The morning call., 1892-07-06
THE PROSPERITY or ITALY.

The ex-Prime Minister of Italy. Sicnor
Crispi, contributes 10 an American periodi-
cal an interesting article on the recent
growth and present condition Of the King
dom Of Italy. 1t is so years since Italy was
united under the house of Savoy, and in that
time the product of cereals has increased 30
per cent. the product Of wine 80 per cent, the
exports of textiles so per cent the foreign
commerce 45 per cent, the deposits in saw
lngs banks 250 per cent. and the population
90 per cent the territory including Venetia,
which it did not include in 1861 So marked
progress reflects credit on the statesmen
who have administered Italian affairs under
the united monarchy.
The trouble with Italy is pecuniary. and
the one cause is the expense incurred annu-
ally Tor the support Of the army and navy,
Gut OF population of thirty millions. Italy
can mobilize million Of men in case of war.
and these men are not like militia. WIN
support themselves in time of peace: they
cost the Italian Government. one wear with
another. over S100000.000 per annum. The
United States. with population OF 63. .0OO. 600
and an area 30 times as large as that Of Italy.
spend something over S50.0CO, 900 for their
army and navy. And the Italian people are
poor while the American people are rich
Signor Crispi expects Italy to grow up TO
this ostentatious extravaganza. But it al
pears to outside observers that it is handi-
Gaping struggling nation rather severely.
The total expenditures of Italy are about
$3.50. 100000 year. while those of the United
States, incnding interest and pensions. are
under $500, 100000, $50, 0OO, 600 being for pen
sions. When these run ont, this country
should manage to get its total annual ex
penditure within $3.50, 100000. Why cannot
Italy do as we'll?
Slgnor Crispi says that Italy cannot dis
pense with Its army and navy so long as its
neighbors are all armed to the teeth and
ready to fly at each others throats. 1t
seems to Americans that if the European
nations cannot agree to disband their arm
les, 10 let bygones be bygones to accept
Things as they are and to devote the ener-
gies OF their peoples to productive pursuits.
they had better fight ii out and be done
with It, AS matters stand all Of them ex-
cept France, which is exceptionally rich.
are bleeding to death, and Italy is bleeding
most copiously of all If the American
people were paying "a per head for the
maintenance of armies and navies against
beligerent neighbors-as the Italians ara
doing-they would probably conclude that
it would be cheaper to force The fighting
and go on to finish But 1t is at least de-
batable question whether italy really keeps
her immense army and navy on foot as a
measure OF self-defense. To outside OBJ
servers ii looks as though ostentation had a
good deal to do with the display of military
force. Nobody wants 10 CONQUER Italy
From the days Of Francis / to those Of Ma
poleon France has been taught by impress
slve lessons at regular intervals that IL is a
fatal mistake TO cross the Alps, and Austria
now admits that her occupation of North
ern Italy was mistake, not on anv account
to be repeated. What other nation is to he
feared?
The progress OF Italy Is always interest
ing to Americans. From the peninsula we
learned the rhdiments of all our arts and
sciences. II was the cradle of our civiliza-
tion. In few weeks we shall all be eele-
bratlng the fourth centenary Of the Italian
discover OF the continent; the literature
which will exude frcm the celebration will
make Us all familiar with Genoa. the Italian
repuoiies ana the grand old days when Italy
ana DOT Britannia ruled the waves We
snail then learn that while Italy Ia still
easily prince In the fne arts it has Of late
established good claims in law, medicine
aud science. and that as there is no CITY in
The world where society is more highly cuI-
tured or Its tone more genial 10 strangers
than the old city of Rome, so there are mo
people with brighter minds or warmer
nearts than the descendants of the mixed
race winch occupied Italy after the fau of
the Roman Empire.