New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-18
THE ITALIAN ELECTIONS.
Part Played By Catholics in Recent
Contest at Polls,


On the 9TH and l4th of March the election Of the
twenty-third parliament took place Although the
Socialists had continued their political activity,
their counsels controlled by the moderate se-
rnents which seemed honestly DESTROYS OF avoiding
unnecessary disputes between capital and labor.
The Clericas, the voters in close communion
with the Roman Church are called relieved tenn
porary from the fear of socialism, had organized
themselves for political action more thoroughly
than ever before Their political freedom how
ever had been considerably restricted by the Holy
See itself Indeed, the Papacy, which has never
recognized the power which deprived it Of tenn
poraI sovereignty. could hardly be expected form
ally to allow its faithful followers to go to the
polls They were, on the contrary. forbidden TO
do so by Plus TX and Leo XIII, until in 1884. this
prohibition was made formal and explicit in
decree called the non expedit. Before the present
Pope came the throne he was. as Cardinal Sarto
of Venice, well known for his kindly fesiings
toward the kingdom and for his willingness, even
eagerress that Catholics should perform their
duties as italian citizens. Catholicsthat Is Cqeri
caIs-took an active part IN the campaign Of 1904
and all encycIicaI Of Plus X. dated July. 1905. was
generally taken to mean that he had accepted the
Inevitable. and. without formally abrogatins the
non expedit. had done so practically.
This hope has been disappointed. Plus has from
the beginning OF his reign. come more and more
under the influence OF the reactiouary elenasnt In
the Curia Shortly before the elections 1t was off,
calIv announced that the non eXpe4it remained in
una bated vigor; and that only vi. Italian bish-
ops had made il clear to the Vatican that in their
doceses the votes OF their subjects we're necessary
70 defeat a SociSlist other dangerous candidate
would permission to vote be granted. II is easy 20
see WHY the Pope should not wish TO have regu-
larlv organized Clerical party in parliament This
would accentuate the strife, too bitter already.
between the Catholics ana Socialists. and might
also seem to make him responsible for the acts
Of such party. On the other hand many anti
Clericals suspect that he. or at any rate his ad-
visers would be glad TO have strong informal
representation IN parliament, II this could be &C
compshed without arousins the approximations or
the Liberals.
GioIitti was returned with majority of about
three hundred and fifty in a Chamber OF nearly
tive hundred members An italian Prime Minister
having as chief of powerful bureaucracy, COM
pete control local officials, can always win an
election II he is not too scrUpulous as TO means
And In this campaign there we'll authenticated
Instances OF corruption and OF violent intimidation
for which the ministry was responsible. However
Giolitti will unquestionaoy meet a stronger oppo-
siton In this than in the previous Legislature. be-
cause many rather coorIess Liberal deputies. who
were sometimes for the ministry and sometimes
against IT, have been replaced by vigorous oppo-
nents The extreme Left consisting OF Socialists
Radicals and Republicans numbers 1os; the Centre
or constitutional opposition. about forty with may
be twenty other constitutionals who will sometimes
vote with them. Moreover. the Centre and the Left
might easily under conceivable circumstances unite
The Socialists made impressive gains. counting
forty-tyvo members in the present Chamber as
against eighteen in the last The Clercals also
increased their numbers from four to twenty-four
What position they will take or whether they will
take any united position remains to be Just
now they protesting that they do not and will
not form a party but will individually vote for
what they consider the best interests OF both Church
and State In the time. three things Ger
tain First that in districts their entrance
into the caused the defeat OF conservative
candidate and the election Of Socialist Radical
second that in this. as in previous elections. many
Clericals voted without the permission OF the &c
ces!astical authorities. and third, that their or
eaniza ton the Catholic Union did work ar all
In harmony with the instructions of the Popa