Evening star., 1901-08-12
" a French garrison for the pope.

Dy FrenCn garrison IOT pope.
The revolution in Sicily and in Naples.
expelling the Bourbon king Francis II.
had been effected by the victories Of Carl
baldi in September and October of the
local supporters at Palermo was Crlspl,
then young barrister Born at Ribera. in
Sicily. in October. 1919. Crispi, in 1S4S had
taken part in the insurrection provoked
by the tyranny of King Ferdinand. That
insurrection having been suppressed in Ma
pies and Sicily by an army Of Swiss and
other foreign mercenaries. large number
OF the most respected members Of the SEN
ate and of the chamber were incarceratcd
in the dungeons Of Ischia and Procida.
where they languished ten years. Mr..
Gladstone, Lord Aberdeen and Lord Palm .
erston exerted themselves In vain TO pro-
cure the release Of those political martyrs,
who had committed no legal ofrense.
Right-Hand Man of GaribaIdi.
In 1859. France and Sardinia having de-
the liberation of all Italy. the petty des-
potic governments of central italy were
overthrown by popular demonstrations,
and in the autumn of 1860 the expe1 1ition
of Garibaldi from Genoa. which was ac-
companied by Crispi. speedily effected the
downfall of the Bourbon dynasty Crspi
fought as a soldier for the liberty of Sicily
and held office in it's provincial govern
ment until its annexation to the KIM gdom
VI ltdlJ. appeared IN the ltallan par
Lament as the right-hand man of Carl
baldt, whose views were opposed to the
policy of Cavour, and who loudly demand-
ed an immediate attack on the + .maining
papal dominion, at the cost Of war with
France, and renewal of the war with
Austria for the deliverance Of Venice.
From that time on Crispi was a notable
leader in the parliament Of his country.
of deputies in 1876 by 232 votes, against
1lo. There were some misgivings as to
the policy of placing him in this important
position on account Of his violent temper,
but he reaSsured the deputies in a famous
comparison of himself to Etnal
Crispi took Office in the cabinet for the
first time along with Signor Depretis dur
ing the exciting two months which witt
messed the deaths OF Victor Emmanuel and
of Pope Plus TX. In that time lie succeed
ed in arousing violent opposition. n poli-
tician who had exalted parliamentary con-
troll. he showed Indifference to parliament
by summary, though mastery, rearrarge-
ment of the great departments
Became Premier in 1887.
The reversion Of the leadership was as
sured to him. and he had not long to wait
for it. Signor Depretis died in July, 1857
when the ministry was reorganized, with
Crispi at it's head.
Although Crispi had secured a majority
Of 236 in the chamber at the parliament
his fall came about or question of taxa
ton, his popularity having been greatly di-
minished by his high-handed refusal to con-
s!der the necessity of retrenchment in mill
tary and naval expenditures.
Signor Crispi was again called to the
head OF the government, and on December
TO- 1894. formed coalition ministry, but
his cabinet was again defeated in May,
1895, on the financial question
Meanwhile the gravest charges against
Crispis personal integrity had been brought
forward, but they finally COLLAPSED In the
criminal court, and the chamber of depu-
ties ignored them.
Adventures I'm MatrimOny.
Crispi was married three times. His first
wife was Rosena. the daughter of the
owner of the house In which he lodged
while young barrister at Palermo She
died in two years. When he was thirty
four years old and political prisoner In
Turin. he welded Resale, one Of the, prison
laundresses, despite the opposition of his
friends. They lived together many years,
but when Crispi tecame a great man in
Rome they had differences and the couple
separated, 1t being alleged thaethefEuar-
rage had been fraud
In 1872 Crispi met at reception at Pa
lermo an attractive young widow! with
whom he fell desperately In loye He was
married to her by a religioua ceremony
only, the civil marriage being omitted in
order not to attract public attention and
prevent possible outbreak from Rosalie.
When, year or two afterwa Nj. the civil
marriage was celebrated, one Of Gfispis
political enemies brought the charge of
bigamy against him. and he was pat on
trial at Naples for that offense, but ac-
quilted. 9t99 n