Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-14
TtaIv,a Condition = Lesson.

In view Of the "large advertisement and
small performance" of Italy in the official
correspondence with the United States
and the official action which have resulted
from the recent irregularities IN the adj
ADMINISTRATION OF justice in New Orleans. 1t
Ss not surprising that persons of thrifty
habits have begun to inquire as 70 the
ability OF Italy TO engage in war with the
richest and most powerful nation III the
world. We have seen no other article on
this subject so satisfactory in It's figures as
che one sent out from Baltimore last week
by Messrs. HAMBIEToS Co.. bankers. In
the article they tell US that the debt
of Italy IL at this time, at the lowest
estimate, twenty-four hundred millions
of dollars, or, if the debts of the provincial
governments are included, twenty-six hun
dred millions of dollars. II is also said
that within fifteen years the mortgages
upon Italy's lands have increased TO more
than three hundred and twenty millions,
whilst the value of the land has decreased.
The public expenses of the Italian Govern
ment are said to be largely in excess of the
revenue. Bankruptcies are alarmingly ire
puent.
Amongst the causes of her present de-
plorable condition is the fact that Italy has
been at ruinous expenditure to keep up q
standing army beyond her means and
navy second only to that of Great Britain.
The frog has so sweiled itself up
I'm the effort TO initiate itself to the size
of the bull that it has exploded. The
much-telked-ot iron-clsds which were to
shell New York and other American cities
are among the things which have made
Italy 30 poor that, as we have explained
heretofore, she would never think OF gong
10 war. whatever provocation she
might have, without first consulting tho
great European powers. The grand army
which she was going to mobilize and util-
Ize for the humiliation of UNCLE Sam is
among the causes of her total inability to
resort to the last argument Of kings"
Her Door King cannot do what his position
demands of him. He IS IN condition that
renders him an object of pity rather than
In offensive ruler.
Throughout the discussion of the Italian
question We have maintained, as we have
always done previously, that the United
States Government ought to expend little
or no money in constructing iron-clads or
Ia rearing defences on our seacoast. Our
fayorite illustration has been that there
was no more probability that European
nation would attack us because of our de-
fenceless condition than there was that a
Jiliputian would attack Brobdingnagian
because the latter Ind his hands in his
pockets. The policy of those Congress
men who have taken this view of the ques-
ton has been fully indicated. The very
nation which had received most fame
on account of its army and navy-so
much larger than the world had
expected her TO be able to boast of-has be-
come the victim of an extravaganza for
which she can now find no justification.
Without large army or navy-without
eeacoast defences-the United States
stands as a giant in the eyes Of the world.
With all these things Italy stands as
pigmy in the eyes of the world. Surely
here is lesson for statesmen.