Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-16

Vn&A0o8 80 0UASh8os
ny far the most Interesting Of the re-
cent Developments Of the European situ-
alton 10 the rapprochsmsnt between the
ou,rinai and the vatican. Although the
italian ministerial papers are sndsayor'ng
20 minimize the significance OF crisprs
speech At Naples. ana the Vatican organs
deny that the papal power has made any
important concession to the government.
there appears no doubt that the Church
and the state In Italy are now nearer to
each other than they have been for
many years That the press Of the two
parties to the rapprochement are pro-
'cceding with abundant caution in dis
cussing the matter was to b expected
The breach between the Pope and the
King has been q wide one. and each
has influential adherents who are ex-
tremists But the fact remains that the
Prime Minister made an unquestionable
advance towards the establishment OF
the entente cordiaie. and the Vatican re-
ceived that advance In . most concilia-
tory spirit.
~
satisfactory conclusion A. to whether
the negotiations--if. indeed. that word
can be properly used-will result In
practical agreement. As far as known
no definite proposals have been made py
either side. and there can be no question
that in any further proceedings very deli
cate questions are likely to arise. We
have no reliable information touching
what pledges the italian Government VIII
seek from the Vatican. nor have we any
trustworthy intimation a. to what the
Vatican will demand in return.
Nevertheless. when We consider the
state OF affairs in Italy We can readily
appreciate the argument that Crispi can
afford to yield q good deal Of ground
and that q complete reconciliation De-
tween the Pope and the civil power
would In many respects prove Of great ad-
vantage to the country. Italy is honey
combed with Radicalism. Anarchism, ana
Socialism, her finances are In almost
hopeless confusion, and bribery and cor
ruption run riot In her politics Under an
Injunction Of Plus TX. which his success
sor has never rescinded, large numbers OF
the most conservative electors will neither
take part in the elections nor accept
office under the government. As conse-
ouence, the returns to the Chamber OF
Deputies are made In great degree by
an electorate who are "open to con-
yiction," and the ministry are frequently
forced to enter into dangerous and hu-
initiating compromises in order to carry
| q measure through that body.
1t is contended that should the Vatican
and Qurinal agree upon modus vivend'
the abstaining vote would become an ac-
tive factor in politics. thus giving the
government a strong Conservative ma
1ority that would enable it to carry out
a policy Of retrenchment and reform;
that the necessity" for bribing In cleo
| tions would be eliminated, and that the
authorities would be put in position 10
deal effectively and summarily with Anar-
chy. Furthermore, It is pointed out, ana
with q great deal Of force. that. although
a reconciliation might ALLEVIATE from the
| Vatican certain elements In France. 1t
would draw Austria nearer to Italy ana
| afford assurance Of a continuance OF the
triple alliance. From this point OF view
all the great powers are deeply concerned
| In what is transpiling.