sired — perhaps, in spite of the apparently hostile
antithesis, much that is German. Assuredly, no
worn-out ideal state, but one general connecting
national feeling, and a love of country which fears
not to die for it ; no arithmetical normal constitu-
tion, but truly efficient deliberations in every part
of the country ; no atomical citizenship, but increase
of wisdom and energy by corporate institutions ;



MEANS OF REGENERATION. 371

no populace crushed by poverty, or enjoined to beg,
but a broad, domestic, contented basis of the whole ;
no foundling-hospitals, but schools ; no indolent
nobility, but exertion, rising with more elevated
position ; no intolerant priesthood, but free de-
velopment in different, but at last harmoniously
converging, directions ; no fear of science, no taxa-
tion of the intellectual, but only counteraction of
the manifestly irrehgious and immoral ; no separa-
tion of material interests, but abolition of barricades
and lines of custom-houses ; no passion without
character and wisdom ; no religious creed without
showing its effect on life and conduct.

All this, if not already happily accomplished in
individual provinces, the sovereigns and people of
Italy may effect, in order to open a new and glo-
rious career, if they but set about it in good
earnest. If they will not, the tones of their ancient
glory may not wholly die away, but sooner or later
their rulers must fall, and the Italians be out-
stripped by those nations which do not bury, over-
rate, or squander their talent, but gratefully employ
and increase it by industry of every kind.



THE END.



LONDON:

F. SHOBERL, JUN., PRINTER, 51 , RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET.



SECOND AND CHEAPER EDITION.
Now ready, in 2 vols., post 8vo., with Portraits, price 24s. bound,

THE COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON'S

" IDLER IN ITALY."

Among the various distinguished personages of whom Lady
Blessington has given sketches in this new work, are the fol-
lowing: —

Byron

Shelley

Moore

Napoleon

Murat

Maria Louisa

Madame L. Bonaparte

Cardinal Gousalvi

De La Marline

Duchess de St. Leu



Sir W. Cell
Sir W. Drummond
Mr. Trelawny
W. S. Landor
Duchess of Devonshire
Lord J. RusseU
Lord W. RusseU
Lord Normanby
Mr. Lister
Mr. Hamilton



The Duke of York

Sir D. WUkie

Countess Guiccioli

Prince Borfthese

Casimir de la Vigne

Baron Denon

Lord Dudley and Ward

Mr. Mathias

Lord King

Mr. Herschel, &c.



Henry Colburn, publisher, 13, Great Marlborough Street.



*:'-.



- t(lL{



!i|l|ii!ni|illl!HMi|tliilil!l|i!il|tll|||||{!!i!H