The Life of General Garibaldi: Translated from his private papers; with the history of his splendid exploits in Rome, Lombardy, Sicily and Naples, to the present time.Garibaldi, Giuseppe
History
The Life of General Garibaldi: Translated from his private papers; with the history of his splendid exploits in Rome, Lombardy, Sicily and Naples, to the present time.
Garibaldi, Giuseppe
Garibaldi, Giuseppe, 1807-1882
"The great event of the evening, however, came off some time later, when
the palace having been illuminated, Garibaldi went on the balcony
leading out of the banqueting room, for the purpose of showing himself
to the people and addressing them. On making his appearance, a
tremendous ovation was offered to the liberator by the Messinians. The
applause, the cheering—genuine cheering—the clapping of hands, and the
manifestations of joy and approbation, were of the most hearty and
enthusiastic character. When this demonstration had quite subsided,
which required great perseverance and some time to effect, Garibaldi
proceeded to address the people. The thousands of upturned faces were
all directed toward him, and amid a silence as still as the grave he
spoke. The substance of his speech was to this effect: He said that he
presented himself to them because they wished it, but that he himself
objected to such exhibitions. He did not play the comedian; he was for
deeds, not words. They had achieved a great triumph, but the time was
come when they must achieve still greater. He thanked the Sicilians for
the courage and enthusiasm they displayed in effecting their own
deliverance, and said if they were true to themselves, not Sicily only,
but with the blessing of Providence, the whole of Italy, would be
liberated. He therefore urged upon them the necessity of still following
up the good work, and invited them to come forward and enroll themselves
in the ranks of their liberators. I need not dwell on the enthusiasm
which this address excited; it was of the most vehement character I ever
witnessed. After acknowledging its cordial reception for a few moments,
Garibaldi withdrew."
Garibaldi had various difficulties in arranging his government, the
causes of which may, perhaps, not yet have been fully explained. We
will, therefore, only mention some of the leading facts. Farina,
Grasselli, and Toti, whom Garibaldi had found very troublesome to him in
Palermo, were sent out of the island, because, according to the official
journal, they were "affiliated to the police of the continent," and had
"conspired against order." The ministry resigned in consequence, and a
new one was formed, including Messrs. Amari, the historian, Emeranti,
and the following members of the old: Logothe, Laporta, and Orsini.
Reports were published, from time to time, in Sicily, as afterward in
Naples, accusing Republicans of efforts to counteract Garibaldi: but as
the enemies of Italy have long showed their malice chiefly against the
Republicans, of whom Garibaldi has been one, and as Mazzini himself had
declared his ardent adhesion to the cause of united Italy under Victor
Emanuel, such accusations are generally suspicious.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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