New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-05
to be influenced by pri-


reduction of the army navy for the sake u
urgently needed economies. declaring that he
had personally pledged his word TO the En-
perors of Germany and Of Austria that there
would be no diminution Of his army navy.
Victor Emmanuel. the other hand. is in favor
of these reforms. which are Indispensable 10 a-
welfare of Italy. The new King Ekealse
strongly disapproved Of the tariff war against
France started by Premier CrispI. which has
proved Of such incalcuIabIe injury TO the eco
nomic welfare Of Italy. while on the subject of
internal administration his ideas differ ra5i-
cally from those Of his parent and Of the latters
principal Ministers and political advisers in the
last decade.
Humbert whose education had been sadly
neglected by his father. who reserved all
his affection and attention for his iuegitirnate
children made the mistake Of considering him
self perfect slave 70 the letter Of the Italian
constitution. He was not broad minded Or
/ clever enough 20 realize that there were times
when he should have preferred the letter Of the
constitution to its spirit. OF that there were ec-
casions when by too blind obedience 10 its writ
ten clauses he was actually defeating it's In
tentions 1t is largely due TO this that of late
years the constitution has become a curse rather
/ than blessing to the nation; that the parIa1
mentary methods Of Italy have grown 70 b. a
subject of derision both at home and abroad.
and that the Government finally landed itself in
a species of administrative and political "cal de
sac" from which there no issue. and which
was of q nature TO infict incalculable damage to
/ the prestige of the kingdom
/ THE misunderstood CONSTITUTION
/ True none Of the Italian Kings who have
regned since the foundation Of the constitution
seem to have understood its true import. and
HUmbert like his father and grandfather be-
\ fore him. was always disposed. possibly by r-a-
/ Of military rraiDiuur IN manifest gre.
I degree Of interest in parliamentary tactics and
/ strategy than in the national issues at stale.
King Charles Albert indeed well the lake
King Victor Emmanue-. used 10 ind a favori--
I pastime in playing with tn varI0Us poici-l-
parties in the Legislature. in engineering moves
and in esging the rival factions one against
another just as if they had been so many
/ gamecOcks in a pit. Indeed. they never made
/ any secret of their contempt for popular gov
eminent which they considered as merely d-s-
/ tined TO provide them with entertainment
/ Humbert went 10 the other extreme. and made
himself the slave of every ephemeral Parlia-
/ mentary majority, except where the Triple Al
lance and the army and navy were concerned
| Italy's new King may be trusted. however. %.
appreciate in a more intelligent fashion his
duties as a constitutional monarch. Re
realizes the fact that there are times WIEN
/ neither the Ministers OF the day nor the Par
/ Iiamentary majority represent the VIII OF the
best interests of the people. and that at s,.-l
| moments not only his subjects but likewise
/ foreign nations look 10 the monarch 70 grasp
| the tiller of the ship Of state with a firm hani
/ as the one man in the kingdom who is above the
| manOUvres ana intrgues of the various poI--i-
cal parties, who has no obligations 10 any Ie-fs-
Iative factions and who. in the eyes OF ali at
home and abroad. is the responsible guardian
| of the interests, welfare and honor OF Italy.
| THE NEW KINGS PROBABLE COURSE.
| Humbert had constitutio1alism on the brain
| and effaced himself politically. Victor En-
| manuel III may be trusted 10 pursue an entirely
different course. and to comprehend the fact
that the masses Of his people are sick OF poli-i-
| cal parties and or Parliament. taught by sad
! experience that administrative majOrities IN
| Parliament are managed by the provincial au-
| thorities without any regard to the views of The
| registered electors, and that whether the latter
go to the polls or stay away the result will be
| the same.
| The former King Victor Emmanuel owed much
| of his great popularity to a step which he took
| at the very outset of his reign. 1t was in 1Si9
| Finding that the sO-called Sub-AIpine Parlia.-
ment was pursuing identicaly the same tactics.
/ as have now become the fashion in the national
| legislature at Rome. and that government by
Parllament-that is TO say. in accordance with
the letter of the ConStitution-had become i'm