The Viceroys

by Federico De Roberto

  ‘Fellow citizens!… If kind friends have led you to think that I possess gifts of oratory and brought you all here with promises of hearing a real speech, I am sorry to have to disappoint you …’ The clear, steady, confident voice reached everywhere, faint but distinct, even in the remotest corners. ‘I declare to you, fellow citizens, that I am no orator such is the tumult of impressions, of feelings, of emotions overwhelming me at this moment.’ (Shouts of ‘Good!’, wrote the stenographers.) ‘I feel that never till my very last days shall I cancel the memory of this indescribable moment, of this immense current of sympathy surrounding me, encouraging me, warning me, inflaming my heart, and returning to you as warm and vital and sincere as it flows from your hearts to mine. (Prolonged applause) But this is too small a restitution and not enough to repay my debt; my whole life dedicated to your service would scarcely be enough. (Applause)

  ‘Fellow citizens!… you ask a programme from one requesting the honour of your votes. My programme may lack other merits, but will at least have that of brevity; it can be summed up in three words: Liberty, Progress, Democracy … (Loud and enthusiastic clapping) It makes me almost superstitiously pleased to hear you, free citizens, crown not me but these sacred words with your applause, here among old walls which were once a stronghold of sloth, of privilege, of theological obscurantism … (“Excellent!”, unanimous outburst of loud approval) Here amid these walls, once a den of ignorance, today a beacon vivid with the radiant light of victorious thought! (New outbreak of frantic clapping, the orator’s voice inaudible for some minutes) Fellow citizens, my faith in these great human ideals is not new, does not date from recent days when all make show of them, as gallants vaunt the graces of the lady they desire … (Laughter) protesting that they don’t want her favours … (more laughter) but are satisfied with sighing from afar … (shout of general laughter) My faith dates from the dawn of life, when class prejudices which I knew and do not regret having known, as I am now better able to combat them … (Good!) shut me forcibly here amid these walls.

  ‘Allow me to tell you an anecdote of those far-off times. Those were the days when Garibaldi the Liberator was coursing triumphantly from one end to the other of the feudal Bourbon domains, to make of them a free province of the free Italian Fatherland … (Hurrah! Good!) I was a boy then, and to my inexperienced and ignorant mind Garibaldi’s name sounded like that of a formidable warrior who knew no other law but the harsh, violent one of war. Then one day came a rumour. Garibaldi was at our city gates; the Benedictine monks were making ready to entertain him … being unable to subdue him and his red devils … (Laughter) And I was almost afraid of looking at that thunderbolt of war, lest by his glance alone he might burn me up. Then one day my companions pointed out to me the Hero of Two Worlds. And I saw that blond Archangel of liberty intent on … d’you know what? On tending roses in our garden! From that day came the revelation of that vast and generous heart in which leonine strength was coupled with gentle sweetness … (Crashing applause) of that man who, after conquering a kingdom, had, like Cincinnatus, to fall back on cultivating the sacred rock where today hovers the magnanimous spirit of him who was rightly called the “Knight of Humanity” …’

  Stenographers stopped writing, such a hurricane of applause and shouts burst out. Shrieks of: ‘Hurrah for Francalanza!… Hurrah for Garibaldi!… Hurrah for our Deputy!…’ In the universal clamour the prince’s words were lost and all that could be seen was his mouth opening and shutting as if he were chewing, and his arm swirling to finish his anecdote, which was about his mistaking Menotti Garibaldi and the father, the substitution of himself for his dead cousin … ‘Silence! He’s still talking … Hurrah for Garibaldi … Hurrah for the young prince …’ Pulling his own handkerchief out of his pocket he began waving it and shouting ‘Hurrah for Garibaldi! Hurrah for the Hero of Two Worlds …’ Then, as he waited for silence, he mopped the drops of sweat on his brow.

  ‘Fellow citizens,’ he went on when calm was restored, ‘I am young in years and life can teach me many things, show me the fallacy of many others, and give me the experience and mature good sense which I may not yet have. But whatever may be the experiences and trials which the future holds in store for me one thing I can affirm from this moment, sure that no passing of years or varying of fortune could ever change it: my faith in democracy … (Outburst of enthusiastic applause) This faith is dear to me as a banner won in battle is dear to a leader … (Outburst of clapping) A mountain-dweller who spends all his days amid mountain peaks may find the grandiose spectacle says little or nothing to him; but a climber from the plain who has gradually conquered the sublime and arduous peak finds his heart swell with joy and just pride as he contemplates the horizon he has earned. (General and prolonged ovation)

  ‘Citizens! I do not wish to disturb the solemnity of this occasion by mentioning the petty competitions of small minds, but you know that an accusation was launched against me; you know that I was called … aristocratic …’ The stenographers did not know whether to note down deep impression, or silence, or general stir; but already the orator was sweeping on. ‘This accusation is founded on my birth. I am not responsible for my birth … (No! No!) nor you for yours, nor others for theirs, considering that when we come into the world our opinion is not asked … (Loud laughter) I am responsible for my own life. And my life has all been spent on a task of redemption; redemption from social and political prejudice, moral and intellectual redemption. And this nothing has stopped; neither easy living, nor derision, nor harmful suspicion, nor, more serious to my heart, opposition on my own family hearth … (Good! Bravo! Applause) You see that this is a faith I can no longer renounce. It is the dearer and more precious to me the more it costs me …’ (Outbursts of loud and prolonged clapping. Shouts of ‘Hurrah for Francalanza’ … ‘Hurrah for democracy’ … ‘Hurrah for liberty’ … Orator forced to silence for some minutes)

  Pleasure, admiration was general, among friends who saw his triumph assured, adversaries who recognised his ability, even ordinary folk who understood nothing but exclaimed, ‘What a lawyer he is! There’s no lawyer can talk like that!’, while ladies enjoyed themselves animatedly, as at a theatre, exchanging observations on the prince’s artistry and his looks as if he were a leading actor playing a role.

  ‘But you, fellow citizens,’ he went on, ‘may consider that if this faith involves a programme, it is proper for a legislator to trace a clear line on all questions affecting politics, public administration, economics and so on. Allow me then to tell you my ideas about those things. Now that the old political parties have dissolved, the new ones are not yet defined. I look forward to their formation, and will follow the fate of that party which gives liberty with order at home and peace with honour abroad (Excellent! Applause), of that party which will carry out all legitimate reforms, while preserving all traditions (Bravo! Good!), of that party which will restrict useless outlays and expand productive ones (lively applause), of that party which will not try to fill the coffers of the State by emptying the pockets of private citizens (general laughter, applause), of that party which will protect the Church as a spiritual power, and control it as an element of civil discord (approval), of that party, in fact, which will ensure in the fairest way, by the directest route, in the shortest time, the prosperity, greatness and strength of our great common homeland.’ (General applause)

  Actually the applause was not general at this passage, in fact a cough or two from a corner made many heads turn.

  ‘You may say to me,’ went on the orator, ‘that this programme is too vast and too eclectic, as, according to a proverb, one can’t have a full barrel of wine and a drunken wife. (Laughter) A full barrel would be useless riches if one could not touch the liquor inside, and it might just as well contain water or any other fluid. But as for a drunken wife, that would be almost too good to be true; I appeal to all husbands. (Outburst of very loud laughter, lively and repeated clapping) From a barrel one should draw just enough wine to quench the t
hirst and raise the spirits. The French say, “Si jeunesse savait! Si vieillesse pouvait!” That which is impossible in the life of one man is not only possible but necessary in the collective life of a people. The legislator should possess the audacity of youth, coupled with the wisdom of old age. The law should keep count of all interests, all beliefs, all aspirations so as to fuse and harmonise them. It must be regulated by experience of the past, but one cannot and should not clip the wings of the future! (Ovation) So how enviable and envied are our institutions, which by careful balance between Parliament and executive power, allow the ideal harmony to draw nearer. But, like all human things, such institutions are not perfect, though perfectable, and to this work of continual improvement I will dedicate all my strength, devoid as I am of either fear or fetishes. The Constitution can and should be improved. That necessity is realised by all, from the people claiming its complete Sovereignty, to the King who recognises his as coming from the people. (Approval) Luckily today in Italy people and King are all one (applause) and the democratic monarchy of the House of Savoy is a legal expression of the democratic-monarchist sentiments of all Italians. (Excellent!) While loyal Princes and upright Kings sit on the throne, disagreement will be impossible, fortune secure! (Outburst of prolonged applause, shouts of “Long live the King! Hurrah for Italy!” … Voice of orator swamped by clapping) But the tutelage of popular sovereignty and the well-being of workers should be the legislator’s principal aim, and this will be impossible to achieve unless the rightful, the direct representatives of the people sit in the Chamber. May I therefore express my hopes for the election of many working-class candidates? Many are opposed to such candidates, quoting the English proverb about “The right man in the right place”. But they forget that this quotation is a two-edged sword, that when Parliament occupies itself with working-class matters, “the right men in the right place” will be the working-class citizens themselves! (Good! Bravo!) Once upon a time a wig-maker set up as critic, and the celebrated Voltaire, annoyed at his presumption, said to him, “Mastro Andrea, go and make wigs” (Laughter) But if wig-making had been under discussion and Voltaire had tried to air his opinion, Mastro Andrea could have given the famous poet the answer, “Monsieur Voltaire, go and make tragedies!” (Loud laughter, prolonged applause) Fellow citizens, the social question, let us frankly admit, is more urgent at this moment than any other. Is it new? No, indeed not. Let us just glance over its history …’

  ‘Now we’re for it!’ muttered his adversaries the students here and there. But angry voices shouted, ‘Silence!’ while the orator, beginning with Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, galloped through Babylonia, Egypt, Greece and Rome, skipped over the Middle Ages, plunged into the French Revolution, halted at Prince Bismarck and academic socialism. The public’s attention was beginning to wane, yet many made an effort to follow this wild race of his. ‘Is the State therefore to be the incarnation of Divine Providence? (Laughter) No, what the State cannot achieve must be supplied by individual initiative; hence trade unions, scrutineers, co-operatives, liberty to strike. Does this solve the social question then? No, it takes more than that!’

  Some of the ladies were yawning behind their fans, people who dined at one were creeping away. But eventually, declaring that social problems ‘are Gordian knots which no sword can cut, but which loving study and industrious patience can unravel’ the orator passed to foreign policy. ‘The state of Europe, it would be vain to hide, is still influenced by the Holy Alliance.’ The unity of Germany should please Italians, but maybe pan-Slavism was a phenomenon not devoid of danger. ‘I believe that Prince Metternich was merely guessing when he said … Yet it did not escape the acute eye of Count Cavour … And certainly the concept of the famous Pitt …’ Past filed every statesman, past and present, in were dragged Machiavelli, Gladstone, Campanula, Macaulay, Francis Bacon. The orator asked himself, ‘What is England’s historic mission?… And if Spain hears the call of blood?…’ All this on the betrayal of Tunis! ‘No, it was not the France of Magenta and Solferino; it was the France of Brenno and Charles VIII …’ The audience stirred a little; the stenographers noted ‘Loud applause’. But racial antagonisms would be made up one day; then would rise the United States of Europe. ‘As Camillo Benso di Cavour once so aptly said, “Peace must be sought in trusty alliances and strong battalions.” (Good!) There is a great argument nowadays between the supporters of big and those of small warships; I consider both to be necessary for modern naval warfare. Caius Duilius destroyed the Carthaginian fleet by turning a naval battle into an infantry battle at sea. (Bravo! Applause) So one not too distant day, when we have our natural frontiers again (lively applause), and joined in one group the peoples who speak the tongue of Dante (outburst of applause), established our colonies in Africa and maybe in Oceania too (Good!) we will rebuild the Roman Empire!’ (Ovation)

  He then passed straight on to matters of finance.

  ‘Here be sighs, wails and woes!…’ (Laughter) But the woes were not impossible of solution. ‘Now let us not compare ourselves, from patriotism, to the United States of America …’ First of all the tributary system must be reformed. ‘As Paul Leroy Beaulieu says … according to the famous Smith’s opinion …’ Quotations and figures came crowding on each other’s heels. Few were now following him in these elucubrations, more were leaving, ladies yawned openly. ‘Now let us pass to commercial treaties … Let us consider Agrarian Committees …’ At every announcement of a new subject, little groups of bored spectators drifted away. ‘A fine speech but too long …’ Those leaving forced crowds to draw aside, the faithful hissed ‘Silence!’, and Baldassarre was in tortures at seeing the public’s bad manners. ‘Administration of justice … Justice in administration. Decentralise by centralising, centralise by decentralising’ … As for the Merchant Navy, the system of prizes was not devoid of anomalies. Then came ‘postal and telegraphic reform, legislation on telephones; nor must we forget the hydra of bureaucracy …’

  Now big empty spaces were to be seen in the arena and under the arcades, particularly on the terraces where the sun was roasting people’s heads. ‘This isn’t an electoral programme, it’s a ministerial pronouncement …’ muttered some to each other. The audience was crushed by weight of erudition, by monotonous use of names; the over-bright light, the silence of the monastery was hypnotising; the Chairman slowly lowered his head, overcome by drowsiness, but at an outbreak of the candidate’s voice he would raise it quickly and look around in bewilderment; musicians yawned, famished. Every now and again Baldassarre gave a signal for applause and encouraged the faithful, who were also dejected and overwhelmed; he was desperate at seeing all the orator’s fine remarks pass unobserved. The latter had been talking for an hour and a half, he was all of a sweat, his voice hoarse, his right arm numb with continual gesticulating, and refusing to do its duty. Still he went on, determined to see it through in spite of his own and the public’s exhaustion, as he wanted it said that he had talked for two hours together. At one moment chairs overturned by people escaping made a great noise. All turned, fearing an incident, a quarrel; for a moment the orator was forced to stop. When he started talking again his voice came raucous and faint from his gullet; he was near collapse, but had reached his peroration.

  ‘These and others are the reforms I long to see: but I must not abuse your patience.’ Sighs of relief from oppressed breasts. ‘Fellow citizens! If you send me to the Chamber, I will dedicate the whole of myself to carrying out this programme. (Fine! Bravo!) I do not presume myself infallible, for I am neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son (laughter), but I will gladly accept, in fact I beg my fellow citizens to put forward, whatever ideas, suggestions, proposals they may think right and useful. (Excellent) Let our motto be: Fiat Lux! (Applause) The light of science, of civilisation, of constant progress. (Outburst of applause) May the thought of our homeland be at the very core of our hearts. (Approval) Our homeland is this Italy which Dante divined, and which our fathers gave us at the cost of their blood!
(Lively applause) Our homeland is also this island blessed by the sun, where was born the dolce stil nuovo and whence have sprung so many glorious initiatives. Our homeland, finally, is this dear and lovely city of ours where we all form, as it were, one single family. (Acclamation) It is said that Deputies represent the nation and not single constituencies; but what are national interests but the sum of local interests? (Excellent! Applause) And so when turning my mind to the study of the larger questions of general politics, I promise to bear as close to my heart as if they were my own matters that regard Sicily in particular, this constituency, my native town, and each one of my fellow citizens. (Great acclamation) In gratitude for listening to me so indulgently, may I end by inviting you all to give three ringing cheers for Italy! (Outburst of applause, shouts of “Hurrah for Italy!”) Long live the King. (General loud clapping) Hurrah for Liberty!’ (Whole public stands up to applaud and acclaim, handkerchiefs waved, shouts of ‘Long live Francalanza! Hurrah for our Deputy!’ Chairman embraces orator. General emotion, indescribable enthusiasm)

  Consalvo was at the end of his tether, exhausted, overwhelmed, drained by his histrionic efforts. He had been speaking for two hours. For two hours he had made the public laugh like a comedian, moved them like a tragic actor, yelled like a charlatan selling pomade. And as the ‘Royal March’, played on Baldassarre’s orders, spurred public enthusiasm, the group of jeering students asked each other: