The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-30
Dy PROF. NINCENZO DE sANTO,
University Of p~nus,ivsnia.

C~niSersity Of P~nnsyIvsnia.
: May I. 1915. the denunc!ation OF the
Triple Alliance on the part OF Italy,
marks one Of the most brilliant pages
In the annals OF the Italian people. The
knowledge OF this denunciation caused
a great sigh OF relief In the breast Of
every Italian. II was as II an oppress-
ing and despised weight had been taken
or our back 1t was our first great VIC
tory against the Teutons in this worlds
struggle.
Italy has been accused OF perfdy she
has been called faithless and mercenary
she has also been put ahead OF England
In the list of the most hated nations OF
the earth in Germany. All of this and
more we expected from the Teutons. and
therefore are not at all impressed by It.
We are very much concerned. however,
TO find that there are stu 4 few Ameri-
cans who are bent upon blaming Italy
for her entrance In the war against her
former allies. This attitude. OF course.
Is the result OF a misunderstanding. and
II Is largely due to the fact that this
small percentage of the American people
have not had the time or opportunity to
study over the reasons that have
prompted Italy to take the step she has
taken.
We esteem so much and are so much
In need OF the friendship and moral sup
port OF America that we cannot AFFORD
TO leave one American uniformed OF the
truth In this great question. Let us.
therefore. cast a RI pid glance upon the
past and study the relation between Italy
n the Teutonic nations for the last
half "A century.
by way of introduction. let me say
that the 1.atins and the Teutons we're
never since the time Of Cesar on very
friendly terms. They were always
either at war with each other or q. &
state OF peace forced by circumstance.
As for a perfect. mutual understanding.
productive OF enduring harmony. we can
find no trace OF II between the two peo-
pies. The soul OF the Teutons IL SO
different from hat OF the I.a;ins.
Results Of 1870.
Now let us go back for a momen. TO
the year 1870. In that memorable year,
with the taking of Rome. Italy emerged
into life a new and united nation, full of
glory ana full of hope. The JOY OF the
new freedom made the people forget for
the time being the horrors OF war they
had just gone through the atrocities in
fiicted upon them. especially by Austria
the martyrdom OF so many thousands OF
noble and valiant Youths. and even the
fact that two provinces. Trent and
Trieste. which hal fought for freedom
80 heroically together with the other
provinces. had IN the end been left out
side the fold Of the mother land.
Besides being forGetful OF these woes
the Third Italy" had not yet had the
time I realize the precarious condition
in which she found herself. Finan-
cial'y- she was oh the brink OF bank
, ruptcy. The. percentage OF, illiterarv
was appalling throughout the country,
was undeveloped and, what
was worse. she WAS isolated as Il nation,
u policy extremely dangerous for her.
especially because there was danger Of
being attacked by Austria and Germany
together. with u view. TO restore the
T. p. - his temporal power. In 1876
Bismarck had made TO the Foreign Min
lister u Austria and 10 the papal Nun
clio. Wa mad approached hin IN the
subjer'. the significant remark that
Italy was not considered by Germany
az one of her f'iends."
II iii not take ve-y long. however.
for the Italian Government as well as
The pepI lie { realize the dtnge OF iso-
iatiJn. In seeking an alliance II was
natural 70 look 10 France hrst, but BIS
marCk, who should he called the Iron
Hearted Chancellor" in the sense tina;
he had no scruple whatever. was too
wise - permit a .anco-ltalian alliance
which ,ater would have been IA him
drancs 10 the development Z his plans.
q Accordingly a: the Congress Of Berlin
in 1873 ne suggested to France TO
occupy Tun!s. which he had previously
sssiened to Italy. The occupation bv
the French of this land a few years
later crused such Il disappointment in
Italy mat for a moment the whole
nation was on the verge Of despondency.
A Franco-Italian alliance became I'M
! possible.