The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-09

FINANCE.


ITALIAN FINANCE.
When the italian government entered
the famous dreiburd, it had presumably
good reasons for it's action. For the
sake of alliance, offensive and defensive,
with Germany and Austria, it chose to
incur the ~antagonism Of France. 1t
was true that Italian unity had become
a possibility and an accomplished fact
only through French action, but years
had changed the aspect of things. No
one ever dreamed Of %attributing to Ma
poleon III. other than selfish and dynas-
tic ends in his interference with the at
fairs Of the southern peninsula. But
even if he had been actuated by the
noblest of motives, the French republic
was not the France of Napoleon the lit
tie, and gratitude might be suppressed
after the incident Of Sedan. The house
of Savoy has never entertained q favor
able view of any republic whatever, and
when the French republic took to ag-
gressive action in Tunis and assumed a
domineering attitude on the Mediter-
ranean, the monarchy gave it the cold
shoulder entirely. Republican institu-
tons have always constituted a silent
menace to the dynasty of King Hum
bert. Outside of Piedmont, indeed, the
monarchy's hold is not great, and that
we'll recognized fact, united with the
opposition of the Roman Catholic
church, doubtless threw the King of
Italy and his advisers into the arms of
the kaiser and Franz Joseph.
But the alliance has proved a costly
luxury for Italy and Italian working
men. High prices, low wages, heavy
taxes, have reduced the laboring class
to a state of utter misery, and have
driven them out of the country in tens
of thousands. An army on the German
model, and a feet to rival England's for
the protection of the coast from French
invasion have been among the most cost
" of Italy's little bills. In ten years,
the national expenditure has been from
s2245, 900 to a3350,OOO,O0O. The down
trodden taxpayers of the country have
w IlSCU SllllHSS IAluO law ElSSa ~ biiS
rate of 40 psr cent, and the 100000
surplus of nine years ago has sunk into
the miserable decrepitude of a deficit Of
$~45,O0O,000 in the present year. The
national debt has advanced by leaps and
bounds. In 1880 it stood in round num-
bers at the sum of two thousand and
fourteen millions of dollars. In the
year just past, it has passed that enor-
nous figure by over two hundred mill
ions.
To add to the burdens of the people,
the increase in taxation has been ac-
companied by a steady loss in trade.
France was not slow to pick up the
gauntlet that Italy threw down, and the
war of tariffs has resulted most disas.
t%rously for the monarchy and it's sub
jects. In 1881, Italian exports amount
ed to s22o,O00,00O. Within eight years fol
lowed they have shrunk to S100, 100000,
and that during a period when expan-
sion has been the prevailing rule. The
difference in the sun totals does not
even Their represent the entire loss. The
former trade with France was of a more
profitable nature by far than the inter.
course with Germany and Austria
which has followed it. Italy has ceased
to look for the assistance Of French cap.
ltal. Italian exports are practically
debarred from the harbors of the re-
public. The results that have followed
have been disastrous. Bank failures il
Genoa, and unfinished building blooms
in Rome and other cities, begun under
brighter auspices, are only a few OF the
proofs of the great Italian mistake
The citizens of this country who read.
of immense standing armies and colos
, sal fleets, of oyerburdened Taxpayers
Z, and general wretchedness, may well con
graduate himself that his home is undo
r the shelter of the stars and stripes.