New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-26
FREE ITALY,
HER PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM.


SMALL ATfENDAScE IN aus CHAMBER OF
pvPUlirs.
Irpou A pEGUIAR CORRESPONDENT THE rRIBusE.1
Row. June 2.--There was much 20 be said on
hofh sides of the question, when Italy decided on
Transferring her capital from the banks O the Arno
10 tlosr Of the Tber. On the former OCCASION when
,he change was from the banks of the Pc to those
of the Arno. there had been very littleto be said
about the matter. For, your readers VIII re-
member, italy not then free agent. The ruling
Power in Europe the Emperor Of those days. settled
the matter with his sic rOo nc iabeoi and Italy had
orlv 70 obey comforting herself. az best size might
byrcpeatng TO herself, that Florence was only
stage on the way 20 Rome. But when "the stars in
their courses" had so wonderfully fought
for Italy-that Italy for so Inany ages the
butt for Fortunes sharpest arrows. but now
apparently Fortunes prime pet-tlat il had been
almost forced upon her. half trembling
Ut her good fortune TO take possession OF the Popes
dOminiOns the question whether she should venture
10 Crown the edifee" by making the ropesown
city her capital was thrust upon her for her own de-
cision. She found il very difficult one 10 decide
Her statesmen were very much disposed to let Il
dare not wait upon | would" Yonr readers will
rrohal,lv not have forgotten the Inconvenience
which was occas0ned By the ndiscrcet OF bluudcr-
ING publication on your side VI the wafer of certain
dispatches from your Minister IL the Italian Court
roicsenting the wnyering nature Of the policy and
action Of the Italian Cahnet the time. their want
OF decision and energy, aud the fact that tho move
10 Rome was forced on the Government by the pop
ular clanor rather than adopted by it frOio cain
md s,atesmanhke consideration Of what would be
the wisest conrse to take under the circumstances
Those statements sent TO your Government gave
most accurately truthful representation Of the
state Of the casc. Those dispatches should not
of course, have been published. The Italian Minis
Try OF the day behaved with mach good temper and
good feeling the subject. Bat il was due only
60 she very and. may say, exceptionally high es-
teen aud regard in which the American Minister
he'd been held for so many years IN Italy
that the incident not attended 10y niie-
nor unpieasantncss Hr. MaTsh's account Of the
situation was an entirely faithful and accurate QUE
Popular clamor decided that Rome slonld At once
become the capital Of Italy. Tie ror poppN which
as We all know, is the ror Del. expressed itself rs of
Old by handwriting on the wall; on every
wall indeed on which space could be fOund 20
scrawl. "Romo or Daath~ Whom the death"
was TO overtake. the r0C popEh did not specify. l
will not say that fears on this point drove his Italian
Maiesty's mini tiers 70 the deeisvs and irrevccable
steIof going to Rome. Bnt il is unGuestonabe that
they went !fhor with much misGlving, tire eN2res-
sion Of which may still bo read in that famous Law
OF the Guarantees '-. t.. guarantees Of the Popcs
remain in history the noteworthy evidence of their
anxious fears az 70 the step they taking. and
which is destined in the present aud the more i'm
mediate future 10 he q Of trouble, nom which
eNtrication viii I've very difficult; trouble of which
thc session now drawing to its close has witnessed
warning specimen.
OF al. however, that might have been Sid on
either side OF the question little attention was pad
by the nation to the considerations " ch might
Hftnr Il
little Was paid by the Government TO any save those
which regarded the diiiculties which it appu-
bended would arise from the opposition and wrath
Of he Poie ard the Catholic world. Much else
uiaht have been said and doubts on various points
were jui forth by n few thoughtful men here and
thcrc But one point there was which did not, so
far "a am aware, occur to anybody at that time,
but which is very pcTsistently forced On the ateh-
ton of the nation at present. What grand ana
glorious spectacle. an Italian Parliament sitting at
Ronlei Very much so, ndeedi But il did not seem
20 occur 10 anybody that parliaments have this at
least In common with "spirts," that they may not
"come when YOU do cali 70 them" This move to
Roae--uiay il not have the effect Of rendering par
Eamentary institutions less efficient in ItaiyS In
truth this is what has been found 10 be the ease.
You cannot get honorable nenl'ers "a come to Rome
aud 10 STAY there. Living is very costly at Rome.
A very large number of members are tar
from, being in a position to establish their iai"S
there Aud it must lie remembered that the neces-
sity of moving ones family to some other and prob
ably distant residence during three or four months
of the year renders the expense OF residing there
very exceptionally Onerous for family man Your
readers are aware probably, that the Deputies who
sit IA Monte CitOrio draw salary ar payment from
tie state for their services And yet Italy, under
her present social circumstances is utterly uable 10
supply a sufficient number of persons property quail
flied for the work of legislation without drawing
very largely on the professional classes Neither
the circumstances of the country Dor the practice
of Parliament in Italy lends itself readily as II
the ease. for example in England TO the c0m''na-
ton Of professional with legislative duties. Ia the
first place Rome is not and be the capital
of Italy in the same sense aud 20 TIE same effect
that London is the capital of England and Parts the
eauit:l of France Its sister cities Milan. Turn,
Florence Venice, and Naples, are too much on an
equality with it for this to los possible Ia the sec
ond plaee the habt1de of the Italian Parliament
are such as TO make il difficult for eminent IN
his profession, even in cases IN which that pro
fcson is exercised in Rome to be actively attentive
10 his duties ut the Chamber and az the same
time an industrious worker at his own calling.
That this is possible IN England is due to Tie
English system, which makes the hours OF owls ann
Legislators coincide. Whether az regards Italy the
state Of matters might be ameorated by making the
position Of Deputy paid one. Is great and very
doubtful question. In any case there is no PROBABLE
ity that any such change In the Italian Constitution
should be contemplated for the present. But what
the Constitution docs grant TO Italian Deputies Ii the
right II trav cling free by all the railways and steam
boats IN the kingdom. This is arranged by means of
system of checks. distributed TO every member OF