The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1902-04-12
MALTA'S GRIEVANCES.
ENGLISH SUBSTITUTED FOR ITALIAN
AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.

OOnPAsAA&B OI Cne maltese treated with
Contempt. by Secretary Chamberlain
and Passed Over by Parliament
Natives Seek Homo Rule in Vain.
The island of Malta is at present
greatly angered at it's British govern
ors. The complaints of the Maltese
have been treated with contempt by
Mr.. Chamberlain, the secretary for
the colonies and have been passed over
by parliament. The case for the ma
tives has been put in the shape of
pamphlet addressed <*To the English
Nation" which the London Daily
Chronicle condenses, with extracts, as
follows: 1t is pointed out that the
Maltese have been for century under
British rule, and during all this
period have given constant proofs of
loyalty. They were always, and are
still, proud to belong to England, but
their contention is that they have al
ways claimed in vain those benefits
which they considered should have ac-
crued to them from this union. The
Maltese have so far claimed in vain
to have their home rule. They have
uselessly applied to the imperial gov
ernment, through a deputation sent to
London in 1909, with a view of pro-
testing against the substitution of the
of obtaining the political freedom to
administer their own government.
Their just claims have been obstinate
ly rejected, and they are now groaning
under military government always
severer and harsher. They have now
decided to make an appeal to the gen
erous English people. hoping that
their moderate pretensions may be
taken up by the British parliament.
England has always been the school
of freedom. and we are, therefore.
sure that our appeal to the generosity
o fthe English nation will not be in
vain.'
The appeal claims that the decision
of the people on the language question,
and on that of the taxes, could not
have been more unanimously express
ed than in the meetings held on May 5
and June 2.
with reference to the language
question we beg to state that those
official members of the council of gov
ernment to whom the task is entrust-
cd of bringing about the substitution
of the English for the Italian Ian
guage, have frequently misrepresent-
ed the bearings of this subject; it is,
therefore, our duty frankly to declare
that no one is contrary to the teach
ing of the English language and to it's
diffusion in Malta, but that all NAL
tese are contrary to it's substitution
for Italian, are contrary to the exclu-
sion of the latter from these islands
This opposition of the Maltese being
thus briefly and clearly defined, its
justice is self-evident, and it becomes
quite Ineligible that the Maltese are
asking for what they have right, and
maintain what the government can
not deprive them of without commit
ting an act of the most odious vio-
lence.'
Malta, it is contended, at it's self
cession to Great Britain, received the
most solemn promises from the King
that the rights of the Maltese would
always be protected. Among these
rights the Italian language is declared
to be included, and it's maintenance
in it's ancient position is absolutely
insisted upon. In regard to the state
ment that the government desire for the
substitution of English for Italian for
the benefit of the Maltese. are well able
to judge of their own interests. 1t is
added:
with regard to the question of
taxes, there is little to say; the unani-
nous declarations of all classes of the
population, especially of the clergy
and of the legal body, to the effect that
the Maltese are not in position to pay
heavier taxes than they now do, is
quite an insurmountable objection to
the creation of new taxes. Malta, once
so prosperous, is now reduced almost
to misery. To this reason another
may be added-and this .>is, that So
long as Malta is deprived of admin
istering it's own government, so far as
local affairs are concerned, the govern
ment has no right to appeal for fur
ther taxes. We conclude by express
ing our hope that our just demands
:or better constitution and our most
energetic opposition to the substitution
If the English language for the
italian and the creation Of new taxes,
will find deserved appreciation in
your sense of justice and humanity"
New York, Sun.
= Behr MonOrall Sanctioned.