, 1891-02-25
From the Europeon Nail, 4th Feb.


Signor Crispi, the Italian Premier, on Janu-
ary 81, after a crushing defeat in the Cham
Der, placed his resignation in the hands of the
King. The financial policy Of the Govern
ment had been for some time the subject Of
grave discomfort, and the Bill which provoked
such opposition was one submitted by the
Finance Minister, proposing among other
things increased duties on certain imported
articles and the tax on the manufacture of
alcohol. In anticipation Of the debate ON this
Bill, which it was known would meet with
strong opposition, the House was crowded in
every part and all the Ministers were in
their places. Excitement prevailed through
out the whole discussion, and in consequence
OF a disaparaging remark made by Signor
Crispl respecting the Minghetti Cabinet, one
of the members of the Ministry left the
bench amid loud applause. The Premier lost
all seif-control, and continued gesticulating
violently without succeeding in getting a
hearing. Order having been re-establisRed,
Signor Crispi tried to explain, and in vain
made an appeal to the Old Left. At the
division both the groups of Signor Nicotera
and the Extreme Lett voted with the Centre
Party, and the Right against Signor Crispi,
and the result was one OF the most complete
Ministerial defeats ever registered in the
Parliamentary annals Of Italy. His Majesty
subsequently informed the Premier that be.
fore accepting his resignation he must con-
slider the situation.
In Berlin and Paris the defeat Of Signor
Crispi engrosses public interest. Many of
the papers state that the Italian Premier can
only blame himself for his fall, as his method
in dealing with the Parliament was too
Bismarckian. In Berlin it is not, however,
expected that the Triple Alliance will suffer
by the retirement of the Premier. The
Libert6, however, discussing the possibility Of
a reconstruction of the Cabinet, observes that.
whether Signor Crispi does or does not remain
a Minister, he is politically dead, and has
now Joined Bismarck and Tisza. "Italy,'
concludes the journal, having disavowed
Crispi's policy and regained possession of her
self, will now become a most efficient factor
of European tranquility"
The Behring Sea difficulty has advanced
one step further. Mr.. Fuller, Chief Justice
of the United States, announced on February
2 that the Supreme Court had decided to
grant the petition of counsel for Great
Britain for leave to file the application for a
writ of prohibition In the matter of the
seizure Of the Canadian sealer, ". P. SaysoGrd.
A rule to this effect was made returnable on
April Is. This, it should be mentioned,
merely settles the preliminary question Ct the
right to bring the case before the Court, and
the matter now to b. settled is whether the
Court should issue q writ of prohibition.
This must be argued on the merits of the
Behring Sea controversy.
General, Booth, having received his 100,
600 l., has opened the first of his promised
homes for discharged prisoners. His design
is to open homes of this sort as near as posi-
BILE to the gaols, and to find discharged pri-
soners work within the building until they
can be better provided for outside. On the
same day the home was opened the General
signed the much.discussed trust deed of tho
new scheme, in the presence Of many hum
dreds of enthusiastic supporters assembled
in the St. James's Hall. This document. as it
is printed for general circulation, is prefaced
by an opinion Of counsel to the effect that the
General for the time being of the Salvation
Army will be trustee of the funds subscribed
for the Darkest England scheme, and that all
the PROPERTY received in accordance with the
= provisions Of che deed will be distinctly fear
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