VICTOR’S FRANKNESS AT BERLIN. I

and many distinguished guests, Italians and Prussîans, were présent, when he suddenly said, ‘You know I would hâve made war on you only for these gentlemen,’ pointing to his ministers, who listened in confused silence to this déclaration. He then explained frankly that such had been his personal regard for Napoléon, and his grateful remembrance of past services, that he would certainly hâve gone to his aid had not his duty as constitutional sovereign compelled him to bow to the will of the government and nation. But now that the quarrel was ended he was proud to be the sincere friend of United Germany and her glorious emperor. The old emperor was charmed with this candour. He took Victor’s hand and pressed it, saying, ‘I thank your majesty for your frankness.’

On Victor Emmanuel’s retum to his own country he stopped in Turin to inaugurate a monument to Cavour on November 8, and on the I3th of the same month he opened the Parliament, in a long speech, chiefly on the relations of Church and State, which continued to occupy the attention of the government.

I rejoice to tell you (he said), that our relations with the foreign powers are friendly. These good relations received a solemn confirmation on the occasion of the visit that I hâve just made to the Emperor of Austria and the Emperor of Germany. The démonstrations of cordial sympathy that I hâve received from those two sovereigns and from their peoples were meant for regenerated Italy, which has known how to take

LIFE ÜF VICTOR EAIMANUEL II.

her place among dvilised nations. Austria and Italy hâve been old adversaries on the field of battle. The cause of their long contest removed, there remains only confidence in their common interests and in the advantages of sincere friendship. This friendship is ail the more grateful to me because it is associated with those family affections which a higher and more imperious duty has been able to dominate, but could not extinguish in my heart.

These words had been put in at the king’s express desire. France, îis usual, pretending a dévotion to the Church, took umbrage at the proceedings of the Italian govemment, and recalled her représentative. Victor Emmanuel, who liked the ambassador, spoke very frankly to him when he came to take his leave. ‘ It is a great pity,’ he said, ‘to use religious scruples as a pretext for political objects. Religion is a grand, a sublime thing ; we ail feel the need of it, and it is the duty of us ail not to compromise it — not to use it as a cloak.’ A just rebuke.

The year 1874 was the twenty-fifth of Victor Emmanuel’s reign, and it was celebrated as a ’g^reat national fête. On the morning of March 23, an immense assemblage thronged to the Quirinal, consisting of députations representing ail classes and bodies of the State, who wished to présent loyal addresses to the king.

The foreign ambassadors also came in the name of their sovereigns to offer their congratulations. It was a