The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-29

would attack her II she insisted on main
tanning strict neutrality between France
on the one hand and Germany on the other
France certainly would not do 1t. nor could
aggression DO feared from Austria. haunted
as she is by the fear OF q Russian demon
stration In southeastern Europe. Tho first
assertion. therefore, Of the ex-Prime Minis
ter must DO taken with grain OF salt.
On tho other hand, signor CRIsPr
| finds 1t easy to prove that the ltal-
ian army, whether needlessiy large
or not, is not largo compared with the MILL
tary power OF its neighbors. France for
instance. can mobilize in case OF war s,o6o.-
900 men. and Austria 100000. Switzerland.
whose neutrality Is guaranteed by oil Eu-
ropean States, and which has a population
| Of only 100000 souls. can mobilize 2oO.ooo
| men. besides the landsturm. which numbers
200 900 more, and which can be levied when
| ever tho defence OF tho national territory
| demands 1t. Compared with Switzerland
on the score OF population. Italy should be
ablo to mobilize 4.2OO. 900 mon, whereas, as
matter Of fact. only 100000 nre available
for the purpose Then. again. Signor CRIsP1
shows that Italy spends less on her army
per head Of the population than Is expended
in many other European countries. Thus.
even in 1889. tho most burdensomc ycar
the military expenses OF Italy amounted to
only $500 per head Of the population. while
thcy were 81 In Germany, $3.50 for Great
Britain. and S. for France.
But, OF course. 1t is fallacious to compare
tho sum laid out on an army with popula-
ton alone. One must look also ut q coun-
try's wealth. France can spend moro per
head on her armament than Italy. yet not
feel It, because she Is far richer. The really
interesting and effective feature OF Slgnor
CR1spI's article In tho North American Re
ricp Is his demonstration that Italy Is
steadily acquiring wealth. and that even now
her military burden could easily DO borne.
but for the largo amount OF money still
annually required to complete tho means
of intercommunication essential to the
consolidation OF the kingdom. To take the
first point first. we learn that the produc-
ton OF cereals in Italy hos Increased about
80 per cent. since 1862. and that OF wine ~
per cent. The amount Of italian textile
products exported In 1891 was so per cent.
greater than it was four years before.
We may adj that the international COM
mercc OF Italy. which In 1861 had an nggre-
gate value Imports and exports) OF $2sl .OoO.-
600. is now valued ut $400.oO0.OOO Wages
have advanced in proportion to Increased
production. The savings, also. OF the work.
ing people are far larger than they used to
be. Thus the aggregate deposits In savings
banks. which were less than SlOO. OOO,ooo IN
1879, reached $357. 600. 900 in 1889.
These facts certainly bear witness to
notable expansion OF Italy's financial re-
sources. and they lead us to credit Signor
CR1sp1's statement that her present mill
tary burden will not be felt after the facili-
ties for intercommunication have been COM
pleted and have borne their natural fruit in
the stimulation OF industries. From one
point Of view it Is unfair to compare Italy
with her neighbors. and especially with
France. When the greater part OF the pc
ninsula was ostensibly unified under VICTOR
EMANUEL. an immense amount OF money
was required for the construction OF roads.
railways. and telegraphs in order to render
the unity a real one. There were only few
railroads. and they served only for STRAIT
egic purposes. Telegrnphs were confined
to the largo cities: the common roads
were worthy OF tho last century rather
than of this: the ports were inadequate to
the interests OF commerce. In Naples and
Sicily there were no schools. elementary or
secondary. except those maintained by tho
priests All such fundamental requirements
OF civilization had to be supplied by the
State, and the State Is still engaged In this
essential function. How much 1t has nc
complished may be excmpliflcG by two
facts. namely. that the numbe" Of miles OF
railway in Italy Is six times creator than
it was in 1861. and that brigandage after
flourishing for centuries has been almost
rooted out of the kingdom Of Naples.
1t is impossible for those familiar with
tho state OF things In Italy thirty years
ago not to foel n keen sympathy with the
italian Government in its herculean task
of performing in a generation tho civiliznc
work which In other countries has required
Mt least n century. Tho results arc mar
vclous. and no doubt tho future will demon
stratc that they are well worth oil that
they have cost. So much tho more deplorable
does it seem that at a iuncture when every
available dollar Is needed for the unifying
and civilizing OF the country, so large o
fraction OF Italys fiscal receipts should. in
the Judgment OF so well informed patriot
az Signor CRIspI be needed for the main
tenance OF her military force.
Tho talk OF q union between the Prohibl-
ZIONIST party and tho Peoples party Is not
grounded upon information. Tho Prohibition
list leaders are certainly ready for union. but
only upon condition that the Peoples party ac-
cept their platform and candidates. just as tho
Peoples party is ready for union upon con-
dition that tho Prohibtionists accept its pint
form and candidates But that each party Is
wholly opposed to the principles OF the other
has been made manifest. Tho Prohibtlonists
tried to get their chief plank into the Peoples
platform ut the February conference. but heir
representatives were not even granted hear
Ing and their project met with no favor what
ever In the conference. Tho Prohibitionists
had as much chance Of getting their plank into
tho Republican or the Democratic platform as
they will have Of getting 1t into tho platform
that is to he adopted by the Peoples Conven-
tion. while nssuredly there will not be single
plank OF the Peoples party In tho Prohibition
platform.