Il giornalismo democratico a Brescia: l’esperienza di Giovanni Labus (1797-1799)

Giovanni Labus's journalistic experience (1797-1799) is the only example of political journalism in Brescia territory during the ‘Republican Triennio’ and it allows us to better understand the patriotic mood that characterized Brescia from the foundation of the Repubblica Bresciana (March 1797). Through an analysis of the Brescian periodicals, the author will try to clarify the apparent contradiction of dialectical between “small nation” and “italian nation”. Labus seems to interpret both points of view, though combining them into a clear political project meant to create a republican national State. His aim was to create a Republic ex novo starting with local traditions - that is from the small Brescia State - as to arrive, later, to a full democratization of the Peninsula through a revolutionary uprising which should have been carried out by patriots. Similarly, the difficulties that Labus faced during during his activity - represented especially by the real purposes of the French government - will also be thoroughly considered since, as a consequence, the young Brescian journalist began to reject the situation, to deeply criticize the French authorities and, finally, to lose faith in the possibility to create a new democratic and republican order.