The morning call., 1894-06-24
THE RESURRECTION OF ITALY.

The man who attempted to assassinate
the Prime Minister of Italy does not turn
cut to be soldier, as was imagined, but
says he is an anarchist who visited Italy
for the express purpose of killing SignOr
Crispi. He belongs to the class of Guitesu
and Booth, and is a type of the vermn
which can only be dealt with by extermi-
nation, for reasoning is thrown away
upon creatures who combine malignity
with stupidity. and ignorance in equal pro-
portions with malice.
Ii is difficult to name a man whom Italy
could not better spare at present than
francesca Crispi. He represents the civili-
cation of new Italy, as CaYOur represented
the uprising Of united Italy. He has been
in public life nearly half century, and
has filled every post from private soldier
to leader of an insurgent band. and from
Speaker of the Chamber to Prime Minis
ter. He, with Rattazzi and Cavour, over
came the obstacles in the way of the or
ganization of the new Italian nation; the
smoOthness with which the house of
Savoy guided through the perils of their
formidable undertaking was largely the
fruit OF his dexterity. Men have had con-
fidence in him because they knew him to
10 DldhS anu AOuColg do mOll dS pCtlkiSs
Though he is 70 years old his heart is as
young as ever, and Italy knows that he
will never be afraid of saying the thing
that is true, or doing the thing that is
right.
The task that is before him is momen-
tous. Italy is bankrupt. and every one
knows it. With a population considerably
less than One-half that of the United
States the public expenditure is very much
more than ours, exclusive of pensions, and
the capacity of the people to bear taxation
far less. The consequence is constantly
recurring dehcts and outbreaks caused by
the intoierable burden of taxation. If a
weak government were in power al Rome
it would be safe to look some day for an
uprising which would overthrow the Gov
eminent and plunge the country into civil
war. This melancholy condition Of affairs
has been caused by Italy's ambition to re-
sumo her ancient place among the leading
powers of Europe. Nearly forty years ago
she went out of her way to take part in
the Crimean war, in which she had no
earthly interest, simply in order to figure
by the side of England and France, and
ten years ago she joined the Dreibund
against France and Russia from the same
motive. 1t was 70 concern of hers whether
France revenged herself on Germany, or
Germany retained the conQuests OF 1871;
but by joining the tripartite alliance Italy
got into good national society.
The result of this shallow vanity has
been an expenditure for military and
naval purposes of some $1,000 1900 year,
about one-fifth of the total national ex-
penditure. 1t need hardly be explained
that the country cannot carry such a load.
National pride has, however, always stood
10 the way of a reduction OF the army, and
Germany has always insisted that with
drawal from the Dreibund would be a
sacrifice OF honor; thus Ministry after
Ministry, well seeing the cure for the
evils of The day. has shrunk from apply
ing it through fear OF wounding the popu-
lar susce ptibilities. 1t now seems that the
veteran Crispi has the nerve to pursue the
course dictated by common sense. In
speech delivered in the Chamber last
week, he said that "the question of re-
form and economy in the army was to be
practically considered" It ought to be
possible to reduce the appropriation for
the War and Navy departments one
half without impairing the efficiency of
either army or navy for peace time; and
such reduction-amounting to S35, Co., 600
would at once put the public finances on
velvet In that way, much more surely
than by displays of military or naval
strength, would Italy be enabled to as
sumo a commanding position among the
nations of ths world.
Under a sound administration Italy
would have promising future. The area
of cultivated lands is steadily increasing,
and as was shown the other day in THE
CALL. Italy is now larger producer of
wine than either France or Spain. There
is a compulsory education law, which the
Government is trying to enforce. A few
years ago the percentage of illiterates
a bove years of age was Al per cent in
Northern Italy, 65 per cent in the old
Papal States, and 70 per cent in the semi
barbarous provinces of the South; it is
much less now. A system of common
schools similar to ours has been adopted
they are secular institutions under the
control of the state; religious instruction
is given to scholars whose parents desire
it. If the taxes were only reduced, Italy
might become a very prosperous country
indeed.