CHAPTER XXVIII
"Young Italy"
1
133.
Constitution
2
"Young Italy" is a brotherhood of Italians who believe in a
law of Progress and Duty, and are convinced that Italy is
destined to become one nation — convinced also that she possesses
sufficient strength within herself to become one, and
that the ill success of her former efforts is to be attributed not
to the weakness, but to the misdirection of the revolutionary
elements within her — that the secret of force lies in constancy
and unity of effort. They join this association in the firm intent
of consecrating both thought and action to the great aim of
reconstituting Italy as one independent sovereign nation of free
men and equals.
By Italy we understand — (I) continental and peninsular
Italy, bounded on the north by the upper circle of the Alps, on
the south by the sea, on the west by the mouths of the Varo, and
on the east by Trieste; (2) the islands proved Italian by the
language of the inhabitants, and destined, under a special administrative
organization, to form a part of the Italian political
unity.
By the nation we understand the universality of Italians
bound together by a common pact, and governed by the
same laws. . . .
"Young Italy" is Republican and Unitarian.
Republican — because theoretically every nation is destined,
by the law of God and humanity, to form a free and equal community
of brothers; and the republican is the only form of
government that insures this future.
Because all true sovereignty resides essentially in the nation,
the sole progressive and continuous interpreter of the supreme
moral law.
Because, whatever be the form of privilege that constitutes
the apex of the social edifice, its tendency is to spread among the
other classes, and by undermining the equality of the citizens, to
endanger the liberty of the country.
Because when the sovereignty is recognized as existing not in
the whole body, but in several distinct powers, the path to usurpation
is laid open, and the struggle for supremacy between these
powers is inevitable; distrust and organized hostility take the
place of harmony, which is society’s law of life.
Because the monarchical element being incapable of sustaining
itself alone by the side of the popular element, it necessarily
involves the existence of the intermediate element of an aristocracy — the
source of inequality and corruption to the whole
nation.
Because both history and the nature of things teach us that
elective monarchy tends to generate anarchy; and hereditary
monarchy tends to generate despotism.
Because, when monarchy is not — as in the Middle Ages — based
upon the belief now extinct in right divine, it becomes too
weak to be a bond of unity and authority in the state.
Because the inevitable tendency of the series of progressive
transformations taking place in Europe is toward the enthronement
of the republican principle, and because the inauguration
of the monarchical principle in Italy would carry along with it
the necessity of a new revolution shortly after. . . .
"Young Italy" is Unitarian —
Because, without unity, there is no true nation.
Because without unity, there is no real strength, and Italy,
surrounded as she is by powerful, united, and jealous nations,
has need of strength before all things.
Because federalism, by reducing her to the political impotence
of Switzerland, would necessarily place her under the influence of
one of the neighboring nations.
Because federalism, by reviving the local rivalries now extinct,
would throw Italy back upon the Middle Ages.
Because federalism would divide the great national arena into
a number of smaller arenas; and, by thus opening a path for
every paltry ambition, become a source of aristocracy.
Because federalism, by destroying the unity of the great
Italian family, would strike at the root of the great mission Italy
is destined to accomplish toward humanity.
Because Europe is undergoing a progressive series of transformations,
which are gradually and irresistibly guiding European
society to form itself into vast and united masses.
Because the entire work of internal civilization in Italy will be
seen, if rightly studied, to have been tending for ages to the
formation of unity.
Because all the objections raised against the unitarian system
do but apply, in fact, to a system of administrative centralization
and despotism, which has really nothing in common with unity.
National unity, as understood by "Young Italy," does not
imply the despotism of any, but the association and concord of
all. The life inherent in each locality is sacred. "Young Italy"
would have the administrative organization designed upon a
broad basis of religious respect for the liberty of each commune,
but the political organization, destined to represent the nation
in Europe, should be one and central.
Without unity of religious belief, and unity of social pact;
without unity of civil, political, and penal legislation, there is
no true nation.
These principles, which are the basis of the association, and
their immediate consequences, set forth in the publications of
the association, form the creed of "Young Italy"; and the society
only admits as members those who accept and believe in
this creed. . . .
The means by which "Young Italy" proposes to reach its aim
are — education and insurrection, to be adopted simultaneously,
and made to harmonize with each other.
Education must ever be directed to teach by example, word,
and pen, the necessity of insurrection. Insurrection, whenever
it can be realized, must be so conducted as to render it a means of
national education. . . .
The character of the insurrection must be national; the programme
of the insurrection must contain the germ of the programme
of future Italian nationality. Wheresoever the initiative
of insurrection shall take place, the flag raised, and the aim proposed,
will be Italian. . . .
Convinced that Italy is strong enough to free herself without
external help; that, in order to found a nationality, it is necessary
that the feeling and consciousness of nationality should
exist; and that it can never be created by any revolution,
however triumphant, if achieved by foreign arms; convinced,
moreover, that every insurrection that looks abroad for assistance,
must remain dependent upon the state of things abroad,
and can therefore never be certain of victory; — "Young
Italy" is determined that while it will ever be ready to profit
by the favorable course of events abroad, it will neither allow
the character of the insurrection nor the choice of the moment
to be governed by them.
"Young Italy" is aware that revolutionary Europe awaits a
signal, and that this signal may be given by Italy as well as by
any other nation. It knows that the ground it proposes to
tread is virgin soil; and the experiment untried. Foregone
insurrections have relied upon the forces supplied by one class
alone, and not upon the strength of the whole nation.
The one thing wanting to twenty millions of Italians, desirous
of emancipating themselves, is not power, but faith.
1 . 6 vols. London, 1891. John Murray.
2 , vol. i, pp. 96–108.