Hypocrites and wretches! you do not possess even the brutal frankness of Austria!
Giuseppe Garibaldi
The Public Record
Assembled under the Republican banner, you have redeemed the honor of the common country, elsewhere contaminated by deeds of evil men, and overthrown by monarchical impotency.
Remain firm in the consciousness of your rectitude, and with the faith in which many armed apostles among you have died.
Woe to him who shall touch those tables of the new civil and political compact which the Roman People form with themselves before God, in the view of all civilized nations!
SOLDIERS—The bases of peace have been arranged with the Emperor of Austria; the principal object of the war has been obtained; Italy is about to become for the first time a nation.
It is the southern indolence, which soon gets the better of all good dispositions.
We have said it, and we repeat it, and we will repeat it always: The Republic arose in Rome by universal suffrage; rose on the ruins of the throne of the Popes, which the cry of all Europe, the maledictions of all civilized nations, and…
To-day, when on that throne, stigmatized by civilization, flows the blood of so many victims, who will dare to raise it again?
To-day the Spirit of Peace has breathed upon the waters, and the storm is for the moment at an end.
The cruelties practised by Austrians in Italy will be disgraceful to the memory of their government, its officers and soldiers.
There were only two things to be done—either to try and get possession of Palermo by a coup de main, or else to withdraw and begin a regular organization in the interior, and form an army.
The union of Italians was the great object aimed at, and non-interference by foreign powers was the principle claimed of Europe.
When the voice of calumny shall have ceased, justice will be done to men who are now iniquitously stigmatized.
There can be but little doubt that Napoleon prefers to see the political influence of the Pope dead forever, instead of being compelled to court it, in competition with Austria.
The question, as far as the present war is concerned, is this: Which is best, to risk all the tried men first, and trust to recruits after, or employ first the young soldiers, and bring up reserves after?
Hunger and hard knocks have a tendency to discourage even the bravest soldier.
In contrast with the condition of the Austrian army, those of Piedmont and France were in most respects superior, and still more in the principles for which they fought.
At Rome, people of Palermo, we will proclaim the kingdom of Italy, and there only will be sanctified the great family-bond between free men and those who are still slaves of the same country.
Bonds of affection, community of fatigue, of danger, of glory, bind me to you with indissoluble ties; moved from the very depths of my soul, with my conscience as Italian, I know that you will not doubt my words.
Italy, henceforth mistress of her destinies, will only have to blame herself if she do not regularly progress in order and liberty.
Be also proud of your success, proud of the results obtained, proud, above all, of being the well beloved children of that France which will ever continue a great nation, so long as it shall have a heart to comprehend noble causes, and men…





