The Washington herald., 1909-01-17
ITALYS KING PRAISED
Justifes Victorias Opinion that He Is the Most
Intelligent Prince in Europe.

he happened 20 be obliged 20 receive In
audience q Roman count whom he knew
had been sneering az the late Kings dem
ocratic ways. Just SIS the count was
about 10 take his leave. Victor Emmanuel
with a smile, exclaimed. BY the BY. ]
hear that you are the president OF the
Blank Company" Somewhat enbar-
raised. the count replied. Certainly.
One must find some outlet for ones ac-
tivities. Is there no other outlet for
your activity than that?, inquired the
then crown prince Surely. for a man
ike yourself. the head OF family such
as yours, there is the army. a political
career, or philanthropy. One Of your an
eestors, remember. fell by the side Of
nay ancestor, Emmanuel Filiberto."
And then he went on to enumerate a
number Of the counts forbears who had
played q glorious role in the military.
political. and administrative service OF
Italy He wound up by saying. When
one bears such name as yours. one has
no right TO serve anything save ones
country and humanity" But I am not
serrlng anybody" returned the sadly dis
concerted count. as II excUsing himself.
That is So exclaimed Victor Emman-
uel. You are serving nothing but your
he turned his back upon him
II was in keeping with this remark
that not long after he came TO the throne
he. during the course Of one Of his brief
and somewhat rare public addresses. ex-
claimed; In Italy no man does mis- duty
From the highest to the lowest the
laisSer faire and laxity are complete Nov
il is 10 the accomplishment Of their sew
eral duties that all without distinction
must be called I begin with myself and
am trying to DO my duty. conscientiously
and with love This must serve as an
example and as a spur 10 others. Ny
ministers must help ne in everything.
and they must premise nothing that they
cannot perform They must not create
illusions" These were no empty words.
King Victor Emmanuel without any vio-
iation OF his constitutional rights has
established himself thoroughly as the IN
questioned master of his people. with an
amount OF personal authority and infu-
ence superior TO that enjoyed by any OF
his predecessors on the throne Of Itary.
OF Sardinia. and Of Savoy
This authority is largely derived from
the universal belief IN the sanity Of his
judgment, in his profound sense Of JUS
tice and OF fair play. and in his honesty
Of purpose X Is also based on the con
viction that his eye IS everywhere an
impression 60 which he contributes Ev
flying about all over the country. by
rail and By automobile There IS hardly
a hamlet in Italy which he has not vis-
tied. and where he is not known. and by
thus taking the trouble to get into per
sOnal contact with his subjects. no mat
ter how humble. be has brought home 10
them the fact that he has their interests
and their welfare az heart
Even the Socialists admire him. while
ne on his side has kindly feeling toward
them. based upon a careful study Of their
utterances. OF their methods. and Of their
literature Speaking some time ago about
them. he exclaimed.
Il have read the speeches Of the mem
bers OF that party. have studied their
political and social programmes. and
have arrived at the conclusion that II
those men were entrusted with the gov
ernment they would do good work FOR the
country. Il IS true that their programme
contains an snti-mOnarchicaI plan But
that does not prevent me from sppreciat-
ing the value OF their economic and 50
cial policy.
IF the Socialists oppose the monarchy.
il is because the MoBarchical party re-
gard the Socialists as. ipsO facto. enc
mics of modern society. I am certain
that at the bottom the Socialists do not
bother themselves much about the form
OF government. whether il be monarcbicsl
-
Gle themselves 10 a monarchy. If the
constitutional parties would take them
by the hand and work together for social
and economic reforms
This IS a policy which the King has
endeavored by every means in his power
to promote. and much Of the legislation
which he has personally initiated since
he came 10 the throne. and FOR which he
is even more responsible than his minis
ters. has been carried through Parlia-
ment with the Endorsement Of the Repub-
icans and Socialists, who felt themselves
compelled 10 vote in favor Of laws pro
posed by the administration. owing TO the
fact that these measures had formed
part and parcel OF their own programme
and were Of so progressive and liberal a
character that they could TIE no Dos
sible exception thereto. True. there has
never been any actual alliance Of the
King and his government with the So
cialists- In fact, at the last general cleo
ton, the issue at the polls was monarchy
against republicanisn. the administration
announcing that il would not oppose any
candidates who supported the dynasty.
and C0ntenting itself with enumerating
the laws enacted since Victor Emmsn-
ueIs accession. the contest resulting IN
an overwhelming victory for the Crown.
and in a phenomenal decline in the anti
dynastic vote.
But still, when one finds the Socialists
and the Republicans voting with the gov
ernment in favor Of liberal measures
known 70 owe their origin TO tbs King.
II must be admitted that the animositv
between the two is not OF a very acute
nature. and that, TO say the least. some
thing ir the nature OF a modus vivend!
exists. What this means to the economic
and political welfare Of a country so
honeyconbed with Socialism as italy was
a quarter OF a century ago, only those
who recall the sanguinary instructions
tnat so STleVously disturbed Italian trade
and industry during the reign Of the late
King Humbert can appreciate.
Victor Emmanuel commenced his tenure
Of the throne by sternly refusing TO re-
sort 10 exceptional measures for the sup
preston Of anarchy. that is. Of the move
ment which had robbed him by assassina-
ton of a father 10 whom he was devoted.
declaring that the existing laws were
for every purpose, and that
Italy must under all circumstances re-
main free country He proclaimed
through his ministers in Parliament his
Of the usefulness OF
wOrkmen's syndicates, as well as of the
fact that the organization of the working
classes into unions was the best way OF
protecting the proletariat.