The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-18
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The New italian Premier.

The new italian Premier, Antonio
Starabba, Marquis di Rudini, is, like
his predecessor, Signor Crispi Sicil-
ian, but this is, fortunately for Italy,
the only point which the two states
men have in common. While Signor
Crispi, an homo novus,' possesses the
head strong, violent temper which
characterizes the lower classes In Sici-
ly, the Marquis di Rudini on the other
hand, who belongs to one of the most
ancient families of that aristocratic-or
rather aristocracy-r idden-island, is
known for his calm, dignified bearing
and the courteous polish of his man
ners Indeed, his political adversaries
ty, and his characteristic prudence for
irresolution; maintaining that the no.
BILE marquis is too much of a grand sci
gneur to prove an efficient statesman.
But this statement is belied by the
whole of the new prime misister's life,
for Antonio Starabba can point to
political record few italian statesmen
could beat
He was born in 1889, and was only
twenty-five when he was elected Sin
daco of Palermo, his native city. 1t
was precisely in that year that a group
of mafiosi, clericals, and Bourb6ns at
tempted reactionary coup de main in
the Sicilian capital This revolutiona-
ry movement was, however, immedi-
ately repressed by the energetic young
Sindaco, though not without difficulty
and personal danger, for the Infatuated
mob attacked his palace and some ia
natics even made their way into the
drawingroom, where the marquis sus-
tanned a desperate hand hand
struggle with the ruffians, shooting
several and flinging others out of the
window For, unlike, the majority of
his compatriots, Marquis di Rudini is
tall and athletic, and in his youthful
days was noted for his proficiency IN
wrestling and for the deadly certainty
accomplishment and his subsequent
shooting expeditions on his vast Sicil-
ian estates are sufficient to keep his
hand in.'' He is one of the richest no.
blemen not only in Sicily but in Italy,
and owns enormous tracts of land
when he strives to render as fruitful
as possible. These efforts have been
crowned with success, and the Rudini
wines, as unadulterated as the politics
of their producer, are well known and
appreciated throughout the peninsula.
In Italy a statesman who Is not also
wealthy man is always, looked upon
with suspicion by the people; they fol-
low every one of his actions with the
eye of detective, and fancy they see
robber in every increase, even tnag-
mary, Of the prime minister's income.
And here again the new prime minister
has an advantage over his predecessor,
for no one would think of accusing
millionaire of stealing few thot islands
or Of having merely sordid aims in his
politics. But the honesty and personal
responsibility of Antonio Starabba are
above all suspicion.
To return to his political career. He
was made Sindaco, or mayor of Paler-
mo, when only twenty-five, and the
law which forbids candidates from en-
tering the italian parliament under
thirty was the only obstacle which pre-
vented the young nobleman from sit
ting sooner in the Chamber of Depu-
ties. 1t did not prevent him, however,
from accepting the difficult post of
off OF yrh ho
held with great credit from the 22d of
October till the 14th of December, 1859.
In 1870-as soon as he he'd reached the
statutory age--he was elected deputy
and took his place in the national as
sembly. His debut was not brllliant,
but it was creditable, for he held his
own against the combined attacks OF
Nicotera, Muceli Lazzaro and Macch1.
He opposed LAMA and Depretis. In
1886 he enunciated a program Which
included the abandonment of the Afri-
can enterprise, the increase OF the
navy and army the protection of ltat-
ian development in America, and great
vigilance in the financial department
If his advice had been followed, Italy
would not have to deplore the recent
African disaster, with all its sad con-
sequences at home and baneful inf1u-
ence abroad He became prime minis
ter on the 9th of February, 1891, but re-
signed on the 5th of May in the follow
ing year, owing to the repeated attacks
of Crispi, who opposed his program OF
concentration and economy-the only
means, Rudini urged, of saving Italy
from an impending catastrophe. The
direction that will be taken by Marquis
di Rudini's policy can therefore easily
be foreseen; economies at home, retire
ment from the African enterprise on
the ambitious lines traced out by Girls
pi a more liberal and more strictly
constitutional government in Italy,
and consequently the abandonment OF
the systematic and aggressive persecu-
ton of which Crispis opponents have
of late been the victims. Sicily and
Sardinia. which have for years been
left in the most shameful neglect, will
again receive the attention of the gov
eminent. The premier's policy will
certainly aim at increasing the cordial
relations already existing between tia
ly and England: for he is great ad-
mirer of ourcountry, where he spends
some time every year and of whose
constitution he is an enthusiastic par
tisan. He published an excellent Sc
ries of essays on this subject some time
ago.-Correspondence st. James Ga
zette.