New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-26
TO-DAY'S ELECTION IN ITALY
,c.,u CHIEF ISSUE \ STRUGGLE AGAINST
RADICALISM.
.,,,, Outward ASPECT OF ELECTION DAY
RELATIONS or The POPE TOWARD
NATIONAL POLiTIc

prr.r,oNs or The POPE TOWARD
NATIONAL POLITICS.
so, s election day in Italy. The Italian elec-
.,,s arc always held Sunday. as Is indeed the
s. IN most Of he European countries II be'nS
considered that the working classes are more hN'S
- arfo-,, their civil duties on holiday than durNS
~ ra,, hours that are free to them weekdays
rioerine also from the American system. Inc Jay
,or the National elections is not permanently es'ao
,,ad hv statute but is specially appointed by royaI
loo AZ such s,ason as may suit the pleasure OF
the sovereign and his ministers There are many
other RESPECTS in which National election in ltaN
snords contrasts to in the United States. 70
l,caI interest there does not dominate ana almost
overwhelm business and social life. for ong time
nraceding and Including the day Of election. as In
this country A more or less energetic campaign i
nrosecuted by the politicians OF the several parties
sneeches by the rival candidates and their allies are
made at frequent intervals throughout the various
districts the partisan newspapers devote consider
able space to eXpounding the reasons why such ana
such a nominee should receive the suifrages Of the
electors and humble citizens. Just at this season.
are BATTERED into realization Of their Importance
and made to promise their votes 10 one or other, or
perhaps both. of the opposing candidates. But the
critical day and with little visible portur-
baon on the surface OF the daily life Except In the
largest cities where The obstreperous student ele
ment makes itself conspicuous by street parades
and the like. there is little indeed TO indicate that
the day the season is anything out Of the com
mon. Almost the only persistent evidence that an
election is coming on is to be found IN the eiito-
rails Of the newspapers which. for the time being.
devote unusual space to matters political Torch
light parades. with transparencies inviting the cit
zens to vote for this or that man. are unknown;
serenades TO candidates almost never occur: even In
the chief cities there of that noisy ebu.tion
In the streets that characcrSes the American cities
around election time. Everything moves on in the
tranquil way. and nine OF every ten men
one meets in the thoroughfares or in society appear
absolutely Indifferent to. or ignorant Of the fact
that the nation is on the point of making history
Even on the day of the election a stranger might
stroll through tie streets Of Milan. Florence. Rome
or Naples. and never imagine for a moment that
anything out OF the ordinary was occurring BY
possible chance does long string
OF citizens before polling-pace awaiting their
turn TO deposit, their ballots. After careful inquiry
and a long walk, the foreigner may finally discover
room. usually on the second floor and
from the street. where any desiring vote. ard
having the right may perform that duty OF ct-
zenship in tranquil. leisurely way Even OF those
having the right. many neglect to avail themselves
OF the privilege either from apathy from
ter OF principle against voting at such elections
Besides this. the comparatively restricted suffrage
further dvests the election OF universal interest.
Upon the conclusion OF the voting. the election
judges and the committee carry the urns to a gen
eral headquarters Of the city or district where the
vote is counted In case OF any candidate being
elected another others. the result is an
nounced that evening. In case. however. that
one candidate has received a certain number Of
votes proporonate to the total number OF voters In
the district. Il is declared no election" and the
same names submitted again to the voters
the following sunday These supplemental elections
are called "ba,,otaggi" and continued
the successive sundays, II necessary until one OF the
rival candidates has secured the required number
OF votes.
There are two great parties in Italy the Moier-
ate Liberals. "Progressiste." ana the Conserva-
tives. They called also. according 10 their po-
siiions in the Chamber, the Rights and LET'S
spestvey. There is also another party. which on.y
a few years rcckoned OF little import
ance but has been gradually growing In strength
In al, parts OF the kingdom. and which 1t is OK
pected. Will make a Formidable showing In to-day's
election. This is the Radical faction. 1t embraces
in its ranks disappointed seceders from the other
'parties socialists revolutionary republicans ration
asis labor aGtators and vehement anti-cercas
There is distinctly clerical party that figures
actively in the political life Of Iia,y. There are
however. great numbers Of lawfully qualified voters
who abstain absolutely from any participation in
politics owing to the strained rea tons existing be-
tween the Vatican and the Qulrinal Obedient TO the
frequently expressed wish Of the Pope these people
comprising influential proportion Of the nobility
and upper middle Classes. take share interest
whatever in the political affairs OF the kingdom.
The Holy See has insistently proclaimed its unwill
ingness lend shadow Of It's sanction to the
existing form Of government and in urging upon
Catholics to refrain from voting the National cleo
tons. has forth that any such participation In
federal politics would imply lack OF sympathy with
the protest Of the Vatican against the royal occupa-
ton OF Rome This ong-sustained contention on the
part Of the Pope has had potent effect upon the
two great political parties OF the King Ion. The
sources from which they counted upon drawing re-
al.
to them. In the mean while the disconnected Rad.
cas- have been ndus;riousiy spreading their propa.
ganda from Piedmont to the EXTREMIST corner Of
Sicily. and have been gradually increasing their
representation in Parliament. The most eminent
statesmen Of both Progressive and Conservative
parties have gradually TO the conviction that
the existing state of affairs cannot continue much
longer without doing infinite damage 10 the State;
in other words. that the alarming growth OF the
Radical party. compared with the more or loss
lie Of the other political ORGANIZATIONS
forebodes imminent ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the King
dom unless the great silent force ned in check by
the Pope should be launched INTO the fray.
This apprehension voiced In the late memoir |
able speech OF Crispl at Nap.es. which startled the
observant world into believing that the Prime
Minister. who has always been regarded the firm
foe OF the Holy See would himself carry the flag OF
truce into the Vatican. The overtures thus made
however were not favoraby responded TO by the |
Pope. Who. only the other day. issued his customary
notification to the so-ca..ci Catholic faction OF Italy
TO refrain from participation in the approaching |
election.
These circumstances invest the election % to-
day with grave interest. Whichever way ii results
It's consequences will doubtless be farresching and
fraueh; with conspicuous changes In tho political |
Of the country II the Raficdis-a2alnst |
HON the present Government is directing all the |
mighty machinery in It's power-shou.d not make a |
formidable showing the contest. the other politi-
cal parties will fee. justified In believing That they |
can get along well enough. AT least for some year"
without the help Of the "lOpes people and the |
impeachment between Church and state nhat only |
lately seemed probabe) Will be further off then |
amlable temperament. either personally or pouu- |
cally would probably seize some early opportunity |
Of manresting his resentment toward the Vatican |
raiac.inn ~ The n-LXn hranch ihai be bad |