Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-14
1t.lu SorelY Tried.

Italy Sorely Tried.
I,sIv is being sorely tried. In the last
quarter OF a century she has risen to the
position OF a frst-class Power, but al
heavy cost. Through series OF years she
sowed the wind OF extravaganza and IS
now reaping the inevitable harVest-'he
vhirlwind Of unrest, dlsafecton' ana po-
Iltical agitation. A month ago she was IN
the tbroes OF one OF the most serious ca
b,net crises in her history, which was
brought about by the Bank-of-Rome scan
dal and general government financial mis-
mana gement The confidence or the peo-
ple had been shaken In the sbIny anu
integrity OF nearly every public man. Al
last Crlspi. who IS easily the bralniest
italian statesman OF his generation, Was
recalled and succeeded in forming min
istry. Yet it IS doubtful whether Pre-
rrier ever took office environcd by greater
difficulties. Scarcely was his hand upon
the helm when the fires Of revolt that hah
becn kindled here and there in Sicily
famed up with an intensity that threat
Grnl
asserted itself In various places on the
mainland. and It became manifest that
large element OF the lower orders OF the
kingdom was in sympathy with the spirlt
OF Anarchy. which had been recently re-
vived in Southern Europe. So critical arc
tba conditions at present that there are
tbose who do not hesitate 10 express the
conviction that Mazzinrs prophesy - ra-
pidly nearing fulhlment, and Crispi may
prove the last head Of monarchlcu MN
istry IN Italy.
BY far the most dangerous but AZ the
same time most Interesting phase OF the
situation "a that which has developed IN
slcn. tho home OF the Malta and pic
turcsGue brigandage The Sicilians have
q double grievance. In addition TO the
hurIens of national taxation they have
70 hear the octroi--a tax levied a. the city
eates. Although the Slclllans are for the
most mart an agricultural people The
farmers as a rule live IN the cities. ana
everything they bring into their homes
from the land they cultivate. every pro-
duct OF their toll. even the food thelr
families consume. must pay the hated
octroi This tax, which is by no means
n Iipht one. IS d. relic OF early tyranny
7rl oppression. and is not usad To SUP
mort the simple machinery Of rural govern
mont. but IS devoted 70 the maintenance
OF the municipalities. Moreover. II -
claimed that fragrant corruption exists
IN administering the law, as the r!ch' III
great measure, escape payment Of the I'M
post
Discontent AGAINST the octrOi has been
growing for many gears, and II - saId
that Of late It has been sedulously cult
waited by French cInissaries. 1t Is also
charged that popular feeling against 1t
has been stimulated by the Easel Society,"
the Slcillan Socialist organization, and py
DEPUTY Giuseppe de Felice, the Socialist
leader. who has been arrested anu I'M
prfsoned. Be that as Il may, We know
that revolt has been rife all through the
island. numbers OF persons have been
killed. tax-lists have been seized and
burned. public and private property has
been destroyed, and such other outra6e5
committed as are possible only by
Sicillan mob. As consequence Siclly
has been placed under martial law ana
with a population only about two thirds
that OF Ireland. is being policed by mill
tory force twice as great as that Eng
land thought necessary 70 maintain II
the Emerald Isle during the grayest crisis
Of the Land League ascendancy. ~
second consequence. Italy's line OF de-
fence on the French border has been con-
siderably weakened.
II suits the purposes OF Franco to fc9-
ter the impression among the Italian
masses that all Of Italy's ills are due 70
her being yoked in the Triple Alliance,
and having to support u larger armament
than would otherwise be necessary. .~dch,
however. seems not to be the case. The
fact IS. the Triple Alliance imposes no
conditions as 10 the force TO be kept under
arms by the signatory powers; and Italy,
f. Is conceded. would have 70 carry the
WEIGHT OF q much greater armament were
she not a member Of the Dreibund. Fur
ther. IL IS especially fortunate that she
ia not isolated in the present crisis; Tor
Crispi. IN his struggle 10 bring order out
Of comparative chaos and reconstruct the
financial policy OF Italy, has the sympa~
thy of both Austria Hungary and Ger
many. This. with the friendly attitude
of England towards Italy. gives hopes that
Crispi will be ablo 10 weather the storm
successfully. and disappOint the pess!-
nllsts who think they see In the Italian
situation. and especially in the riotous
demonstrations In Sicily. the end OF the
Italian monarchy.
The Sicilians. with all OF their faults, ell
their admixture Of blood, all the unreason-
ing fury that characterizes them when they
are excited, are much more Industrious
than are the Inhabitants OF some sections
of the Peninsula Since the union OF their
island with Italy they have made sur
prising advances In the matter or educa-
ton; and much has been accomplished In
the way OF suppressing brigandage and
assassination. Another basis is therefore
afforded for the hope that the task Crispi
has undertaken will confound the pro-
phets OF woe. The main trouble that
confronts him now Is TO prevent Sicilian
discomfort from going beyond the first
cause. and being turned to account by the
enemies OF Italy abroad. and the Socialist,
Republican, and Anarchist elements at
home, TO preclpitate a general upheayal.
-
A Specimen Centenarian.