Cavour

CAVOUR oor') CAMILLO BENS°, COUNT DI (1810-1861). This great statesman, to whom more than to any other one person was due the uniting of Italy into a single kingdom, left a name, in the words of Lord Palmerston of England, "to point a moral and adorn a tale." The moral is that a man, by the force of patriotism and perseverance, can overcome seem ingly insurmountable obstacles, while the tale is one of the most romantic of the 19th century.

Although a nobleman, Cavour had early developed liberal ideas. These were strengthened by frequent visits to London and Paris, where he studied the institutions which he wished to see introduced into his own country—the little kingdom of Sardinia Piedmont in northern Italy. Cavour firmly believed that political liberty is impossible unless built upon industrial prosper ity. His efforts, therefore, were early directed to improving agricul ture and building railroads which, he said, "will stretch without interrup tion from the Alps to Sicily, and will wipe out all obsta cles which separate the inhabitants of Italy and hinder them from forming a great and single nation." The Italian pe ninsula was at that time divided into many small states all more or less un der the dominion of Austria. Ca your believed that Austria could be expelled from these only by an established government which was recog nized by the Powers of Europe. So as prime minister of Sardinia, the nucleus around which the present kingdom of Italy was to grow, he built up its strength in every way. Especially he sent troops to take part in the Crimean War, a step which was described as a " pistol shot in Austria's ear." (See Crimea.) This policy eventually secured for him the friend ship of Napoleon III of France, who pledged to aid Sardinia in case of war with Austria. In April 1859, the long awaited conflict began. But after three months of fighting, when victory seemed assured, Napoleon suddenly withdrew. The movement for the union of Italy had, however, gained too much momentum to be stopped. As a result of the war Sardinia had gained Lombardy. Then Garibaldi with the secret aid of Cavour conquered Naples (see Garibaldi, Guiseppi), and one portion of Italy after another joined the movement, until in February 1861 the struggle was over. In March Victor Em manuel II was proclaimed king of Italy. The ambi tion of Cavour was at last crown ed with success, after years of toil.

Italy had ceased to be a mere " geo graphical expres sion," and had be come a strong, united nation.

Cavour did not live, however, to enjoy his success, but died three months later, worn out before his time by his labors for his country.