Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

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Howard R. Marraro
John M. Daniel a Lewis Cass
Turin, Feb. 14, X880. No. 135.
Sir: [Scrive a lungo dell'importanza del regno sardo]... It [la Sardegna] will soon be the European state next to Prussia in population, and -will probably attain a much greater importancc in other respects. For it is inhabited by a people who, however corrupted in morale and of however doubtful firronees, have always posscsscd genius, activity, and ardor, who will, when national weight is attaincd, certainly play no indiffrrcnt or sliglit part in the future history of the world. Further, its geographical position gives it an advantage in the Mediterranean which no other power can rivai, while the excellent sailors which it always has and always can furnish, its numerous ports and general characterÌ8tic8, will probably render it one of the most important mari lime powers of the old world. It is from t bis particular circumstance that the in-crease and development of this new Kingdom is somewhat intercsting to us. For a long time it must be, what the United States now is, a state possessing a commerce and a coast altogether disproportioned to its naval defcncc; and in tliis condition it should be our naturai ally in the designs so offcen set forth by the Government of the United States, for diminishing the severities of naval war and ameliorating the law of nations for the high eeas.
John M. Daniel a Lewis Cass
Twin, March 10, 1860. No. 140.
Sir: [Discute la pubblicazione di dispacci diplomatici fra Torino, Parigi e Londra sul destino della Savoia e su altri problemi italiani]... But should hostilities really rccommence, on the terme anticipated, I canno t believe that the result will in that case be what the Italians hope. History affords many examples of successful resistance by nations less numerous and wealthy than the Italiane to nations more vigorous and intelligent than the Austrians. Three inillions of Ameiicans, divided in counsel and in the iìcld, withstood Great Bri-tain for eight years. The Dutch were invincible by ali the powers of Spala and of France. But in these and ali similar cases the weaker party had moral ad-vantagee which are unhappily wanting here. The Italiane are not the Ame­ricane of '76, nor the Dutch in the time of stadt-holdere; nor ie Count Cavour in any manner to be likened unto William the Taciturn. Modem Italiane have ardour of mind and a sudden violence of character which may enable them to gain some early advantagc in a etruggle; but for a disproportionate contest thcy have need of solid virtues in the population, which are not here. I can antici­pate from the policy of Italian farà da sé. on the prescnt occasion, no result very different from that which it has ever produced under similar circumstances from the days of Barbarossa to those of Radctzky ...