The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-28
BEYOND THE ALrs.

BEYOND THE ALPS.
Italy is very important factor in the
gigantic alliance Germany has formed to
keep in check Russia and France. The
Italian people, united not many years ago,
are anxious to play an important role in
the history of Europe. Defeated by the
Austrians in 1866, they would like to show
their strength again, but this time not as
the foes. but as the allies of Austria. In
the case OF general war Italy would oper-
ate against France. the country which has
done SO much toward the establishment of
Italian unity. Such is the gratitude of
peoples.
Austria held for long time some of the
Italian provinces in bondage, and her in
fuence was omnipotent on the Apennine
peninsula The empire of the Hapsburgs
was cordially detested by the Italians, and
so it is yet by the majority of the people.
But the independent" policy of the gov
eminent has changed all that. and the ene-
mics of yesterday are friends today.
Signor Crispi, a worthy servant of Bis
marck, is now lackey of Caprivi, and the
noble house of Savoya takes its orders
from Berlin and Vienna. The Italian
soldiers are ready to fight kindred race.
the French, and perhaps also the Russians.
with whom they have no quarrel whatso-
ever; but the government is ambitious
and the people would like to be called a
great nation" The finances of Italy are
in a deplorable condition, and her COM
merce depends greatly upon France, but
the policy OF Crispi forced France to retail
ate, and now the banks of Paris are closed
to Italy, and the commerce of the two
countries diminishes every day. The city
of Rome is almost bankrupt, and 20 far are
many other cities in the kingdom, while
the condition of the country people is most
deplorable. Instead of developing the re-
sources of the country the government
builds a navy of the greatest vessels afioat,
and raises an army too large for the re-
sources of the country. and all that to be
called a military nation. for uniform
must rule in Italy as well as in Germany.
Why Italy should be inclined to enter
the European concert of nations it is diff
cult to imagine. The peninsula is divided
from the rest of Europe. and ought to have
q development of its own. The limits of
the Apennine peninsula have been most
distinctly traced by nature, and the Alps,
which bound it from the north, present
themselves like huge wall dividing Italy
from the countries of the north. The
peninsula, like Spain. constitutes q world
of its own, destined by nature to become
the theater of special evolution of hui
manity. and the protecting barrier of the
Alps and sea which bounds Italy have i'm
parted to the country q distinct in
dividuality. For nearly twenty centuries,
from the fall of Carthage to the memoir
l., - vi, Ttolx .l
the center of the civilized world. 1t MAIN
tanned its hegemony either by conquest
and organization, as in the case of the
Eternal City. or by the power of its genius,
the liberties of its institutions. and above
all its sciences. arts. literature and COM
MERGE. This glory has departed now. and
Italy seeks on other fields to recover its
supremacy.
In the middle ages, however, the Italians
did not care to be called Italians and the
country was divided into many republics.
the most prominent among them being
Venice and Genoa. "SiaB,o EencsiaHi poi
C7srisfiaai," used TO say the proud citizens
of Venice, and the other republics used to
say almost the same. Italy was at that
time a geographical expression"
Some of the sons of Italy. carried away
by an exclusive patriotism, would like to
have Italy the first country in the world,
but this dream will never be realized. Not
only is Italy in political matters far behind
other nations, but is even eclipsed by other
lands in industry, commerce, even htera-
ture and science. 1t still remains, how
ever. unrivalIed IN its treasures of art, and
there is no other country in the world
which can boast of an equal number of
cities remarkable on account of their build
ings. statues, paintings and decorations of
every kind. But the fair country
is not satisfied with that, it
would like to become q powerful nation.
alt would be better to become q military
nation than an artistic one" say some of
the most prominent men of Italy. What q
pity, a military nation, after all that Italy
has been before! The bad example of
Prussia has many followers beyond the
Alps--and perhaps in many other coun-
tries. Really, Europe will never be free
till the house of the Hohenzollerns ceases
to be q menace to the people. That ac-
cursed race has done more damage to the
world than ali other reigning families put
together.
Only yesterday met one of the best edu-
Caleu ueIMoA Aif tats City. why, S1l0
he, ..are you writing these bold articles in
the Posr-ISrELLIGgscER directed against
our nation?'' NO, sir,n answered I,
.shese articles are not directed against your
nation. They are directed against your
dynasty. / have respect for the German
nation, but l combat the government !"
"Weil," said the gentleman in question,
'.you are perhaps right, but do you not
think that the German people ought 70 be
ruled by men IN uniform
But let US return to Italy.
II is not to be denied that Italy. since il
has again taken its place among the ma
tons OF Europe, promises great things for
the future, if it could only keep away from
the influence OF Berlin and Vienna. Its
political regeneration has brought 70 the
surface men OF the highest intellect, cour-
age. zeal and public spirit There ere some