The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-08
EUROPEAN POLITICS.
CRfspt AND rHE tJALIAx SITUATION.

FLORENCE Jan. ia Distance lends terror ne
we'll as enchantment to the view. Even In
Paris and in London the newspapers, French
and English seem to be giving their readers
the Impression that all Italy IL under arms.
and that the outbreak Of a great social revolu-
ton. topping over the House OF Savoy and
making life and property as unsafe IN the
streets OF Rome and Milan as In Grim Tsrtary,
L. a question rather Of days than Of weeks and
months. Special correspondents have been
sent down from Paris to interview Crispi and
di Rudni and the Vatican itself
one OF Theses. sent by the Figaro gave Crlspi
an opportunity 10 "liberate his mind" on the
subject OF the press on Monday last. The
newspapers" said Crispi. are become a
nuisance. In order to sell a number they
print all manner Of nonsense. and must say.
n you will allow me. that II was your news
papers in France which began the uproar."
Nevertheless In excuse Of the newspapers.
It ought not to be forgotten that the
Italian Government in order to deal
with disorders not 10 themselves absolutely
menacinR and to prevent the development
through such disorders OF a serious and or
Ranized assault upon social order in Italy. has
been obliged within the past fortnight to sus-
pend tho regular operation OF the law in more
than one region OF the kingdom. and to en-
counter an expense OF millions OF lire In NOV
ing troops and munitions OF war all over the
peninsula. 1t Is not surprising that this fact
should be misinterpreted and Its meaning eX-
aRgerated at hundreds OF miles away from the
scene o. action.
Europe has been kept for years on the
aui viys By the military preparations
OF all the great Governments. The minds
Of men have thus been wrought up into sort
Of nervous anxiety. upon which authentic
news OF armed action at any point necessarily
produces n startling effect. Even here in
Florence and Mt Rome whore the laws are not
suspended. where the ordinary pursuits Of
life TO on az usual. where balls and diplo-
matte dinnsrs are given. railway trains come
and 20 AZ usual and the drawings OF the
ve.vly lottery proceed with their accus-
toned regularity. n yaRue panic is in
IN. air Foreigners who had come to Italy for
the winter mediate flight. Hotel keepers are
aovnoast and peonle 20 about askinp each
other and tbemselyes what next2" Now.
do not nr.tend TO know or to diyIn. what may
come NEXT But for the sake Of THE Sun and
of the manv among your readers who must
.i,h.r b.vs triend. ar reIatiyss now in Italv
ar NAV than .eyss be m editatinc n yisit To this
enchanting land. IL may be worth while that
sbould send YOU at once a few words OF expla-
nation ma 70 Tn, .xplosion Of military snerRy.
which during the last three or four davs ba.
diverted public attention here from Palermo
I. nd Ma..ina CoIta Nisetta and Girpent to re-
zion. living nImost nj the eates Of Florepc, and
an thu dir.ct highway Of foreign travail from
Monte Carlo and Genoa to Rome itself
TL III ~ an. ,,-..n.u =, r.t.., o
Inc hipR' on 'he urgency " 'rsp'' pro-
,,ho,. nrovi,ca ~ Macs. -C.rr,ra An tho civil
,n,hori,iss th,ouohopt that nrovincs b.x.
suthori,ies ,hfouenoue .hae provinces nave
been put under the absolute control OF a ROYAL
Com missioner Major Gan Heuscb and with
q. 80. ,a,,. -. 80. r.. -. at,
about hero that the city OF Pisa is to be put
under similar conditions In all this how
ever. a, a matter Of fact, there is much
moro to reassure than TO alarm either
easuai wayiarer from a'ar' Dent on Italian
travel Asa matter OF fact. II martial law had
things might very wen have happened ere
out central Italy. The OUTBREAKS IN sicily
-. I..h,li .t.I a. o..za,ta.,
With iut.nd.d e ontpreats in the nomarna in
Tn nro%n. n l,,srvsn,,on Of the Govarnmsnt
in Sicily. 1t may now be said confidently. took
the ,ruanizers OF all these intsnded outbreaks
on the mainland by surprise. broke up their
calculations. and checked tho evolution OF
their schemes Thank. to the enerG, Of
Crispi. and to the vlgor Infused by him into
the Executive at Rome. l believe It may now
be affirmed with truth that disturbances.
-.tL - -. a. - a.
when were meant ana expected 10 lead 10
nothing less than political and social rsvolu-
tion In the peninsula. are passing on already
into an incoherent series OF sporadic and local
riota aud uprisngs.
The Government is showing itself to be far
better prepared for the defence OF order and
of law In Italy than most OF the en- IN ss and
not a few OF the friends OF Italian unity
six weeks ago believed 1t to be. The situation
In Massa- Carrara, and tho proclamation there
OF martial law, really prove two things only.
One. that the orga nizers OF the intended Italian
revolution counted for success not upon any
general and real revolutionary feeling
throughout the masses OF the Italian people.
but upon q skilfui mani pulation OF old and
chronic elements OF disorder at certain we'll
known points throughout the peninsula; and
the other that tile royal Governm emit clearly
understands this. has not been taken AbAck,"
and Iis dealing with local disorders Al local.
There could be no better Illustration OF
thess facts than the case OF Massa-Carrara.
MassA and Carrara as all Italian travellers
know, are two very Int resting and historical
cities not, indeed, very often visited by
strangers but from their position on the great
western line of Italy closely eonnec ed in the
minds OF men with such great centres OF