The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-29
THE ITALIAN QUESTION.
K,sr uamsert and the r..ee OF Euro

alone, but Europe In general. service for
which 1t is not In the least likely that anybody
will be intelligonuy grateful to hin. That,
hoTevcr, is matter OF course. merely to he
mentioned and not dwelt upon. For woeks
J past and especially since the long. current
rumors OF tho visit to be paid BY tho Russian
fleet to the French at tho great Mediterrnn can
naval station Of Touon. crystaiged into
ccrtninty. the air has bcen thick over
Berlin. Paris and homo with wars and
rumo:s OF wars imminont and i!npend-
Ing between tho two most powerful ma
tons OF the Latin race. From the tone OF
even the most respectable newspapers in
france. 1t might almost have boon inferred
that the assertion by Russia OF her right to
Keep squadron II she pleases in the Medl-
terranean. was regarded by the Italian Gov
eminent and people as such direct IN enace
II not to the independence OF Italy. at least to
the Importance OF Italy as a Mediterran can
power that 1t ought to be met by declara-
ton OF war. not against Russia. but against
France. as being tho wicked ally by whom
Russia had been invited and inveigled into
this step.
or course. 1t would be difficult to point out
any reason why Russia should be denied the
right to keep naval force in the Mediterra-
mean. which would not equally apply to the
| United States OF America. And 1t would not be-
| easy to show why Russia should have any
| more interest than the United States In di-
minshing the Importance or threatening the
Independence Of Italy. As q matter Of fact
neither the Government nor the people of Italy
have ever shown any feeling Of hostility to
Russia On the contrary. one OF the weak
points OF the existing Triple Alliance. so far
as public opinion in Italy 10 concerned. has
always been the fact. which cannot be 1ues-
toned. that the Triple Alliance involves some
| thing like an unfriendly attitude toward Rus
| STA for the benefit Of Austria. The Italians
have accepted Austria as an ally at the
instiGation Of Germany. but they do not
love Austria. and very great proportion
probably majority OF tho public men as we'll
as OF the people OF Irly-regard con-
hict at some future day between Italy and
Austria. for the redemption" OF the Italian
provinces Of Austria. as q thing inevitable and
even to be desired. II such n conflict ever
comes OIL. Russia must OF course. DO regarded
with cordially by the Italians. and the SYM
pathes OF Russia be sought by them.
Why. then. should Italy be thrown into fer
ment OF indignation by tho appearance of q |
RUSSIAN fleet ut Touon2 No conceivable ex-
cuse for assuming this to be the fact has
been given at any time either by the |
diplomacy or by the press OF Italy. All the |
excitement In France over the subject was |
really of French. and not OF Italian origin. |
Inc Triple Alliance. Of which Italy Is q |
member. Is regarded. not unreasonably. In |
FRANCO as standing menace to the French |
republic and solid guarantee OF the reten-
ton by Germany Of Alsace and Lorraine To
counterbalance theTrpe Alliance by Franco
Russian alliance has therefore been for years
the dream and the desire OF the French. 1t
was to further this desire and make a reality
OF this dream that tho French Geet a couple OF
years ago. was sent to visit Cronstadt. 1t was
with the mOtyas that tha |
last year OF Russian Grand Duke at Nancy
on pilgrimage to the home Of joan OF Arc,
was hailed all over France an event OF ma
tional Importance. And with the Same mo-
tives q certain portion OF the French press and
publiA seem to have persuaded thems selves
that the appearance OF the Russian feet
at Touion would excite the sovereigns of the
Triple Alliance into precipitating the long ex-
pected great European war; before France
and Russia could cffectually and thoroughly
consolidate their colossal military and naval
strength for the gigantic struggle How could
such war be precipltated most advantage
ously to the Triple Alliance and most disad-
vantageously to France and Russia Evident
ly by an Italian attack upon France.
IL Italy made this attack. upon some Issue not
directly affecting the interests Of Vienna and OF
Berlin. France would ind herself in IN awk-
ward situation. While the whole strength of
the Italian army could be concentrated upon
an invasion Of southeastern France. whore, in |
the region Of Nice and Savoy. many sympa-
thies with Italy undoubtedly exist. at least
one-half OF the military strength OF
France would be checked and held back from
tho conflict BY O powerful German dem onstra-
ton on the eastern frontiers OF the republic |
At the same time the whole military strength
Of Austria and large proportion Of tho Ger
man armies would hold Russia in check in the
east OF Europe. France. therefore. on land
would have to fight Italy. 80 to speak. with
one hand tied behind her back. and with no
active help from Russia What would the sit
lation be at sea The Italian navy. though
strong. Is confessedly no match for the whole
naval power OF France. But a convention of .
some kind made by Lord Salisbury with
Italy. Is believed In France at least.
still to bind "perndious Albion" to the
support and defence OF Italy in case OF n . .
var threatening the extensive and exposed i,
'eacoasts OF the peninsula Clearly. there
ore. II Italy should suddenly declare war
against France and march her legions down
rom the Alps the English squadron In the
would appear in order OF battle
between the ironclads of Italy
md those OF France. All this had flavor Of h
laval. diplomatic. and military probability t
more than sufficient to set all the alarmist t
rgans OF public opinion in Paris to sounding 4
he trumpet.
A local incident. originating clearly in the I
egion OF the labor disputes which are
the calculations OF politicians
II over the world. came In q couple of
lonths ago. very opportunely Tor inoppor-
uney) to supply the alarmist organs with q :,
lausible theme for their variations on the i'm s.
lortal air OF the MarssIllaise. A cues h
on OF wages in the salt works OF AtRues- L,
lortes. In southern France. brought on q tt
harp quarrel between the French workmen II
mployed there and number OF Italian IN
orkmen who for several years past have n
,und employment there The Italians, It ~
generally admitted. work more persist
ntly. spend less money. and are more intelli-
ent than their French competitors. They
esitated therefore. to Join the French in GER Q,
lin demands upon tho employers For this I'll