Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-18
The Condition fIialy.

The attempt to aSSaSSinate King Humbert, re-
ported by telegraph, was probably not dictated
by the secret societies. but is an expression of
the general discomfort prevailing among the
labOring people of that country over their I'M
fortunate condition. Recent visitors To Italy
note general feeling OF disbursement in bus.
mess and other circles. This state of things
there has not attracted so much attention
throughout the world as the business depreS-
sion in Germany. England, and the United
States, where such matters are discussed much
more freely in the papers than they are III
Italy, but no one can stop many days in an
italian City without learning thai the people are
'-blUcH as wen as the lakes and skies. All the
leading cities OF Itaiy-FlOTence. Rome. Venice.
Naples, and the rest are bankrupt. and the StlS-
pension OF public works and improvements in
consequence has added a large element to
the alIcady large number OF unemployed
and di-C9GteEted. Florence. with her Ove~-
Whclminr debt. increased largely ~ her extern
Siye public improvements entered upon when
she expected 10 DC the permanent capital o.
United Italy. t, now so dcplOTa5iv poor that it
has been seriously proposed to sell enc of her
two peerless picture galleries., to relieve the
city OF the debt and taxation that is crushing
the life ont OF it, an alternate proposition is to
Establish a government gambling casino there
on a large scale to attract the wealthy people
who have an itch for gambling from all quarters
of the world. Another project OF the Florcntnes
to get their heads above water IS to obtain q
government indemnity OF ninety million Ira
fibOut SicDd0.e30> for the money expended TO
make Florence capital city, before tie seat OF
government was removed to Rome. But the
rest of Italy Is so poor that there is a DISPOSE
ton TO shirk the sharing Of thls burden with
Florence. When YOU YOU get 10 Venice there is
IA m mol I'M
heavy debt. and crushing taxation. At Rome
there Is the same story, notwithstanding
1t TedpS whatever advantage there IS in
being the capital City. Al Naples is
fund frightfuI host OF berrars.
unemployed people, OF people who earn scarce
enough TO keep the breath OF life in them. and
who do not earn enough 10 buy RAGS sufficient
To cover their Hakednc5s. Naples. Ike Flor
GnCe has been casting about for remedies for
the dull times. and il had counted largely on
the quCkening Of business that was Ia follow
from the present royal visit there ana the at
tendant festivities and influx Of people II is
Therefore quite likely that the telegram is &C.
curate in saying that there was great indigna-
ton IN Naples N the attempt to aSS.lSSinate the
King there; though the Victor Emanuel family
has never been quite popular III that city where
the BourboiS had a pretty strong hold from
long residence and the expenditure OF a good
deal OF money in the city and neighDorhood
There does not seem to he any particular rea-
so why King HumbeTt should be struck At in
this way. In fact, he appears 10 nave been
gaining something of a reputation for prll-
dence and disposition to reduce expenses and
relieve the public burdens. He is
Il reserved disposition and an unpleas-
ant temper, strongly contrasted to the
open genial nature OF his father: but, On
10 has pf tI,a
travagances OF Victor Emanuel that depleted
the public purse so heavily. He has dispersed
with many OF the expensive Injuries INDUCED
in by his father, including the extensive hunt
Ing stables, and In various ways gives promise
OF making wise and prudent ruler.