THE MEETING AT NAPLES ON THE CONVENTION.
[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
Naples, October 2, 1864. NAPLES has just seen a very remarkable demonstration of political feeling in reference to the proposed transfer of the Italian capital and to the riots at Turin of which with your permission I will give an account. In my opinion the circumstances which distin- guished this manifestation afford a capital standard for testing the intrinsic nature of the political elements in this great city, while the moral bearings of its general influence on the country at large seem to me of especial importance. Naples is considered, and with reason, the weak limb of Italy. I hear it continually called the Ireland of this country. The Neapolitan community is one on the nature of whose sentiments the most discordant estimates are current. Doubt and suspicion have been hanging darkly aboutthe loyalty to the unity of Italy of even those who figured amongst its foremost advocates, until everything connected with the political temper of Neapolitan Liberalism was a matter of perplexing con- troversy. The hobgoblin of a feeling for autonomy, reinforced by the supposed adhesion of a large section of ancient Unitarians dis- contented with the present made of administration, and hurt at Naples not having been more visited by the Court, was a very general vision. Without doubt there was foundation for consider- ing the city of Naples as more torn by political dissensions than any other place in Italy, and the recent elections for the Communal Council proved irrefutably that it was sufficient for a candidate's success to have a personal difference with the representatives of the Ministry. It is the consideration of these circumstances which renders so very remarkable the unanimity with which all sections of Neapolitan Liberals, to whose action is due the annexation of their country to Italy, have spontaneously combined to repudiate
all wish to undo their work, thereby at a highly critical moment contributing deliberately to confirm the same, although they were being craftily worked upon to avail themselves of the favourable opportunity afforded for shaking its foundations without danger to their persons. I was lucky enough to see the inside as well as the public show of this great demonstration, and I am the more anxious to record what happened, as not one journal has given a full version even of the public meeting, from the strange fact that there were no shorthand reporters present.
I told you in my last letter how favourably I found the first announcement of the transfer of the capital to Florence to be received, but that the impression produced by the tidings from Turin was profoundly painful. This impression grew intenser as the news became graver, and as four and twenty hours elapsed without the slightest intimation reaching the Prefect of the inten- tions of the new Cabinet, an apprehension spread, inspired by the purely Piedmontese origin'of the men first named as Ministers, that the Cabinet meant to yield the transfer of the capital and defer to the clamour of the Turinese. Instinctively it was felt that an immense danger would threaten Italy in this event. The question started up, what should be done under the circumstances? There were great difficulties to be encountered in the way of com- mon action—for party spirit has been running high in Naples— and then the proposal to make it the capital has been so freely advocated, both in and out of Parliament, that it was hard to avoid the imputation of local aspirations in any protest against the Go- vernment's yielding to the people of Turin. On Sunday, the 25th Sep- tember, about noon, I met on the Palace square a Neapolitan gentle- man of influence, when, as we were discussing the news of the day, we were accosted by another who had in his hand a telegram an- nouncing a public demonstration at Messina in favour of Florence as capital, and who urged the importance of a similar demonstration taking place at Naples. We walked into the Club l'Unione, where there happened to be perhaps half-a-dozen persons to whom the idea was communicated. They concurred in the suggestion, provided it met with the general support of leading Liberals of all sections. After some discussion they separated, each promising to see some specified persons, and in the evening to report the success which had attended their canvass. From the first it was felt that for the demonstration to be effective it must comprise both the moderate and the advanced Liberals. Therefore it was likewise felt that the scope of the proposed meeting must be neces- sarily confined to the simple repudiation of municipal pretensions, and not aim at anything that involved a vote of personal confidence in the individuals comprising the late Ministry. Still some very decided misgivings were entertained as to the likelihood of obtain- ing the co-operation of those men who are the popular chiefs of the advanced Liberals, like Baron Nicotera and Count Ricciardi, the latter having always distinguished himself by the monomania with which he devoted his fantastic energies in Parliament to endless harangues on the necessity of Naples being the seat of Government. It was therefore a matter of exceeding delight to receive the assurance that both these extreme politicians bad assented to the projected demonstration. Baron Nicotera's adhesion was especially important, for his popularity is great amongst the Radicals. Young, handsome, and of well-known daring, Baron Nicotera combines in a singular degree the winning and simple charms of a high-bred manner with the fiery temperament for which the Calabrese are proverbial. With the gentleman unmistakeably stamped on his whole carriage, the flash of his black eye indicates what those who know him call the volcanic transport of his fury when excited. His career has been one of desperate enterprises and forlorn hopes in behalf of his country's cause. The courage of the man is proverbial, and all respect his character however much they deprecate his exaggerated opinions. True to his daring nature he approved of the Garibaldian campaign to Aspromonte, and was one of the deputies who staid away of late from Parliament after having in language of unparalleled violence accused it of unworthy subserviency to Ministerial influences. Next morning a private meeting was held to draw up a programme to be submitted to the public assembly. There was much discussion, for some person present wished to frame it in terms which would have inevitably expanded the public debate so as to involve a judgment on the policy of the convention with France. But to do so was neces- sarily to defeat the demonstration, for on the treaty itself neither Nicotera nor any of the advanced politicians, as well as few of the Moderates, would commit themselves to an opinion. ' The former are indeed too hostile to the Emperor as a rule not to be decidedly indisposed to consider favourably any act of his. With the excep- tion of three the whole meeting agreed upon the form of resolution afterwards submitted to the public assembly, and the purport of
which was that " the sole object of the meeting is to affirm our rights on Rome as capital and on Venetia, and loudly to call on Government not to allow any interests arising out of municipal considerations to weigh in the choice of the provisional capital." In helping to frame the resolution Nicotera rendered a great service, for a section of the popular party was clamouring for something far more violent, while its pas- sions were being fanned from abroad. I know that letters were written from Turin with the view of stirring up in Naples popular demonstrations•in favour of its being made the capital, the avowed object being to initiate such a general confusion by calling up counter-demonstrations, with sins lar pretensions in other towns as would end by the seat of Government remaining at Turin. One of these letters came from an eminent Piedmontese, another from a Neapolitan who held a confidential post under the Rattazzi Cabinet, and the persons to whom these were addressed were capable from their connection of influencing the lower class in a degree which might have been very embarrassing. The same afternoon a printed placard with the concerted resolu- tions signed by sixty names, amongst which figured those of Nicotera and Ricciardi by the side of men whose moderation has exposed them often to populardenunciation, called the people to a meeting in the theatre of the Winter Gardens for the 28th, there to record its approval of the same.
I went there some time before the hour fixed, and found the building already presenting symptoms of a crowd, which grew rapidly thicker until every chink that could be reached was filled by a human figure. The number in the theatre is put at five thousand, while I em informed that outside there was a huge throng disappointed of admittance. The stage was reserved for the chair and the managers, and presented the spectacle of about 150 of the best known citizens of Naples, a short while before bitter opponents and now cordial allies against danger impending over their country. The chair was taken by the venerable Mar- chese Tupputi, to whom it was assigned in honour of his years, for neither his voice nor his strength was equal to the difficult task of controlling such an assembly. On one side of him sat Ricciardi, holding a paper which inspired some uneasiness in those acquainted with his active turn of mind, on the other sat Nicotera. After a few words from the President, Nicotera rose, and in an earnest speech, whose simple delivery was marked by an entire absence of rhetorical display, impressed the audience with the importance of not giving the smallest foundation for any charge of disorder, told them to remember that the meeting was called solely to take into consideration the words of the resolution, that any speaker who travelled into other subjects would be instantly called to order, and then submitted the terms of the resolution. Count Ricciardi then jumped up and ran into the tribune. At first nothing could be heard of his weak voice amidst the cheers with which he was re- ceived, one only saw his fantastic figure gesticulating with up- raised hands in the manner well known to Italian caricaturists. He had solemnly affirmed that he would studiously avoid all remarks likely to lead to angry discourse, but with so eccentric a mind some anxiety was felt as to the way in which he would interpret moderation. Nor was this without foundation. When silence was secured, Ricciardi was found launched on one of his rambling oration; which I have no doubt he meant some- how to bring to a conclusion in the sense of the resolution, but which, so far as it went, dwelt at length on all those critical points which by common consent were to be avoided, the political aspect of the French treaty, and the claim of Naples to be capital. As he spoke his words were received with rapturous applause, which became more and more vehement as he gave expression to one of his peculiar sentiments. Now it was known that the party which wished to expand the debate meant to make an effort to do so,—one of the three dissentients at the preliminary meeting was on the stage, and had expressed his intention of speaking, and it was understood that in the body of the theatre there were a number of persons who bad come with the view of giving a popular character to such an attempt. When therefore Ricciardi stimu- lated by applause threw himself deeper and deeper into the torrent of his eccentric volubility, things assumed an aspect which made the aged president ring his bell to call the speaker to order. Then a storm arose which for some instants was terrific, and which the feeble tinkle of the old man's ringing was as unable to calm as a whistle to hush the winds. There was a violent mob feeling springing up at sight of the popular patriot called to order by a conspicuously pale-faced politician; and this was craftily fanned by men who had come for a purpose. Quite unequal to exertion, old Tupputi sank back on his chair, when Baron Nicotera seized the bell and rang it with the vigour of an athlete. But in vain.
The people would not mind even the appeals of their favourite, THE WAR AND GENERAL SHERMAN.
on all sides there was heard the premonitory creak and heaving of [nom ova SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] a tumultuous crash ; it was evident that the organized clamourers New York, October 1, 1864. were rapidly drifting the audience into a torrent from which there
was no extrication, and which might end in a catastrophe. For some minutes I looked about with an uncomfortable feeling m the frenzy within the building rose higher and higher, while we heard the surging of the throng pressing in from without.
It is beyond words to describe the admirable power of cool
courage, readiness of mind, and happy thought shown on this occasion by Baron Nicotera. After terrific efforts his voice at last was heard in a momentary lull. "Screamers !" he was heard to say, " do you fancy you will awe me with your cries,—me, for it 1" It was a magnificent illustration of the ascendancy of a brave man. From the lips of Nicotera these words instantly abashed the excited mob ; in a moment there returned the senti- belonged to. The object for which he had been singled out failed, attacked and took yesterday. On the morning of the same however, from his own incapacity. After some opening words ad- day General Meade, who, you will remember, has chief corn- the thread of his theme, and having uttered in a loud voice some popu- enemy's works at Poplar Grove, upon the Petersburg and Lynch- lar platitudes about Rome, the capital of Italy and the world, he de- burg Railway, about fifteen miles west of Reams station on scended without pronouncing one syllable of a municipal character. the Weldon Railway. This last movement is yet another eaten- The resolution was voted with acclamation, when Ricciardi proposed sion of Grant's left, and it cuts Petersburg entirely off from com- on the spur of the moment a subscription for the wounded at Turin, munication with the south and west, and should the position which was rapturously applauded, but the appointment of the won be held it is difficult to see how General Lee can avoid the committee for which gave occasion for an unmistakeable display of evacuation of Petersburg. Should he be compelled by these sudden hostility against the Naples municipality ; and here Nicotera again and almost bloodless movements to abandon that place, and leave gave proof of his fine tact and resolute determination to preserve the Army of the Potomac within six miles of Richmond and upon harmony. At the end ho addressed some parting words of an all his lines of communication, it will of course be but another impressive character, dwelling on the significance of the meeting. exhibition of his striking " superiority ' to Grant as a strategist, "• My friends " he said, " Italy cannot be made by one party alone, and another illustration of the purely sanguinary character of the but in emergencies requires that all parties of Liberals should latter's generalship. Not expressing my opinion with confidence, unite. To all parties here, and to some not here but yet very 1 think there is reason to believe that General Grant does not now attentive to what we are doing. I would say a few words. To you intend to move directly upon Richmond, but merely to take men of the Moderate school I say that to-day you have seen how another and a very importaut step towards its final investment, we breaknecks, as you have called us, can keep our humours in check and to keep Lea and his army within its lines until they leave when required. To you my particular friends of the party of them in accordance, not with Lee's but his designs. General action I would say look at these Moderates, and you will find them Grant, you may rest assured, ewes nothing about Richmond not as intolerant as you fancy ; while to the Bourbonists who on except as it holds the principal army of the Confederates. His
tiptoe are watching our proceedings from without, I would call movements upon the north bank of the James appear to me to to mind the proverb how Portici trembles when Vesuvius growls, be made only to make those on the south, which are those by and tell them that when the people of Naples roar, Bourbonism which Lee's movements are controlled, easier and more certain. vanishes at once !" -And so the meeting ended, the whole crowd Meantime General Sheridan has pushed up the valley after Early, moving away quietly without the slightest disorder, and with and on Monday last his advance entered Staunton unopposed.
Baron Nicotera's name in every one's mouth. Staunton is about seventy-five miles up the valley, and is upon a
Will this happy spectacle of temperate concord hold good ? My railway which pierces a gap in the Blue Ridge, and connects at letter is too long to discuss this problem. There are clouds ahead. Charlottesville with another which communicates with both Rich- Naples is being worked with the view of eliciting ultimately a mond and Alexandria at Lynthe northchburg, and,It more s up imposed wportantith yet, some r by a beason ranch that municipal claim for the capital. The machinations are very astute, . is
and Sheridan may move upon Charlottesville and trust to this railway nd time and cunning may do mischief. The extreme Radicals also may possibly be extravagant in their judgment of the French Conven- for his supplies. Lee and Early have probably both too much on hand to interfere with him should be so decide.
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