Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-06

Dark days have fallen upon At3J. cne
Ia, In the midst Of momentous Crisis
the outcome OF which no one can safely
predict. The last diaster To- Italian
arms in Abyssinia Is the most crushing
that any European nation has suffered
in years, and that disaster grows as the
details are allowed to leak out. The
Republican and Radical elements at
home have seized upon, the occasion TO
make riotous demonstrations OF disap-
proval Of the governments policy, In
some of the cities a--condition OF AFFAIRS
little short of anarchical obtains; the
ministry has resigned, and 1t may not
be going too far to say that even the
dynasty Is in danger.
And the most discouraging phase OF
the situatlon--the phase that initiates
most strongly against the probabilities
of dire and far-reaching consequences
being avoided-is that 1t threatens to
crush and utterly undo the ablest, the
cleanest, and hitherto the most infiu-
entail public man In the kingdom.
Crispl has up to this time been the
main-stay of Italy In the hour Of peril.
He has done more than any other man
to raise his country to the position of a
great power. cause her friendship to be
coveted by other nations, and prevent
her from being posted as absolutely
bankrupt. More than once he has been
called to the helm in the height OF
storm that was straining the ship of
state to the utmost point of its resis-
brought his charge through safely. But
in this case It Is he that has sent the
ship upon the breakers, and on his shoul-
ders is placed the responsibility OF the
Abyssinian disaster and its train Of
othei woes.
In steering Italy away from Scylla.
Crispi has brought her face to face with
Charybdis. When he last came into
power Italy was again In a state Of tur-
moil. The situation at home was such as
to render 1t vital that the public mind
should be directed from internal affairs
Erythrea. the Italian territory on the
Red Sea Iittoral, and which is the de-
velopment of a Colonial venture dating
back to 1870, afforded the only medium
through which TO accomplish this diver
sion. and Crispi resorted to a vigorous
effort at Colonial expansion in that quar-
ter. The rest we know from the advices
received from both Massowah and Italy
during the last few months For a time
there were encouraging reports of italian
progress against the Abyssnians, and the
governments policy had strong backing
Then came the news OF disaster follow
ing disaster, and finally the bitter story
of the terrible defeat of Sunday.
which may put an end to Itaiys coloni-
zation schemes in Africa for many years
to come.
But even should this aforementioned
humiliation not result and even should
the upheaval at home that threatens
Italy not prove as serious as Is feared,
there can hardly be a question that the
nation has lost ground in Europe that
1t will be hard to recover. 1t is even
thought by some that now that Italian
arms have so greatly disappointed ex-
pectations, Italy will not only no longer
be very welcome member OF the Drei-
bund but Will receive the cold shoulder
from Great Britain. The latter as is
well known encouraged the Massowah
venture In order that she and Italy might
engage In parallel operations when the
opportune occasion. arrived for the re-
conquest of the Soudan.