New-York tribune., 1900-07-30

on April -, 1868. After the occupatfon Of Roma
by the Italian troops in 1870 Prince Humbert
and the Princess Marguerite went to live in that
city.
On the death Of King Victor Emmanuel II on
January g. 1878, King Hunbert succeeded his
rather The first attempt to assassinate him
was made on November Il Of the same year
As he was entering Naples Giovanni Passa-
nanto approached his carriage and attempted to
stab him with a poinard The King only re-
Ceived slight scratch. but the Prime Minister
SignOr Carroll, who with him. was badly
wounded in the thigh The assassin was con-
demned to die. but the King commuted the SEN
tence to penal servitude for life.
The second attempt to end the life Of Kfn.
Humbert was made On April % 1891 He was
driving TO the CapaneHe Racecourse. when A
workman struck at him with dagger. The
blow was turned aside. and the man was
caught, and condemned to life Imprisonment
King Humbert and Queen Marguerite ceIe-
brated their silver wedding in Rome in April.
1893. Their only son, born in Naples on No
vember IL, 1869, Victor Emmanuel Ferdinand
Mary Jannarius, who bore the title of Prince of
Naples. was married in October, 1896, to the
Princess Helen, of Montenegro
King Humbert was a man Of mild manners
and kindly disposition and was beloved per
been in feeble health, it is said. for years. He
was tall and of striking appearance with a
fierce snow-white .mustache and white hair,
which he wore in pompadour Italian fashion
The reign of King HUmbert was marked Dy a
number Of happenings which had a bearing on
the development of the Kingdom and its foreign
relations.
Italy. in the early years of King Humbert's
sway, was desirous Of taking an active part IN
European affairs. Through it's premiers the
country declared that it wished to live in peace
with neighbOring nations on condition Of being
one Of the great Powers. Whether on account
Of jealousy or defiance of France. or whether
10 obtain for itself the strongest support, the
Italian Government was brought into close re-
Iations with Germany and Austria and with
England, taking its cue for colonial expansion
from the latter. especially under Crtspi's Minis
try The Triple Alliance formed by Germany
and Austria against France was completed in
1891 by the accession OF Italy. in which she
undertook to keep up a vast standing army and
a great navy far beyond the country's means.
draining it's treasury and depressing the people
by onerous and heavy taxes.
In January 1885. Italy undertook to cooper
ate with the English against the Mahdt the
Italian troops occupying AIassowah. on the Red
Sea. The Government having secured this unirn-
portant territory declared its intention OF fol-
NAL expansion. In spite OF the great financial
burdens imposed by this expedition and the sac
rifces made of men and money, reverses in 1857
and in 1883 when the Italian troops were de-
feated by the Nahdi. provoked opposition to the
colonial policy at home However. the Italian
possessions on the Red Sea were constituted the
Erythrean Colony by royal decree promuI-
gated in 1890.
ItaIy's misfortunes were commercial at this
time rather than political Her exports were
reduced in 1883 by the Governments refusal to
renew the commercial treaty with France
which had gone into effect in 1881. Between
1880 and 1854 the state Of ItaIys finances i'm
proved, and March l. 1898. the Ministry was
able to resume specie payments. Since then
great military and naval expenses have caused
frequent deficits in the budget. and the difficulty
of meeting them has been one of the chief di-
hculties of Italian statesmen and the cause OF
many changes of Ministry
The relations between the Italian Govern.
ment and the Vatican We're a constant cause OF
unrest during King Humbert's reign. The Gov
ernment always trying to respect its guar
antees TO the Pope. while the latter has been
protesting that the situation forced upon him
at Rome no longer offered him security.
King Humberts relations with the heads o.
foreign states was friendly In 1854 his Der-
sOnal courage was shown by visit to the plague
hospitals of Naples at the time of the cholera
epidemic. His conduct in speaking TO the pa
tents increased his popularity.