Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-12
IrALYs FALLEN PREMIER. ,
signor Crispi Almost ms Despotic as Isis-
mnrck--What Is Said of Him.

blgnor Crispi Almost ms DespOtic rs Iiis-
mnrck-What Is Said of Him.
Francisco Crispi, the fallen premiere Of
Italy, was formerly minister Of the in
terror in the Depretis cabinet aud be-
came, on the death of Depretis, in 1885,
minister for foreign affairs and presi-
dent of the council He was born in
Ribera, Sicily, October 4th, 1919, and
having received legal education was
called to the Neapolitan bar. lie was
among the earliest to have aspirations
FOR Italian unity and engaged in the
revolutionary movement of 1S4S, when
the kingdom of The two Sicilies was
cVerthrown, Being concerned in the
Instruction of Palermo he was com
PEELED to fly to France, but subsequently
returned To Palermo, with Galibaldi,
and distinguished himself by his courage
and ability. In 1861 Signor Crispi was
elected TO the first Italian parliament
from Palermo and was recognized as the
leader of the constitutional party. AT
Che elections in 1876 he was chosen
deputy for several places and chose to
represent Bari. He was at once elected
president Of the chamber Of deputies.
When Bepretis formed his ministry in
1881 Crispi entered il as minister of the
interior.
In recent number of the Leisure
Hour there is a sketch of Sig. Crispi,
written by some one who has evidently
studied closely the remarkable man who
holds the destiny of Italy in the hollow
OF his hands. The following passages
give fair sample of the spirit and style
Of this character sketch
"3lunt and rough to degree unusual
In an Italian, he likes to make brusque
sallies and striking coups. He is gifted
with a strong will, audacity and, what
10 sometimes a strength in politics, un-
limited self-coniidence. Absolute, irasci-
bic, intolerant of opposition, even adj
vanced age has not yet softened the fire
of his character.
"What is likely to prove the cause of
Crispis ruin and his fall is that of late
he has grown TO be overbearing to a
degree that is even alternating his best
friends. This curious man, mixture
of audacity and weakness, who has van
pushed by sheer force of arrogance,and
who by arrogance may overturn him
self, who speaks confidently of the
things which he will do 10, 20 years
hence, as though nothing could remove
him from oflice--not even death--this
man adores his Italian fatherland but,
btldlSt llt htHIllSto iui
30,000,000 of Italians of whom that
fatherand is composed. When any one
darcs to criticise his actions, be it in
print or in speech, private or public, he
ut once becomes furious with anger,
"tor the present he still holds the
reins of government pretty tightly in
his hands, and this because the Italian
political parties are too divided and
subdivided among themselves TO settle
upon common policy and a common
leader of opposition. While discomfort
with his policy is murmured more or
less loudly throughout the peninsula
Crispi is absolute dictator in the cham
Der. And yet listen to the judgment of
the deputies upon him. To the Liberals,
be they Of the right or left, he seems an
autocrat of the purest metal. The
Democrats consider him a courtier, the
Conservatives demagogue to the Free
masons he seems god; to the Catholics
he is an antichrist. The extreme left
would have him more French the his
torical left would have him less Aus
tralian. He is praised, blamed, tlattered
by all sections. Each and all of these
adversaries are animated by the common
desire of persuading themselves that
Francisco Crispi is one of their party
and thinks exactly as they do. 1t is
the firm attitude on the part of Crispi
against Vaticanism which causes him
to hold his place, as much as the lack
of worthy successor, for all patriotic
Italians recognize that they cannot
present II too firm front TO the vatican.
"rherefore when Crispi is weighed in
the balance and judged, ii is admitted
that such as he is, with his faults and
ta 10 e l., IN, a nd a ci
cere patriot. Certainly there is to-day but
one minister in Italy, and that is Fran
cisco Crspi; his colleagues are simply
secretaries. A veritable dictatorship is
his government, which he has modelled
upon Prince Bismarck, who is his idol.
Like his prototype, when his govern
ment is defeated, the ministry resign, a
shuttle of the cards takes place, and Il
new cabinet is formed with Crispi at its
head"
In connection with the foregoing, the
following, taken from London Truth, is
of interest;
cat the recent royal ball given in
Rome by Lord and Lady Dufferin,
Signor Crispi appeared to be in high
feather. His only child, the Signorna
Giuseppina, was making her debut in
the great world that evening, having
been presented to Queen Margaret by
her mother day or two before, and
that alone would account for the great
mans humor, for he simply adores the
young girl, and, it is confidently as
serted, would not get out of temper
even ut ministerial council if She
could be present.
at is odd that man who is daily so
merclessly lampooned in the opposition
papers should mind one carcature more
or less, but hear that carnival
masquerade car in which constellation
was to be represented-Crispi as the
sun, and all the ministers revolving
round him-has been suppressed by
authority 1t is a pity. The idea Of
the. revolving ministers was funny, and
fun is exactly what is wanting in the
present vain attempt to galvanize The
Roman carnival back to life"
A Typical American Mechanic.
Editorial in Philadelphia Ledger.