Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-02
ITALY'S OFFERING
TO WORLD POLITICS
Her Doctrine of Nationalism on
Racial Lines May Remake
Europe

We are likely TO have greater respect
for modern Italy on this side of the ocean
when the war is over than we ever had be-
fore. We are sure to have 1t If we have
any understanding Of what that country
has done, Those familiar with the history
of Italy for the past twenty or thirty
years are continually marveling at the
sublime courage of the Italians in asserting
their independence of Germany and enter
ing the war on the side of the Allies. The
story Of this period has been written by
William Kay Wallace in Greater Italy" a
book that ought TO be read by every Ameri
can who wishes TO know the details of the
political social and moral revolution thaC
has been going on in the land that was
once the center Of the world.
Mr. Wallace calls attention to the fact
that the Italians are the people who blazed
the trail OF nationalsm on racial lines when
they formed the union Of petty states and
created a new nation. He declares that this
contribution to the historical evolution OF
Europe is one of the most important factors
in the political progress of the nineteenth
century. II has been the inspiration of
the Serbs, the Bulgars and the Rumanians.
President Wilson has indorsed II In his dis
cussion Of the principles on which peace
must be made. Out of nationalism on
racial lines grew the issue of irredentism
in Italy. Italians had settled in the neigh
boring countries, They were the dominant
race in the districts they inhabited. The
demand was made that these districts be
annexed TO Italy even though they had
not been under Italian rule in modern times.
Italy now demands the TTentino and
Trieste at the point Of the sword in order
that the Italians Of that part Of Europe
may be Incorporated in the Italian nation.
Italy will come out of the war much
stronger nation than she entered It, She
has grown weary Of playing the role Of
curator Of a museum Of historical antiqui-
ties and her eyes are hxed on the future.
Marinetti, who planted the seed Of what is
known as futurism is an extremist, but he
had to exaggerate TO attract attention. The
seed has been planted, and Italians are
now thinking of something beside the
achievements Of great men long dead and
buried They are trying TO achieve some-
thing for themselves. The race has expe-
rienced a new birth
The weakness Of Italy in past years was
the opportunity of Germany. Soon after
policy Of peaceful penetration of the
country His plan was to make Italy a
commercial dependency OF Germany. Italy
was weak and poor. He sent German cap.
ital there and organized the Banca Com
merciale In Milan. AS II grew its capital
was expanded TO Ss0,O0O,0O0. II controlled,
through loans and voting agreements, nearly
800 Italian Industrial corporations, with a
capital OF three-quarters OF a billion dol
lars. No Italian could get a loan in his
business II he competed with Germany. M
he worked In harmony with the Germans
he could get all the money he wanted
Italian industry fourished under the stimu-
iua OF new capital thus provided Az
wealth was created Germany Unioaded her
shares IN the Milan bank, but Germans re-
tained control Of the institution. When the