age, "to have to dispel the illusions of public opinion in regard to
Italy. I have endeavored to fulfil this duty by laying before you
information that can be relied on; and I have the pleasure to observe that
light is now beginning to penetrate the darkness which has hitherto
enveloped this question. There is already a greater chance that Italian
independence will be established on a more legitimate basis, free from all
foreign intervention, and in such a way as to favor the cause of fidelity,
of truth, of honor and general order (cheers)."

If there were no foreign intervention, it was long the fashion with
certain parties to say, we should soon see the end of Papal rule, as well
as that of all the other sovereignties of Italy. Such, however, were not
the views of the great majority of the Italian people. It has been
satisfactorily proved, those people themselves being the witnesses, that
such of them as were subjects of the Pope, far from being discontented and
anxious to do away with the government which was set over them, and
substitute for it either a republic or a foreign monarchy, highly
appreciated and were steadfastly devoted to the wise and paternal rule of
their Pontiff Sovereign. The subjects of the other Italian Princes, as
well as the inhabitants of the revolutionized portion of the Papal States,
were only prevented by the armed intervention of foreign Powers from
declaring in favor of their rightful sovereigns. There is no pretension to
deny that there were reformers and constitutionalists in those States. Of
their number the Pope himself was one. But the well-informed and
intellectual Italians were not ignorant that all reforms must be the fruit
of time and of opinion, and that under the sway of enlightened and
benevolent sovereigns, aided by the learning and wise counsel of able and
conscientious statesmen, such changes, in matters of civil polity, as were
adapted to the wants of the people would not have been delayed beyond the
time when circumstances called for and justified their adoption.

(M67) All eyes were turned towards the victor of Solferino, who was the
absolute master of the situation. What would he do? Would he allow to be
violated the definitive treaty which his Plenipotentiaries were actually
completing at Zurich? Napoleon III. did positively nothing. He repeated in
the treaty the stipulations in favor of the dispossessed sovereigns, just
as if the pretended plebiscitums were null, and he