The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-14
UNEASINESS IN ITALY
KING UMBERTO SENDS A GREAT FOR
TUNE TO LONDON FOR SAFETY.
Speedy Arrival of a Republic Pre-
dicted by Students OF PoIitics-sig-
nor Crispf and the Vatican.
aome Letter in phlladelphia pispateh.

Rome Letter in Philadelphia Dispatch.
With her King so desperate as to place
his private fortune with foreign bankers.
her prime minister. born atheist, and Re-
publican as he is ever won't to call himself,
bowling before the Pope in order to marry
his daughter to a plutocratic aristocrat; a
Parliament, once voted the most able and
patriotic on the continent, now distinguished
only for corruption and obstructionist prac-
! tees; with her credit on a par with Greece
and Portugal, Italy may be said to re-
semble the France of 1774. Not that UNI
berto has become a King Popinjay-he alone
seems to know which side his bread is but
tered-but his government is "gyrating as
I the weather cock does, blown about by
every wind,' except in the question of die
tatorship.
A few days before the latest attempt on
his life l heard Signor Crispi say: Il never
go to the Chamber without a brace of re-
volvers;" that may be assuring to Madame
Lena, but the days of individual effrontery,
or sacrifice, for that matter. seem passed.
Maybe the Savoy dynasty will continue for
another year between sobs of the starving
and the hoarse cry of the extremists-its
ultimate doom is as inevitable as was that
of Louis the Saints successors after CEN
turtles of systematized self-aggrandizement
and financial embarrassment.
And when the cloak has fallen and after
it the sovereign-in this case Crispi and
| Umberto-what then? A epubIic, or an
archy? The spirit is for the first. but the
flesh is weak and in Italy ever ready to
betters.' Archibald Forbes recently ex-.
pressed the conviction that in case of a
sure to be sacked first. May be he is right.
The Pope's residence promises a far bigger
haul than the Quirinal, but a nation cam
not live on freebooting forever. There will
be a terror, a short season of reckoning,
perhaps a skirmish with Germany, if she
should endeavor to interfere in favor of
the monarchy or with Austria, for the pos
session of Trieste, but the logical termina-
ton will be a republic and an alliance with
France. S8~er~As
One need not be a reactionary to agree
with the only respectable and u~ncompro-
missed party in Italy, the New Conserva-
tives, haunting the republican banner over
a platform that demands abdication of the
House of Savoy, abolition of the anti
CHRISTIAN system OF education, distribution
of taxes on rich and poor alike. which will
greater freedom of municipal life, simpli-
fication of bureaucratic methods and a ces-
sation of hostilities against the church.
THE DANGER REALIZED.
The present government itself recognizes
the urgent necessity of a change OF front
in some respects. 1t has come to the con-
clusion, for instance, that an army pivot
ing on the monarchical idea alone, without
Christian belief to counterbalance its dog
mas, is a dangerous plaything; that athe-
istic schools propagate anarchy, and that
without Capitalization it will be impossible
to continue the government machine rum
ming for any length of time. But all those
good intentions go to waste in the face of
parliamentary opposition. The Palace of
Monte Citorio, meeting house of the
Italian chamber, seems to have reverted
to it's old-time destination-police head
quarters and criminal museum. Its walls
echo accusations and denunciations; in
through the proud halls and claim even
the ministerial ear.
When. twenty years ago. Italy staggered
was far stronger financially than to-day,
though the difference between income and
thirds or more. In those times her Parlia-
ment was composed of true patriots, eager
country; particul&rism and egotism played
no part in public life. And to-day? Par
cial and political disorder, misusing their
mandate to levy blackmail on financial in
s%titutions, or floating worthless securities,
against those in power in the hope of gain
ing the places, vacated as the result of
perjury and malfeasance, Rumor has it
that, in addition, a well-paid party is plot
ting against the foreign policy of the
State, French Chauvenists furnishing the
And the worst of it all, the government
undoubted plumbers its rabid maserfaiisms,
supplies ammunition in plenty to it's ene-
mics The ill-feeling, the feeling. of inse--
curity, has become a permanent feature of
our political life and pervades all classes
with disheartening results. In palace and
beyond the city gates-it is always the same
story. of distrust, founded on more or less
tangible facts or suspicious.
courage and rare fighting qualities, inner
tied and acquired. When, therefore, his
depositing the $50, 600, 60 Of available ee prope 81
ty he owns with the London RothschiIds
granted, that in his estimation the very last
resources Of resistance are exhausted. That
denied. The transfer was Effected Several
months ago, and ever since the attitude of
become more sullen and outspokingly rude.
umberto looks haggard and wretched and
luxury-loving Marguerite, She will regain
the energies and joyful sentiments of her
vicissitudes of Kingship.
A COURT WITHOUT PRESTIGE.
Was there ever a Queen, so fond of bril-
liant society, so particular as to old-time
notions of royal prerogatives, who had to
content herself with a court such as is
forced upon Marguerite? irresponsible
writer's like to dwell upon 'the democratic
aspect of the Quirinal." It is indeed DEM
ocratic, but not from choice of its guiding
spirits. When the nobili of the realm hold
aloof more civilians must be welcomed to
their accustomed places. Napoleon l Gre
ated dukes. and marquises. and counts, and
1barons to surround himself with company
beftting his rank; Umberte dare not follow
this august example, even assuming the
willingness of intended victims. for an Ital-
ian degree of nobility is equal to a public
insult, so he is constrained to treat as rela-
tives a whole herd of commoners sporting
the order of st. Annunziata, which confers
upon it's incumbents the title of his Maj
esty's cousin while Madame Lena, other
wise Madame Crispi, Madame Minghetti and
Madame Carroll, wives and widows of
plebian Minister'S. respectively, constitute
the Queens guard of honor on official oc-
caSionS.
The Roman nobility, at least the part
worth knowing, the Selviatis, Ruspolis,
Ocinis. Rassimis, the Aldobrandini, and 9TH
ers. have always steadfasIy refused to have
ANYTHING to do with the Savoys, and prefer
killing time with the cardinals and mon
signors in their old-fashioned palaces to
dancing attendance upon the new lord
and his mistress, may their entertainments
be ever SO splendid.
Crispi, to make matters worse, has COM
romise his own position towards the Vat
lean and the Holy See. 1t is well known
that the Premier and his wife are not 1e-
eally married, inasmuch as Crispi's first
wife. a native of Malta, was alive when
he espoused Madame Lena. The prospective
mother-in-law of Crispis daughter, the
Princess Linguaglossa, took umbrage at
this little matter and refused to receive the
young girl into her family unless her par
ents had made their peace with the church.
Crispi t~hereupon petitioned Leo XIII for a