The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-08
The Election in Italy.


Like ourselves. the Italians are in tho
midst of q general election which will di-
rcrtly and scnsibly affect the future of
Italy Tho main struggle took place last
Sunday and resulted in n decisive victory
for the Ministry. though second elections
will have to be held in seventeen dis
tricts. Tho struggle had to have ono
of two results: either the Italian Kingdom
would continue to maintain her army In
reasonable state OF preparation. or else.
by refusing the appropriations needed Tor
the purpose. she will practically break the
compact which binds her to Germany and
Austria The very essence OF that COM
pact is that her forces shall be modified i'll
ten days: and it is precisely this state OF
readiness which requires an outlay regard
cd ms excessive by large part OK the people
When tho Italian Parliament was dis
solved on Oct. 10, the Cabinet, headed by
Signor GGoLlrTr. put forward n programme
which WAS intended to reconcile fidelity to
international agreements with the largest
possible concessions 10 the popular outciy
for economy. Sgnor GloLrrrI declared
that ltalys connection with the Ir!p'e
Allinncn was an indispensable guarantee OF
Ihdi', bNl iI lilc Sd'lit UNIV Nv "NN'N''
edged ;hat the country WIS in urgent necd
ofrAtensiv" fiscal reforms. He pointed out
that as n matter Of fact. III" military budget.
had already boon cut down from S9l.ooO.ooN,
at which it stood in lSHSS,. 20 Sj!.nGO.VUN.
and he promised tnat the Government
would effect still further reductions.
Nevertheless. lie cuhll not GcAy that at
present there was II prospect of II d"licit OF
S7.41o 90 in lool-3S and Of SlOo1O.0I IN the
ensuing year. lic expressed t!.a hop..
huw"v-.. that hv rc.luc,!;. expenditure or
public works aud other economies he might
be able to bring about an equilibrium. and
It's lie thought might be :nrued into sur
plus by q state monopoly OF petroleum.
Touching the last suggestion. 1t Is suffl-
cirnt to observe that there Is nothing Lee:
in Italy to monnpulize except petroleum.
which could scarcely be expected to yield
considerable revenue.
The truth is that Italy has reached the
NGlit Of taXation. end that the only posi-
hl. wayo OF meeting :he Chronic deficits is
hy a rigorous econpiny either in the n.ili-
tary or il! the civil administrations. This
is virtually acknowledged 10y SigHor GIo-
l.IrTI, who promises to lessen the cost Of
administering the Government on its civil
side. This. II it means anything. signifies
4 sudden and Wholesale dismissal Of use
less officials. Strange to say. however,
sinccurists. who are objects of odium In
England and the United States. are by no
means looked upon with dislavor in Italy.
On the contrary, q Government which re-
fuses to give sinrcurcs TO the cdu-
Gated poor is regarded as mean. and
the Government which dismisses those
who lave got them is denounced a.
heartlesS. The only other field Of possible
economy il the curt ailment OF Government
outlay upon local public works. Dut as the
Italian believes that the State should pay
for all public works. or. ut all events. all
them by grants and guarantees. the stop
page OF disbursements for that purpose
woiI!d provoke IL storm Of Indignation in
every district whose improvements We're
arrested. Nevertheless. the cessation IL
such expenditures was inevitable. and Sig
nor GIuLITTI unilinchinsty committed him
SELF upon the subject.
This programme set forth the views and
but dilny veied the personality OF Siguov
CRIsPI. who is the principal hacker of the
existing Cabinet. Among its other sup
porters are members Of tn" Right. the Cen
tire. and the Left OF the dissolved Chamber.
motley band Of politicians. who agree in
scarcely anything except their desire TO
uphold tn" al!ianc" OF Italy with Germany
and Austria. Opposed TO them is Il party
visibly growing both in Parliament and the
constituency. which. rather than risk II
financial catastrophe. would retire from the
alliance, compromise with France, and de-
vote tho resources of the Government TO
fostering industrial and economical pro-
grr@s. With this party cooperate all the Re-
putiicans. al the Socialists. and all the
Surviving Partc.!nri-ts. or partisans of the
former Italian Governments. The Rcpub-
licAns are oUtspokeu in thri; sympathy for
France. and although this is not true Of
some other sections al the anti-Ministcr!al
party. yet tho practical outcome of their
policy would he Il commercial IL not a
poitira. combination with France.