The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-10-09
ITALY AND NEUTRALITY.

If Italy shall succeeded in keeping
out of the war, it will be a triumph
against great odds for those states
men who are endeavoring to redeem
the pledge the government has made.
negative quantity, which is to say that
ltaly's neutrality is at best a sort OF
it is quite clearly understood that the
sentiment of the whole people is
against her allies in the triple alliance,
but in the face of this she is not TAX
ing up arms against them. The dis
patches each day tell of appeals from
the rabble to declare war, of mobs
gathering before the English and
French embassies and cheering for
the allies, of protective measures
taken by officials in Rome to prevent
violence at the German diplomatic
headquarters. In the face of this and
because of the overtures which are
generally believed to have been made
to enlist her armed support in behalf
of one cause or the other, the task of
ltaly's statesmen is even greater than
that of Our own to persuade our peo-
pie to be neutral in thought as we'll as
action-more difficult than was the
task of the Washington government
to silence the jingoes who a few
months ago demanded intervention in
Mexico (and who are almost sure to
again demand it in the light of the
latest turn affairs have taken there).
1t will indeed be a victory for sober
and well poised statesmen if they
steer Italy's course clear of the rocks.
If Italy should in the end engage
in the war it would be surprising it
she did not cast her lot with the allies.
ANY other course, judging from cabled
accounts of the attitude of her citi-
Zens and a consideration of political
and economic. conditions obtaining in
Italy, would seem most unlikely. II
she cast henlot with the allies it could
only be with the end in view of gain
ing territory that would be Austria
loss. IT, on the other hand, she re-
main neutral and in the final reckon
ing Austria should be found the Loser
in the great struggle, it seems alto
gethef likely that, basing her prayers
on her neutrality (something that i:
most valuable to the allies, any rea
sonab1e demands for territorial ad
vantages would receive the favorabl,
consideration of the victors in thu
war; If other nations not now en-
gagged in the conflict shall enter, anC
by reason of their entry endange
Italy's interests, then it will be tim
enough for Rome to decide the issue
In the meantime by staying out of TIL
quarrel her business and industrial lif
IS not suffering the eclipse that ha
darkened the warning nations, he
treasury is not being drained to sup
ply the sinews of war, her sons ar
not FORGETTING their lives on the battle
hcld, her cities and towns are FIRE
from attack and destruction, her field
are yielding their harvests instead Q
being trampled and burned by tn
hosts of war and peace is contribut
ing to her progress in art, industry
commerce, education, science an
trade. The early decision OF ltal
not to be a party to the war appear
from every angle of approach to hay
been wisely arrived at and the SUE
cess of her statesmen in maintainin
this stand against the economic di
tress that will grow greater as II
war proceeds. The working class il
evitably must bear the brunt of Il