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Proclamation of Murat to the Italians.
The moment is at hand for the accomplishment
of grand events. Providence calls you to liberty ; a general cry is heard
from the Alps to the straits of Scylla, and that is, LET ITALY BE FREE!
What right have strangers to rob you of independence,
that best and choicest blessing of every nation? What right have they to
rule over your beautiful country, and transport its produce to their own
less genial climes? What right have they to make your children subservient
to their ambition, and lead them to death far from the graves of their
ancestors? Have your ramparts, the Alps, been raised in vain by nature?
Are the yet stronger barriers, difference of language, manners, and invincible
antipathy of character, unavailing? No! let all foreign dominion fly from
Italian soil! You were formerly the masters of the world; and you have
expiated this glory by twenty years of oppression. Let your future glory
be to have no masters. All mankind should keep within the limits nature
has directed: seas and inaccessible mountains are your boundaries 末 do
not wish to extend them; but drive off the stranger who has not respected
them, if he does not hasten to return to his own. 80,000 Neapolitans have
put themselves under the command of their king, and have sworn to take
no rest till Italy is free. 末 They have already proved they adhere to
their oaths. 末 Let the other states of Italy second these magnanimous
endeavours; let those who have carried arms resume them; let the youths
learn to handle them; let all noble souls speak liberty to all Italians;
let all the population come out en-masse and in every form! The question
is, shall Italy be free, or shall she breathe the humble language of slavery
for ages yet to come? Let the combat be decisive, and you will insure the
happiness of our beautiful country, which, though bloody and mangled, is
still worthy the admiration of enlightened men of all nations, of people
worthy to be governed by liberal laws, and by princes distinguished for
their grandeur, and who rejoice in your enterprise, and will applaud your
triumph. Even England, that example of constitutional government, that
free people, who glory in fighting for liberty, and lavish their treasure
to obtain this object, will not she applaud your efforts? Italians! you
have been astonished at your useless appeal to us: perhaps you have blamed
our inactivity while we heard your wishes 末 but the time was not come
末 we had not received proofs of the treachery of our enemies; it was just
and necessary to try 末 the fallacious promises of your old rulers when
they returned, and experience has shown what multitudes of evils have quickly
come upon us. I call upon the virtuous and unfortunate citizens of Milan,
Bologna, Turin, Venice, Brescia, Modena, Reggio, and others, to witness
how many warriors and patriots have been torn from their paternal soil!
how many have groaned in their prisons, how many victims of oppression
and unheard-of humiliations. Italians, you must be indemnified for those
miseries! Unite yourselves! Let a government of your choice, a true national
representation, a constitution worthy of the age and you, protect your
liberty and property. But your courage must be the pledge of your independence.
I summon all heroes to fight by my side. I call on all those who have reflected
on the interest of their country, to frame a constitution and laws, which
must, hereafter, govern happy and independent Italy.
Signed, JOACHIM NAPOLEON.
MILLET DE VILLENEUVE,
Chief of the Staff.
Rimini, 30th March, 1815.