New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-15
"GARIBALDrS SUCCESSORS"
Comment of a Member of the Race
of Garibaldini.
o 40 Fii.nr Of Tie Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial on THE Successors OF
Garibaldi" interests me as a member of a
race Of Garibaldini and Carbonari, and some
would think that l should feel that Italy de-
serves the rebukes that are being thrown at
her. The question of Italy going into the
war will be decided by what her statesmen
believe is the policy to pursue in order to
have an existence when the map of Europe
is remade after the war. Whether Italy re-
gains Trent and Trieste Is really minor
matter; the race question will be adjusted
in time as the Austrian government begins
20 realize that her pace leads to destruction.
Italy will either 60 into tho war because
She is threatened by England or she will
STAY out because she will feel that although
she has large coast line any attempt on the
part Of England to chastise her would be but
2 repetition of the German atrocity in Bel
GUM.
There is no reason why Italy should go
into the war in order TO oblge England. Ger
many may not be innocent, but highlands
past crimes are not wiped out by Home Rule
tor Ireland or worhingmen's compensation or
insurance laws. Germany has much
greater claim on Alsace Lorraine than Eng
land has on India, Egypt Gibraltar, Malta
and Cyprus, which was the price of Eng
lands allowing the infdel Turk to remain
in Europe after the Russians started to push
him out.
The Triple Alliance was only an honorable
treaty while Italy remained in the confidence
Of her allies. Both Germany and Austria
..1. - .oiV 81
Of patriots" who were continually yelling
for war with Austria, and so the break. If 1t
did not come when It did, would have come
later on anyway The alliance with Austria
was an unnatural one and should have been
broken long ago.
It may be a far cry from the heroism Of
the Mile" TO the cool calculations of Sidney
Sonnino. even as it is far cry from the
words of relative who said il was glorious
to die in the midst of so much glory, when
the French shot him at the Vatican in 1919.
But il is better than to see thousands Of
Italy's best young men slaughtered, thou
sands Of homes devastated, thousands Of
weeping mothers and wives, all because Eng
lands ambitions as a world power should be
paramount to the ambitions of Germany.
Germany's attack on Belgium may be
atrocious, but the time 1t took England to
wake up was a much bigger crime.
Italy has no real grievance against Austria
and Germany, none that will serve as an ex-
cuse for war. The matter OF Trent and
Trieste is a stale proposition as when the
population Is ready the whole Austrian En-
pre will be disintegrated, as il should be,
and without the necessity of Italy spilling
blood for land that is not worth il. Italy
has been at the zenith Of her prosperity, and
she has gained an immense territory in
Africa. where her sons will emgrate in
stead Of TO Argentina and the United States.
Why should she fight?
There are times for the spirit Of Cavour
and times for the spirit Of Garbaldi, but the
time for the spirit Of Garibaldi is not now.
What do we want 20 do: set the whole world
fighting? With Italy in the field. Bulgaria,
Greece and Rumania would probably follow.
Then we are soon to have Japan fighting
China, and who knows but that the United
States may be drawn into the fracas?
Ii may be quite the thing 20 fight, but |
am not going to misjudge Italy because she
will not, and sincerely hope that her states
men will be able TO preserve a bold front in
spite Of what threats they may receive either
from England or France or from Germany or
Austria. LUIGI CRISCUOLO.
New York. May 7, 1915.