Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter I Political opinions in Sicily: April–June 1860
- Chapter II Cavour and the diplomats: April–June
- Chapter III La Farina and Crispi: June
- Chapter IV Arguments for and against annexation
- Chapter V Arguments over ways and means
- Chapter VI Crispi loses the first round: June
- Chapter VII Cavour loses the second round: July
- Chapter VIII Cavour adjusts his policy: July
- Chapter IX Depretis begins his prodictatorship: July
- Chapter X Cavour plans a revolt at Naples: July
- Chapter XI Cavour fails at Naples: August
- Chapter XII Political differences in Sicily: August
- Chapter XIII Cavour forces Depretis to a choice: 1–8 September
- Chapter XIV Depretis fails to persuade Garibaldi: 8–14 September
- Chapter XV Garibaldi succeeds at Naples: 1–15 September
- Chapter XVI Cavour breaks with Garibaldi: September
- Chapter XVII The radicals at bay: September
- Chapter XVIII Mordini the new prodictator: 17–25 September
- Chapter XIX Further controversy over annexation: September–October
- Chapter XX Mordini summons an assembly: 5 October
- Chapter XXI Pallavicino fights for a plebiscite: 8 October
- Chapter XXII Parliament supports Cavour: October
- Chapter XXIII Mordini changes his mind: 9–13 October
- Chapter XXIV Garibaldi makes his decision: 9–13 October
- Chapter XXV The plebiscite in Sicily: October
- Chapter XXVI The doubtful significance of the vote: October–November
- Chapter XXVII Cavour's government in the south: November–December
- Chapter XXVIII Conclusion
- Index
Chapter XVII - The radicals at bay: September
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter I Political opinions in Sicily: April–June 1860
- Chapter II Cavour and the diplomats: April–June
- Chapter III La Farina and Crispi: June
- Chapter IV Arguments for and against annexation
- Chapter V Arguments over ways and means
- Chapter VI Crispi loses the first round: June
- Chapter VII Cavour loses the second round: July
- Chapter VIII Cavour adjusts his policy: July
- Chapter IX Depretis begins his prodictatorship: July
- Chapter X Cavour plans a revolt at Naples: July
- Chapter XI Cavour fails at Naples: August
- Chapter XII Political differences in Sicily: August
- Chapter XIII Cavour forces Depretis to a choice: 1–8 September
- Chapter XIV Depretis fails to persuade Garibaldi: 8–14 September
- Chapter XV Garibaldi succeeds at Naples: 1–15 September
- Chapter XVI Cavour breaks with Garibaldi: September
- Chapter XVII The radicals at bay: September
- Chapter XVIII Mordini the new prodictator: 17–25 September
- Chapter XIX Further controversy over annexation: September–October
- Chapter XX Mordini summons an assembly: 5 October
- Chapter XXI Pallavicino fights for a plebiscite: 8 October
- Chapter XXII Parliament supports Cavour: October
- Chapter XXIII Mordini changes his mind: 9–13 October
- Chapter XXIV Garibaldi makes his decision: 9–13 October
- Chapter XXV The plebiscite in Sicily: October
- Chapter XXVI The doubtful significance of the vote: October–November
- Chapter XXVII Cavour's government in the south: November–December
- Chapter XXVIII Conclusion
- Index
Summary
In this rapid development of the political conflict the views of the government were clear enough. The manifold views of the opposition leaders, however, were probably not clear even to themselves. Events were moving too fast for them. And not only were their ideas confused, but also, in consequence, even the rough strength of the various forces ranged against the government was—and still is—hard to assay. For there were too many separate groups in opposition, and their respective followings are too shadowy for proper analysis. It is not even easy to be sure whether or no they were a real danger; nor whether Cavour's expressions of fear and horror over the ‘party of action’ represent his conviction or were simply a pretext. We know that he was going to defeat the opposition from the Left, as in a previous critical phase of Piedmontese history he had defeated the opposition from the Right. But one must not postulate the result before tracing the process. Nor must one automatically take his own valuation of the politics of the revolutionary party. For he tended to underestimate their sense and their loyalty and readiness to compromise, as sometimes he overestimated alike their wickedness, their folly, and their internal cohesion.
If his opponents lost, it was not just because individually they lacked his great skill. They were also quite hopelessly divided among themselves. It was a fact that the strongest among them were not the dangerous extremists he imagined.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Cavour and Garibaldi 1860A Study in Political Conflict, pp. 240 - 260Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1985