88 EMPLOYMENT OF THE PLEBISCITE [386 



deter these states in their clamors for union with Piedmont. 

 But owing to Napoleon's opposition, these plebiscites did 

 not lead to the desired fusion with Piedmont. 



In glaring contrast to Orsi's optimistic view and King's 

 more critical but still rather apologetic account of the elec- 

 tions and the Assembly votes of 1859, stands the scathing 

 arraignment which Dupanloup"^ gives of the official pressure 

 and coercion under which they were, as he claims, conducted. 

 Speaking of the vote in Tuscany he cites oflficial figures, 

 supplied by M. Galeotti, Secretary of the Constituent As- 

 sembly, showing that "of a population of 1,806,740 souls, 

 only 35.240 electors took part in the vote."-* Dupanloup 

 quotes Lord Normanby to the eflfect that even this vote of 

 35,240 "has been obtained by intimidation, by corruption in 

 all forms," that " these electors up to the last moment knew 

 not the purpose for which they were electing deputies . . . ," 

 that "these deputies did not know wherefore they were 

 convoked and finally were compelled to vote in the name of 

 the nation in a silent meeting, without debate, without ex- 

 planation, the forfeiture of the country. . . ."" 



Dupanloup speaks of the "atrocities committed at Parma, 

 under the eyes of the Sardinian authorities," and offers the 

 testimony of an eye-witness, Mr. Bowyer, an Englishman, 

 to prove that conditions in Romagna were equally as bad 

 as those in Tuscany. In a letter published in the London 

 Times. Bowyer, describing his own experiences, states that 

 " nobody is permitted to read, write, and speak a single 

 word in opposition to the reigning faction and the secret 

 societies. The so-called Parliament of the Romagna does 

 not represent one-sixtieth of the population. The admitted 

 total number of electors is but 18,000, and of this number, 

 force, intimidation and corruption have not been able to 

 drag even one-third to the polling station."-** 



Referring to the charge made at the time by the Vienna 



23 Dupanloup. pp. 377-384. 

 -* Ibid., pp. 379-380. 

 2'' Ibid., p. 380. 

 2" Ibid., pp. 381-382. 



