Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-06
TIE CRISIS Nv TTgLY.

TIE CRISIS Nv ITALY.
The Italian government has been con-
frontcd by no more serious crisis In
many years than that which has been
created by the disastrous defeat Of the
italian forces in Abyssinia The rcSiE-
nation OF the Crispl cabinet, the dii'-
Guilty which King Humbcrt will prob
ably find in forming a new ministry,
the sentiment in favor OF impcachinS
the prime minister and his colleagues
on The charge of mismanaging Tie AbNs-
sinian campaign, and the very strong
and general popular hostility to further
military operations in Abyssinia that Is
manifested, together with Il practically
bankrupt treasury and little If any
credit. make up condition of affairs
that must cause tho government very
great trouble and might easily develop
revolution the spirit Of which prevails
more extensively in Italy than is com
monty supposed The Abyssinian colo
ninl enterprise has never been generally
popular. because 1t involved heavy eX-
penditures that made a drain upon the
resources OF the government which
many believed would not be compen-
satcd for even if the government were
ultimately successful. result the I'M
certainty of which has been greatly in
creased by the signal defeat and rout OF
a large and well equipped Italian force,
probably composed of as good soldiers
as any in the army of that country. 1t
is therefore to be expected that there
will be Il formidable popular opposition
to continuing the campaign ana IL ap-
pears more than probable that the gov
crnment will find use at home for Il
large part of the army TO maintain 40
mestic peace and prevent revolution
airy outbreak.
The Abyssinians have given abundant
evidence of their determination to mann
tain their independence and they nave
shown. also. that they are not without
capacity and courage for war. 1t ap-
pears that the soldiers of King Menelek
are we'll supplied with modern arms
and that they know how to use them
effectively. 1t is evident, too, that they
are commanded by men who know
something of the science of war. Mani
festly these people have greatly i'm
proved in this respect since the British
invasion of 1867, when an armed eX-
pedition of $1,000 men forced its way
into the very heart of Abyssinia ana
overthrow the power of the ruling SOW
ereign, King Theodore, who when
driven from his last fortress killed him
self. Then, however, the tyranny of
the sovereign caused the British army
to be welcomed, whereas now the
Abyssinian people have no such reason
to welcome the Italians. The inhrbi-
tants of Abyssinia, who number 1000
600 or 5.000.00O are mainly pastoral
people, of little enlightenment, and the
army being composed of irregular levies
of no great discipline, it was not thought
that under any probable circumstances
the well organized Italian army could
meet with such n defeat as 1t has suf-
fered. That event is bitter lesson,.
the effect of which promises very grave
trouble for the Italian government.
King Humbert will undoubtedly con-
tinue the Abyssnian campaign if he
can find the means to do so. A new
commander has been assigned to duty
in Abyssinia and additional troops are
to be sent there. The government will
endeavor to raise money for this pur-
pose by increasing taxation or borrow
ing. Its credit is so poor that it may
not be able to borrow and already
taxation is most burdensome and OPP
pressive. 1t is a dangerous situation
and the world will be greatly inter
ested in the manner of its treatment
by King Humbert and his ministers.