The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-31
POLITICS IN ITALY.
The Liberal Movement and Its
Parliamentary Leaders.
SOCIALISM ON THE INCREASE.
Universal Suffrage Does Not Exist, still
the Elections show That the Arfs-
tocracy IL Losing Ground.

the general election last year and the more
recent supplementary ballots. Democratic
candidates have triumphed everywhere, or
have succumbed beneath few adverse votes
while battling against the whole OF the
conservative forces combined. In the old
chamber the radicals could scarcely mus
ter thirty-five members; now they NUMBER
fully sixty in the new, thus occupying
nearly twice as many seats, in spite OF the
desperate opposition waged by Crispl, VINO,
though once a co-conspirator with MAJ
zini, has grown to be more OF q royaiist
than the king. If the radicals had not
committed faults at the last elections they
might have gained upwards OF hundred
seats, for discomfort was rife against the
government.
may here remark that universal suf-
frage does not exist in Italy. Out OF a
population of 100000 there are only
300, 600 of electors. Italy with universal
suffrage would be able to count 6,OOO,OOo
voters. Only those who pay direct taxes
or who possess certain degree OF instruc-
ton may vote in that country. In order
to become an eiector a workman must sub
NIT to an examination, unless he holds a
certificate from one of the parish schools.
He must prove before public notary that
he has himself drawn up his demand for
inscription on the electoral list. Although
for many years past education has been
compulsory, the number of illiterate IN
dividuals is still very great; they IN
clude nearly 50 per cent. OF the
population. I may instance a typical
fact. Turin, which Is one OF the
most advanced towns in the country,
counts 10000 workingmen. OF these, only
900 enjoy the right to vote. fair estl-
mate may thus be formed OF the intel
lectual requirements of the working
classes in other towns of the peninsula,
especially in the southern provinces, let
alone the country districts, where neither
schools nor schoolmasters are to be found.
The progress of democracy in Italy as
elsewhere, is intimately bound up with
the progress of instruction. The Extreme
Left in the Italian parliament does not
fully represent Italian democracy, which
is much split up and composed OF various
elements, such as Radicals, lntranslgeants,
Republicans, Socialists. 1rredentists, each
and all of whose members aspire to be-
come ministers. Nor has the Extreme
Left any chiefs if it has men of note. The
more distinguished among the members of
the parliamentary democracy are Caval-
lotti, Bavio. Imbriani, Pantano. General
Canzio (Garibaldi's son-ip-law), Luigi Fer
rari, Ettare Farrari, Diiigenti Costa and
others.
The real republicans in Italy belong to
the Mazzini party. They have ever recon-
mended abstention, on account of the po-
litical oath which is administered on en-
tering the house, thus faithfully fulfilling
the injunction of their master, Giuseppe
Nc H. taz4
apostles of popular liberty and of italian
unity. Some, however, at the last cleo
tions modified their views in this respect.
and several of the Mazzini party came for
ward for election, as for example, NJ.
Fratti, young advocate of talent, who for
many years passed condemnation on all
republicans that entered parliament. Most
of those who belong to the Mazzini party,
however, still continue to practice Austen
ton and, like the Catholics, follow the
maxim of Pho Mono: Neither elected nor
elector." The faithful disciples of Mazzini
are convinced that the republicans of
Observation-Disclosures the parliament holds
its assizes-wield no power and are abso-
lutely impotent. In their view republic
cans grow corrupt when in the house and
finally betray the peoples cause.
Most of the socialists are of one mind on
this point with the Mazzini party. There
are only three or four socialists inside the
Italian parliament, among them being VI.
Andrea Costa, an erudite and eloquent
man. 4 member of the Mazzini party said
to me recently: Even as regards repub-
lican propaganda our presence in parlia-
ment can be of no use. The president of
the chamber, who, like all monarchists,
places the interests of the dynasty above
those of the country, would never allow q
republican deputy to demonstrate the su-
periority of arepubiican over monarchial
regime. 1t is alleged that. under the con-
stitutional monarchy in Italy we have
more liberty than France has under the
republic. Such statement is completely
erroneous In the French chambers NJ
Cassagnac, the Bonapartist. is free 10 vim
dictate the empire and assail republican in
stitutions In Italy no member would be
allowed 70 assail either the monarchy or
the triple alliance, which latter is regarded
as sacred and inyiolate as the king.
The Mazzini party were for many years
the bitter foes of the Garibsldians, that is
70 say. of the radicals and republican op-
portunists, who considered absteution in
political elections as fatal 10 democracy.
The religious views of MaZzini, whose
programme Is I'D III THESE MOE0Ss
Dio PopoIo (God and the people,. have
also divided the Italian republican party.
MazZini's heuten3nts, such as Quadrio,
Campanella, Saff, all three now dead.
constantly refused 20 act as deputies. be-
cause il was repugnant 10 their conscience
TO take an oath OF fidelity 10 the monarchy,
knowing that they would be unable to act
up 70 II
Long discussions and fiery polemics have
taken place between the different shades
Of Italian republicans in regard TO this
question. n. BezZi. the valiant Carl
baldian colonel. an Irredeptist from Trent
was returned st the last elections. He
had accepted 20 act as deputy; but, soon
after his election, he rendered his resigna-
ton 10 the president of the chamber, de-
claring that his republican convictions
prevented him taking the oath required by
law. Fifteen years ago, at meeting in
Genoa, | heard the ex-republican, ". de
Forts. formerly under-secretary of state
a. the ministry of the interior, declare
that he could not understand why certain
republicans were so scrupUlous. As the oath
was 3 mere formality, that il had no
sort Of Importance and in no wise engaged
the conscience of those 10 whom IL was ad-
ministered. VI. de Forts, il will appear,
was already shifting around toward con-
sfitutionalism; doubtless, however, he
little then thought he would some day be-
come under-secretary Of state in . cabinet
| formed by VI. Crispi. All the most distin-
! zuished members Of the Italian republican
| party. such as Aurelio SAM, Maurizio
| Quadrio, Alberto Mario, CampaneIIa, etc.
have consistently refused seats in the par