New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-22
ITALY'S DECISION
Determined Entirely by Popular
Hatred of Tyranny and Oppression.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Several letters from one who signs him.
self "B Viola" have appeared in your paper
during the last few months, and every oneot
them has teemed with statements about italy
and the Italians so palpaby false and mis-
leading as to be almost funny. This person
writes with particular virulencc and reckless
ness. He declares himself TO be an Amer-
can. though his name betrays an Italian birth
or descent lie reads, however, like one OF
the most bitter Of Teutons. Tie auparent'yh
Of the school OF Commandments who give
their children toy 20 play with in the form
of a steamship which is named the Lusitans'
and with which they divert themselves By
sending it again and again 20 the bottom OF
the family washtubs. while the assembled
relatives stand by and join in he cheers.
He calls the action Of the Italians IN break
ing their hateful alliance with Prussia
"treachery." That alliance was made BY
government for political reasons; il has nov
been broken by whole people for the most
humane and patriotic reasons. The Irpe
Alliance has been a yoke which the lialaa
people have borne with restless disgust foT
years, and all who have had any intimate as.
ISOLATION with Italians must be fully aware o.
his fact. have been closely associated WIN
them for the last seventeen years, and have
never heard a word Of friendly ceiling eN
pressed by a single one of the Iuncred'
have talked within their own anguage-
for Austria or Germany. They have 81
breathed heavily under the incubus OF os'
tested and unnatural partnership. ! was IL
Genoa in 1892 at the time an exposition ""
being held there, and | wildly remember
the glowing articles that appeared in the
local papers on the morning after the 81
rival of a French battleship sent to %
honor TO the fiesta" In every word OF tness
articles was shown forth the flndamen'S'
love of the one Latin nation for the o'hst
Mr.. Viola does not seem 20 realize tna' ".
peoples of Italy and France are one N 'he'
love of individual liberty. 10 is apt 70 "
the case always with temperamenta. races
they are not so easily made slaves 90 au'oe'
lacies as the more sluggish peoples IKE 'ns
Teutons. The fever Of freedom is 10 'n''
souls.
Recently spent a couple Of hours IN ",
"parlor ROOM" as the simpler Italians COS,
their place for receiving their noho,s-
guests. of an Italian tailor IN philadelphia J.,
host showed me with pride all ln a 20" y
fervor as he was at the entrance 81 ms -
loved "patria" IN the European conflict %"
gallery. The walls of thee sides Of the '0y-
were given up to large pictures. OF when ','
following is a partial list: Columbus jan
Verdi, Gordano Bruno, Fefrer. Daf'p' w. "
Gabriel Marx, Victor Hugo and MazL'hL -
the course Of conversation that e'eN"s
learned that the little group OF tuends =,
cred there was representative Of the voice "
the whole Italian colony in PhA"de'P"''
voice raised for the rights Of man @s ~
posed to the most dangerously suO'e' ~
tyranny the world has ever kno"a' "".
the Prussian military autocracy. Inc! A.
at has gone far beyond the mere ques.'O" -,
recovering lost provinces; 70 is no" -,
cause of justice and liberty thar We Of
/ fight the German alliance, for the HSh"
humanity through all the world are 2 GS"'
of receiving a mortal blow" n.
Had italy not made the decision th@' a
has made she would have been un"0I'a; =.
holding a place in the honor l'i " ne
nations which are fighting the oHlte "a.
right of men and women to deNe.oP 90,
selves in the light Of freedom N'' me
says he is an American, though h" tshs
would hardly betray that fact; su'. h,s 'rogN
knowledge of Italians and their 'de'o s,y.
seem to warrant the belief that he Li,t,
thing you will save that which MS "a'u' h.,is
at. II he is an American who shaA A. hen
with all the great people he 'o.,,s,o,msi
I am sorry he has been 50 bAu'! r,alisp
about our Italian friends. u he Is q" 80
| feel still more sorry for him. i0'
traitor, pure and simple. .,. r,trRY
Brooklyn, July is, 1918.