The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06

cause. during recent years, several books have
appeared In which not only the Swiss Federal
and local institutions. but their operation has
been discussed. There Ia much need, on the
other hand. or Information regarding even the
structure a. well as tho working of the systems
OF government prevailing in Italy and Ger
many. and we purpose here to give some notion
of the public service rendered by Mr.. Lowell In
the chapters. comprising some hundreds Of
pages, which are devoted to these subjects. We
begin with Italy, because this Is neither q con-
federation. like Germany, nor o dual monarchy,
like Austria Hungary.
i.
After tracing the history Of parties In Italy
since the unihcAtion of tho peninsula began,
and explaining briefly but clearly the uniqe po-
sition Of tho Pope, Mr.. Lowell points out that
the whole story of the political life Of the new
italian Kingdom shows how far the English
Parliamentary system has fallen short Of pro-
duoinG the same results as in Its native land.
Instead Of two great parties which arc alter
nntely In power and in opposition. We find there,
a. In France, o number of groups, sometimes
united and sometimes hostile to each other.
ever forming new combinations. until IL be-
comes almost impossible to follow their evolu-
tions. Tho resemblance between the condition
of parties in France and in Italy 10. indeed. so
striking, while at the same time the difference
between them il so great. that q comparison OF
the two 10 peculiarly instructive. In the first
place We End in both countries Q largo
body Of irreconc!lables who. in each case. are
Clericals: but while, in France. the reaction
aries cit in the Chamber. and by their presence
force the two wings of the Republicans to main
tain o precarious alliance, In Italy the parttsans
OF tho Holy See refuse to vote for Deputies and
have NO seats in the Chamber. The absence of
tho rreconcilables from the italian Parliament
saves that body from q great deal of bitterness
and allows the memhers to group themselves
more freely. yet their existence in the country
has q marked effect on the condition Of parties,
for the Clericals are neither few nor passive.
They have a large number of supporters who
take an active part in municipal elections. and
hence there is n real opposition In the State.
although it finds no place in Parliament. The
people are separated into two factions, the
adherents Of the Tiara and of the Crown:
and this antagonism. by diminishing the APP
parent Importance of any other issue. tends
to prevent any other issue from forming q
basis for q division into two great parties
During the time. indeed, that ELAPSED after
Italy had become q nation. and before
Venice and Rome had been won. political
passion ran high over the policy to be pursued
IN obtaining those provinces, and the Deputies
were pretty sharply divided into two opposing
sections. But with the taking Of Rome in
1870 the conflict with the Church became
more acute, and since that time there has
urisen no question great enough to absorb
public interest and cast the religious quarrel
into the shade. Moreover. the Clericals are the
renl Conservatives in the State, and their abb
sence from Parliament allows the supporters
OF the monarchy, who are really all Liberals,
TO break up into groups, instead of form
ing a single party. In o foot note. Jacini In
quoted TO the effect that what Italy needs in or.
der to get rid of personal politics is q true Con-
servative party. Mr.. Lowell would sum up
what Is to be said about this feature OF the
Italian situation in the remark that, in France.
the presence of the .rreconcilables forces togeth-
er men whose political principles are essentially
different. while, in Italy. their absence fosters
divisions among members whose principles are
really very much the same.
1t may be emembered that in one OF the two
chapters assigned to France the author dis
Sussed several details of the political machinery
that helped to break up the rarties by diminish
ing the authority and stability OF the Cabinets.
Among the most important OF these were tho
system of committees in the and the
practice of Interpolation. Both of these pecu-
~liarities are to be found in Italy, but they have
been SO modified as to be somewhat less re-
pugnant to the parliamentary system than they
are IN france. Inc tnlTu lustltutlOu luhL was
mentioned In the chapters on France as tending
to break the parties into groups, namely. the
requirement OF an absolute majority for the
election of the Deputies. is not reexamined in
connection with italy. because 1t did not exist
In that country during the ten years from 1882
TO 1892. when the Scrutinio di Lista was in
force. A majority had been formerly required.
but in 1852 u plurality was substituted. BY the
act OF June 80. 1892, however. the necessity Of
q majority vote was restored. and. of course, II
tends. as In France. to encourage the various
Rroups to present separate candidates at the
first ballot. knowing that they can combine at
the second II they wish to do 10.
The Italian are divided in the same
way as are the French. namely. by lot. into sec.
tions. called Ufici, which elect most OF the COM
mites. But, 10 each branch OF Parliament, tho
Committee on the Budget. which Is the most
important of all. is chosen directly by the
Chamber itself. This gives the Cabinet n
chance to exert a good deal Of influence over its
composition, and. in fact, Its election has been
considered of late years a regular test OF the
strength of the Government. The result is that
the choice of a hostile is sometimes
regarded as a vote of want of confidence; but
II. on the other hand, the Ministers succeed in
getting their part!sans elected, they are, in
some measure, relieved from the labor Of
wrapglinR with a not In sympathy
with their views. They are a little bet
ter able than are Ministers in France to
take their stand on a budget prepared
ny themselves. instead Of being Obliged tn
submit tn all the amendments and distortions
suggested by an independent or unfriendly set
of Committeeman The practice 10 by no means
a perfect one. and does not prevent the Chamber
from constantly forcing on the Ministers an in
crease of appropriations but its good effects are
seen In the fact that the Governmeat is rarely
upset on the budget, although tho enormous
sIza af tha axnendItnras coIunnred With H.