Garibaldi; his Pension and his Wife.
Waikato Times , Issue 672, 9 September 1876, Page 2
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Garibaldi ; his Pension and his Wife.
Home, May ',7th. — General Garibaldi, as usual has been one of the heroes of the day, but the cause of his late notoriety has not been bo happy or so creditable to ihe old patriot's reputation as big admirers wish. It is useless, however, to expect our heroes to be above not only meat and potatoes, b» t horses and carriages, and all that makes life comfortable. The temptations of Mammon have toppled over many a high aspiration, and given an ignoble ending to many a noble career. A year or so ago the Minister Minghetti proposed to Parliament that a national gift should- be ottered to General Garibaldi, as an acknowledgement of his patriotic services. Parliament, with promptitude and unanim ty, voted 100,000 francas a year (520,000) to Garibaldi, and tho King sanctioned the vote by his royal seal. Tt was galant uomo all around. The General coquetted with this donation. Up to tikis spring it was not known whether or not it had been accepted. One thing was sure — he wanted and needed the money, but was afraid of ' speech of people.' The Government allowed the old patriot to 'take hia own aweet way.' Wise Italians! There is not a nation living that has had a better chance of learning this one sage lesson of experience — time sooner or later smooths down or takes away apparently immovable impedients. Patience, after aU, is true genius. This spring, when the Ministry of the Destra, or Bight, resigned, and a Ministry of the Left— Garibaldi's Wends— went into pDwer, the adroit patriot seized the occasion to avail himself of the golden fleece conquered for him by the Jasoa Minghette. One fine morning all the journals published one of Garibaldi's inevitable letters. It was addressed to the President of the new Ministerial Council, Depretis, and this was its substance : ' Now that the Kiug, Victor Emmanuel, has newly and solemnly reconfirmed his faith in the constitutional statue by changing his counsellors, in obedience to the vote of Parliament, and shown his confidence in my friends by placing in their hands the Government of the State, my repugnance to the acceptance of the national donation ceases.' Then followed a sort of excuse, in addition to this Dogberry reasoning, which was that the possession of this money would enable him to benefit Borne by contributing largely to the Tiber works. The letter closed with an expression of thanks to all Italy and the King. Of course the journals of the destra, or right, opened fire, A. correspondentof the Liberia propounded a cunning and difficult problem to solve —namely, ' if the ministry of the left should go out of power and a ministry of the right go in, would Garibtldi give back the national donation, on the logical ground that according to his political views, Victor Emmanuel, by having the destra, or right in power, would be otherwise than faithful to the statute ?' No reply was made to this question ; and after a few fireworks, or rather squibs, the subject was dropped by the journals of the destra. The impression left, however, was not an agreeable one Setting aside all considerations of delicate feelings and high honor, it could not be denied that Garibaldi had shown himself most ungracious to the source from which his donation came, the Ministry of the Right. A Ministry of the Left, his own friends, would never have proposed auch a donation ; for,*if republics are ungrateful, so are collected patriots. Even Garibaldi's most enthusiastic admirers wish he had taken the donation quietly — if it had to be taken— without explanation or excuse. ' Qui s'cxcusc, Jaccute ' is a very true proverb. The mysterious marriage of Garibaldi with the Marchese GuiseppinaRaimondo has lately been recalled to public memory. This lady formerly lived at Como, but for some time has resided at Milan. Many years ago General Garibaldi married the Marchese fiaimondo. To the surprise of everyone they parted immediately after the ceremony, and never met again JSfo reason was given ; whatever was the cause, it was known only to themselves. Since that time the General has lived with a peasent woman of Caprera, by whom he has had two children ; this woman is called Signora Garibaldi by some persons. The Marches© Raimondo has lived a quiet retired life during all these long yeara. Four or five years ago I saw her aboard the royal steamer at a regatta on Lake Oomo ; she was treated with respect, and the Princess Marguerite talked frith her. Lately the Marcheae Raimondo has had a succession of troubles. On© of her troubles is the atate of mind j and health of her father, the old Marehesd Georgio. Through great age he has become too feeble to direct the family estate and affairs. This duty must be assumed by bis daughter ; but, as a
married woman, she must have permission from her husband in order to perform it legally. She haa had the courage to ask Garibaldi's consent. The General's reply was an instant demand upon the law to annul their marriage, and leave the Marchese a free woman. The celebrated Italian lawyer, Mariciai, was the Q-oneral's counsel. As this great advocate is now in the Ministry he cannot practice hia profession. — ' Boston iidvertiser.'
