Why did Count Cavour criticize Giuseppe Mazzini’s revolutionary plots?

Count Cavour, the prime minister of Piedmont, criticized Giuseppe Mazzini’s revolutionary plots because he believed that Italian independence required diplomatic action backed by a regular army and a stable state, rather than isolated republican conspiracies.1

Cavour and the moderate party in Piedmont were committed to achieving orderly progress without revolution. In contrast, Mazzini’s frequent, often failed, insurrections—such as those in Sicily and Naples—were viewed by the Piedmontese government as disruptive and impractical. Cavour famously labeled Mazzini the "chief of the assassins," though this characterization was considered unfair, as Mazzini’s efforts were focused on insurrection rather than targeted assassination.21

Ultimately, Cavour viewed these plots as a threat to the stability and international reputation of Piedmont, which he was carefully cultivating to gain foreign support and demonstrate that the state could govern itself liberally and effectively. He believed that only through state-led organization and strategic alliances could Italy successfully challenge Austrian rule.1