Together with the noble Rossi perished, for the time, the cause of Rome,
the cause of Italy. What might not have been the gain to both, if the
devoted minister had been allowed to fulfil his appointed mission?
Constitutional government would have been established on a solid and
permanent basis; the wild agitation of the streets would have been brought
to an end, and the excited passions of the revolution, beholding the
sound, regular and beneficial working of free political institutions,
would have been awed into composure. But, sad reflection! by an act which
history will never cease to stigmatize, the only man who, by the authority
of his reputation, abilities and experience, was equal to the stupendous
labor of building up on sure foundations the social fabric was struck
down, and the nations of Europe, which had looked on hitherto in sympathy,
recoiled with horror. Liberal men throughout the civilized world had long
been deeply interested in the state of Italy. Such was their belief in the
bright future, which they were confident awaited her, that they could
pardon the ill-controlled agitation of her children, and even their
greatest excesses, when they first began to enjoy, before they knew how to
use it, the unwonted boon of liberty. With crime and the evils which
followed in its train they had no sympathy. A system which relied on
assassination could not prosper. Inaugurated by violence, it could exist
only by violence. The better feelings of mankind were shocked. The die was
cast, and Rome was doomed. The fated city had rejoiced in the exercise of
unhallowed force, and through that legitimate force which, in due time,
Divine Providence allowed to be brought against her, she met her
punishment.
With the death of Rossi ended all hope of liberty.
The conspirators were resolved that nothing should be allowed to delay the
benefits which they anticipated from their crime. All sense of propriety
was not yet extinguished in the representative body. There was question of
sending a deputation to the Pope, in order to convey to him the condolence
of the Chamber, and express their regret for the sad event. This step,
which good sense and proper feeling so urgently demanded, was opposed, and
only too successfully, by Charles Bonaparte, Prince of Canino.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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