brother states of Rhode Island are nearly as guilty with their neutrality.
He who attempts to overthrow a popular, good law, must suffer the penalty
he deserves: but, how can we expect to be civilized, if the honest cannot
dare to kill the hydra, I mean a bad law, after having applied in vain for
redress? Such a bad republic would take from my mind all the lofty
sentiments, and feeling I always hail for republicanism. A republic acting
despotism, it is the worst of all governments. The despot acting devilish
acts, calls himself a devil: and in doing, and saying so he is, at least,
no hypocrite. A nation who calls herself the kind mother the poor, and of
the plurality's rights, and oppresses, at the same time the poor, and the
plurality; such a nation, ranks with the present government of Russia, the
most tyrannical of the present Europe. Can we call ourselves republicans
in the United States of America, while a martyr of freedom rots in prison
like the Spielberg prisoners of my dear, and unfortunate country? And my
friends, and fellow-laborers of my profession in New York, Mr. Foresti,
and Mr. Maroncelli can tell you _di che lagrime grondi, e di che sangue_
the republican patriot.

CHAPTER VIII.

RELIGION.

The love of ourselves is so firmly implanted in our heart, for which every
honest being turns its eyes from death with disgust: and were it not
mitigated with the idea of immortality, the man who coolly meditates on
the loss of life, were it united with the utter annihilation of his soul,
death would be too painful. Hence, we have not yet found any nation, which
did not hope for a life to come; where the good, will receive the reward
he cannot receive upon this land so badly governed.

Nothing is more sublime than the poetry of divine religion. When false
love, false friends have wounded the heart, born for company, and love, it
is satisfactory, it is pleasing to think that the Being of purity, love,
and wisdom, is there in heaven to accept the rich, refreshing perfumes of
our virtuous life. Could it be understood as it should be, religion is a
branch of literature, which nobilitates man. The intolerant, the
narrow-minded, the superstitious, the hypocrite, the interested, and the
ignorant, have done such a mischief to religion, that many an honest man,
who were the most sanguine champions of religion, they turned from her
with disgust. Still, such is the human propensity towards religion, and
the immortal