Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-18
Written for The Evening Star.


Il not through with one another yet The des-
perate game that the Marquis di Rudini is play
ing, the hard time he is having to keep in
power and the almost impossible task of pleas
ing the parties of Italy and of keeping people
loaded with grievances in good humor, which
he has undertaken, were all pointed out in TIE
STAR last week. Everything has tended since
then to demonstrate the fact that Di Rudini il
likely to fall at any moment. But whether he
falls or not the Malta episode is certain to oc-
cupy the diplomats Of this country and Of Italy
for some time to come, for the ways of the dip
lomat, and especially of the diplomat Of the
Latin race, are tortuous and indirect, and his
demands must not always be taken too seri-
ously- Investigations, denials proposals,
compromises and other negotiations may ex-
tend over such period of time that the final
settlements may not improbably be made with
III hudlnis successors in office. Who will his
successor be?
oRIsPI WILL HAVE soxzrHrSe TO SAY.
On the continent Of Europe the italian Of the
present day whose reputation IL most wide
spread is not Di Rudini, but his predecessor,
francesca Crispi, and if he is not the next pre-
mier himself he will be pretty sure to have a
great deal to say in naming the next premier.
de is not dead nor is he sleeping, but he has
and very tireless and skillful opponent he is
showing himself to be. Among the Italian poll
tic1ans now in active life he stands pre-eminent,
and as he has had great influence already upon
her In the future. and as his hand may yet ap-
pear In the Misunderstanding between his
country and ours, it is interesting to inquire
something about him.
THE Ex-PREMIERs EARLY CAREER.
Like di Rudini he is q Sicilian, but unlike
the present premier he is not noble, nor does
he come Of the noble class. He was born in
1919 Of Greek family living in Ribera, and he
began life by studying law at Palermo,
although he afterward practicsd his profession
In Naples. The country that he comes from |
is especially the home Of the Italian brigands
and he certainly ought to know something |
about the Malta and similar organizations. lie |
began his political career when q very young |
man by joining with other young Neapolitans |
IN the conspiracies that resulted in the re-
bellion of the two Sicilies against Ferdinand |
l, one OF the most cruel and corrupt tyrants |
that the nineteenth century has produced. !
This was In 1S46-4S, when Crispi was not |
yet thirty years of age, and from that time on |
his career has not been marked by many |
periods OF rest. During this rebellion he |
edited EAposLdtond, revolutionary newspaper. |
He became soon after a deputy in the Sicilian |
parliament and distinguished himself as one |
OF the most outspoken radicals He was soon |
secretary general of war and was the inspiring |
spirit Of Sicilian popular resistance. His OPP
ponents conquered, the Swiss regiments were |
victorious and Crispi took refuge in France
and England. He returned to Italy again in
1889 and again he was at the head of a new
Slcillan rebellion, but this time he was with |
Garlbaldl and BiXio. Landing at Palermo he |
fought by their side as volunteer, but was
soon made a minister and lent all his energies
toward paving the way for the annexation of |
the two Sicilies to the kingdom Of Italy. This
was another step in his course as the Bismarck
of Italy. Again, in addition to his other occu-
pations, he became an editor Of radical news
paper, which he appropriately named II Pre-
curSore
IN THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT.
Great changes soon took place in distracted
Italy, and in 1861 Crispi entered the new Italian
parliament as member for Palermo. His serv-
ices entitled him to the high rank he took from
the very beginning and he sustained his posi-
ton with an imprisoned oratory that appealed
strongly to the italian character He was the
leader of the most advanced and radical wing
Of the opposition In 1865 he started his third
newspaper. La Rfornd. the organ of the op-
position. His watch-cry was reform, admins
tratiye and financial. and increase of personal |
liberty. Earlier in his youth he had been the
friend and political companion of MaZzani, the
but he now abandoned this idea
and accepted the monarchy, deeming it a SYM
owing to his influence that the radical party
became Eeconciled to it.
HIS YEAR OF TRIUMPH
The year 1876 was the year Of Crispis |
triumph. After a remarkably exciting politi-
cal campaign he carried the general elections |
and was made president of the chamber of |
deputies. The following year he entered the
cabinet as minister Of the interior, only to be
forced from power two years later. OF the |
reasons for his retirement there is not much to |
be said. The world is tired of the domestic
scandals OF the public men Of Europe. The
causes that have wrecked Parnell and that
drove Sir Charles Dixie out of England into
India are not dissimilar to those that drove
Crispi out of Office. There a woman in the |
case marriage, or mock marriage-to put |
it briefly, scandal-and for a while the rising
man OF Italy disappeared from the public |
stage. His retirement was not for long how
ever. he soon reappeared and since then his Z
career has been one of almost constant author
ity, although subject to fluctuations in degree
Of power and influence.
HIS FALL FROM POWER.
Two months ago he fell from power, but he
has not retired. The king has offered him
title Of nobility, but this graceful method of
putting WORKOUT statesmen upon the shelf has
been politely declined. Although Crispi is
seventy-two years old there is plenty of fighting
power left in him, and it is only few weeks
since that he threatened one Of his opponents
in the chamber of deputies in anything but a |
mild manner, saying that while he was a minis
ter he had been obliged to put up with insults,
but now that he was simple deputy he carried |
q pistol as an effective answer to those who vii
lifted him.
1t is hard to conceive that . man Of Signor
Crispis experience would have been guilty Of |
such laundering diplomacy as the Marquis di |
Rudini has committed. If he should return TO |
NOV THING hot |