The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-07

tile ground. Sicilyat 10. el.s never been con-
sidered an Arcadia of Law aud order On the
other hand, robbery and murder are almost
looked upon as legitimate means of subsist-
ence. The island has always been thought
of as the very paradise Of the brigand, and
the people conniVc with aud every way en-
courage this class OF citizens.
The inhabitants Of sicily viii receive the
sympathy Of the world In their endeavor TO
better their wretched condition, says the
Chicago Herald The poorer classes have
for ages been the legitimate prey for the
richer. They have been burdened with the
most exorbitant taxation. while the richer
have escaped without any Corruption IS
rife wherever there is an oiiiceholder, petty
or important; Justice Is mere mocsery,
simply depending on who can give the
largest bride. These manifold grievances,
agrarian, municipal and others have long
been the curse OF the island, and il Is no
wonder that its people now endeavor TO in
troduce reform through revolution.
One OF the most active agitators is Depu-
ty Giuseppe de Fclice, the socialist leader
and the government was finally compelled
10 arrest him His imprisonment was the
signal for a fierce riot, AID the mob storm
ed the prison, only 10 find that their leader
had been taken elsewhere. Thousands Of
worllmen and others paraded the streets Of
Palermo carrying banners with revolution
AIRY inscriptions and shouting: Down with
taxes, Hurrah for liberty and revolution
MGzzara, a town of some Is, 600 inhabitants,
was the scene Of the first bloody conflict.
The troops that were called out TO dispcrss
the rioters were put 10 flight, and many Of
the soldiers joined the mob. All the pub
lie buildings were burned. and the soldiers
were prevented from reaching their bar
racks. A regular battlewas fought during
the night, in which 1s3 people were killed.
IN PretraperEla the mob sacked and plum
dered the houses of the weather. classes,
killing any one who offered resistance.
Il is simple enough % find the cause Of
all this trouble. During The last few years
the crops ia the island have been almost a
total failure; absolute distrust of the poll
ticians: enormous taxes 20 support the
armed peace, and first and last the sys-
TEN which governs the agricultural inter-
ests In Sicily. Any prominent p4rticalar
branch Of industry does not exist in the is
land.
The land Is owned by few noblemen
who live in Rome or Palermo and who lease
their estates TO capitalists known Is "gab-
ellOtti," or tax cytorters. These in then
turn divide the estates and sublet them TO
"subgabeiiotti" who again lease the sub
divided land piecemeal 20 the peasants, or.
If you VISA. farmers. These latterare most
shumefully bled. They are permitted TO
retain only one-Qu1rter Of their crops. no
matter how poor tte yield may be. I'm adj
dition % this they are compelled to pay an
enormous tax and provide them selves with
aHrI and life NlffNrrrs.| n
the most abiect poverty, the estate owner
"padrone" sometime lends them money
At 30 per cent "a year.
The day laborcr's lot IS even worse. IL
such a thing Is possible. Fine lowest Chi
nese cody lives in luxury compared with
the Sicilian day iaborer The result Of al