Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-14
ITALY

l.
SOMETIMEs the wallfower's the strategic
~ position. Italy as the wallhower of Eu-
rope, looking on at the great melee, has had
much the best of it so far, especially from
the point of view of the several hundred
thousand Italians who would be dead by
this time had she stepped out from the
wall and accepted the attentions of either
the Triple Entente or the Triple Alliance
last fall.
But, of course, in the long run, 1t is far
more important to statesmen to acquire ad-
ditional patches of land and to put over
coups d'etat than it is to preserve peace and
save lives Unfortunately, merely keeping the
peace hasn't much prestige or appreciation'
in the court of public opinion So there is
much talk in Italy of what her share is
going to be when it comes to the end of the
war and to dividing up the spois. There is
also a busy revival of a grievance against
Austria which will furnish a plausible rea-
son for backing out of the Triple Alliance
The best reason far takes the form OF
two Austrian provinces, Trentino and Trieste
lying along her northern boundary, which
have never belonged to modern Italy. In
1866 Giuseppe MaZzini contended that be-
cause of the geographical formation of the
land, and because of Italian customs, tradi-
tions and language prevalent there, these
two provinces belonged rightfully to Italy
Guglielmo Ferrero the Roman journalist,
who became. with the publication of his
fascinating Roman history few years ago,
probably the most conspicuous of modern
historians, writes In the Atlantic Monthly
I'd on "Italy's Duty" Both his italian citi-
zenship and his worldwide fame his
torIcal authority give the article added in
terest.
He quotes the Maz2ini essay contending
that Italy has a title to those two northern
provinces, and shows himself an ardent Ma
tionalist in his summing up.
Within 80 years the Slavic language will be
the speech OF Trieste and the Istrian cities, un-
less I've conquer Istrfa and every memory OF
Italy will fade from those lands which, since
the days of Augustus, have always been Latin
We shall be overwhelmed with shame II we
allow the speech OF our fathers to be corrupted
little by little. by new people.
The reasons are neither few nor OF little
moment which today spur Italy on to unite
herself in arms with the coalition which is MAX
ing war against the Germanic Empires They
are reasons so vital that 1t is easy to foresee
that II Italy stands with folded arms she may
perhaps receive mortal blow
Never perhaps, was Italy perplexed and
divided do not doubt that the majority -
OF the whole country are on the side of neu-
trality. In the political world we find proof
the Socialist party and the Clerical party :
which are certainly much stronger than the
rest - openly favorable to neutrality. Turn
Ing from political parties to the country at
large, It safely be affirmed that the peo-
pls-the peasants and the artisans-are almost
al aYerse 20 any kind of war, a war
sgalnst Austria. The multitude desires peace.
The educated middle classes, on the other hand,
are belllcose, the bureaucracy. the Journalists,
the teachers OF the common schools and many
professional people, physicians and lawyers.
Almost all the important newspapers which
have "A wide circulation for war; but these
classes while they have much influence on pub
lie opinion have not yet succeeded In inhaming
from end OF Italy to the other those por-
tlons OF the population whose soul Is armored
In cold prudence and love Of quiet.
Today Italy pays not only for the mistake of
having entered into an alliance with Austria
and Germany In 1882, but for a mistake per-
haps serious than the first, that OF not
being aware that since 1905 the Triple Alliance
had changed its character from a league ~
peace. little by little into league of aggres-
sion l do not know what may happen on that
day when, In the midst OF Europe rent by war
and restless In the face OF such ruin the italian
people become persuaded that the monarchy bv
the mistakes OF Its foreign policy has prevented
italy from taking the italian provinces II Is
even possible that the monarehys last hour win |
styiks. '
Rising Prices Of Inferno Stock
This great historian takes the two prov
inces SO seriously that It is like the sharp
contrast OF comedy In a tragedy to urn
TO the Independent and read there a lighter |
valuation OF the importance OF Trentino (s);
What sort OF land Is this that Italy eovets
20 that she Il willing TO fight Austria 10 80 |
ltf Nothing lesa than that which Danta skstetSs /
IN ms Inferno For Dante once lived in Trent /
e, % what "a now Austrian Tyrol But he did not |
-, Hnen no described the descent tntn 49,
setenth Circle Of the Inferno where are eea- 49,
ire-, @ s'sn ss e violence hs draws hia comparison
ans taaf the lasts fof Wild ana rugged sesne-, y