The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-29
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

Did Italy sell herself to the highest bidder7
 1 This Is the charge that the German press made after Italy withdrew from the triple alliance. although one of Ger many's strongest statesman, an ex- chancellor, had done everything in his power to subsidize the Italian press. corrupt her deputies, and buy her indus l trial lords.
 | I have long been interested in Italy and in Italian history. I confessed at the banquet given to the Italian com missioners vixen they were here in the early spring that I had forgiven the ancient Italians for passing off the stage Of history and leaving behind them a { dead language for me to try and resur- rect That, in fact, I had forgotten nearly all the latin I ever knew, and was very much more interested in | live Italian than was in a dead Ian guage.
 1 As sat at table with them and heard their patriotic addresses my hearts was
  bought their freedom at a great price and had been many weary years in ob- taining it. and it did my soul good to have them in free America and the guest of Birmingham. know for long while it was the custom to discount the courage of the modern Italian but no one knowing what Cadorna's army has done Oct fo1r nff hic I1 q 1 to men who in the twentieth century i are as 'brave as Julius Caesar" 1 Did Italy act dishonorably with her allies? I think not. She at first with held from a conflict in which she was bound by treaty to take part with Ger many and Austria. had those powers been the subject of armed aggression | Italy sat with folded hands. when they I broke the peace of the world. It was to I her credit that she refused to be bound {! to so nlonstrous cause as that adopted I by the two nations of central Europe whose aim was territorial aggrandize- l ment.
 ! l do not blame the Italian statesmen for laying down, with the utmost frank ness. the considerations upon which her actions in the great world war would pc determined Her leaders declared that l all her energies would be expended in conserving Italian interests and that 1 Italy,s neutrality would be preserved un- 1 less the interests of Italy called for armed intervention. She had a right to play a waiting game, just as President Wilson showed wisdom In not being hur- ried into the conflict.
 Now, get it out of your head that the I alliance between Italy and Austria was ever a popular one When driven into the alliance with her ancient enemy. | it was an alliance repugnant to the sentiment and racial impulse of the Ital- ian people, and yet history which haven't time or space to enbody In this short outline shows that the alliance was faithfully observed in all it's terms by Italy to her own disadvantage. 1
 Is Italy to be pilloried before the civi- lized world by the pro-German press because at last she found it necessary to conserve her interests to break with Austria, her ancient foe, who had robbed I her Of some of her choicest territory. l think all who know the story of Aus tria's treatment of her will glory in her appeal to arms, and that May 24, 1915. the day on which she declared war on Austria Hungary will go down in her history as the opening chapter of a greater Italy. I hope she will get Trieste and win back the "irredenta." I am that much of an Italian.
 
 The taunt of Germany and Austria that Italy was venal and treacherous, departing from her pledged word, and turning her back upon her quondam partners, and selling herself to the high est bidder, will not be borne out by the true facts when the careful and pa- tent historian of the future writes the inside story of how Germany. the doni- nant member of the firm, sought to inn pose impossible conditions on Italy and patronize the Italians.
 Already enough of the facts of the secret treaty have been divulged to ex- oncrate Italy from having acted in bad faith. It has been shown that Austria, equally with Germany, has been false to her treaty obligations. and that tho whols onus of the blame for the breach of the triple alliance rests with her. A perusal of the Italian Green Book is a merciless exposure of Teuton trickery.
 
 I am bringing out these facts in the Interest of a large number of patriotic Italians who live in this district. anc
 who are doing everything in their power to help America help their native coun- try overcome Austrian insolence and German intrigue. think 1t Is an estab. lished fact of history that throughout
 her struggles for her very existence Italy has been loyal to her friends. | Italy's quarrel with Austria is no new
 thing, for it Is a quarrel that extends
 over a century. It has been bitterly
 said by Italians: "Not a year Of those 100 but in which Italy has been giver some strong reason for just resentment against Austria. know of few storie: so calculated to stir the blood of re
 sentiment as the tales of Austrian op pression which extended in every wall of life until the very lives of the people were made miserable by petty tyrannies There is no gainsaying the fact tha