Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-24
THE TROUBLE At MALTA.
Discussion of the Language Question
From an English View.

From an English View.
From the London Times
For the last two or three years the chief
grievance has been the policy of the gov
eminent in regard to the Italian language
The tongue spoken by the people is NAL
tese, based, as every one knows, on Arabic,
though no doubt containing not a few
Italian words. Long ago Italian came into
use among the educated and wealthy, the
schools being mostly controlled by the
Italian priesthood, and the use Of it has
been in a sense the badge of superior so
clal station. In view Of the fact that
large part of the population was English,
the compulsory employment Of Italian in
courts of law was inconvenient, and from
time TO time there was a risk of miscar-
riage Of justice. That actually happened
not long ago, when British officer, Colonel
Hewson, refusing to sign dispositions writ
ten In Italian on the ground that he did
not understand the language was COM
mitted by the court for contempt. There
upon Mr.. Chamberlain announced the deci-
sion of the government to make the Eng
lish language optional in all the courts,
and to insist that summOnSes, warrants,
etc, served on Engish-speaking persons
should be written in English as well as
Italian. An order in council made in 1899
gave British subjects not born natural
ICED in Malta right to use the English
language in proceedings against them.
This, however, was only preliminary step.
The mass of the people have in divers
ways shown their sense of the value of
instruction in English. Under the present
scheme of education parents have to choose
when their children reach the third stand
ard in what second language they will be
taught. 1t is matter altogether optional
There is no pressure brought to bear in
favor of English Now, in 1898, 1899 and
1900 97.s. 9s.6 and 99.4 per cent Of the
parents chose English. So far as there are
means of ascertafning true popular senti-
ment, as distinguished from the opinion Of
clique, it is in favor of English. Not
from any action on the part Of the govern
ment, but owing to the operation of natu-
raj causes. and, in particular, the advan-
tage which that language gives the NAL
tese in commerce, the study Of it Is be-
coming more and more popular. DIR. MizZt
and Mr.. Dammit would wantonly arrest the
culture in whose name they claim to speak.
In these circumstances the government
came to the conclusion that the time was
not far off when the English language
might be definitely fixed upon as the lam
guage of the courts, and they tentatively
fixed upon a period Of fifteen years, at the
end of which, consistently with existing in
terests, the change should take place. No
one denies that, IL from any cause the
knowledge of English is less common at
that time than Is now anticipated, the reg
ulation will be modified. We should be
sorry to see anything done in violence of
the wishes as to this point of people who
have many claims on the good will OF the
government. But a minority. however in
fiuential, must not be allowed to stand in
the way Of language which in point Of
fact the Maltese prefer to Italian