The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6. 1894.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 6 February 1894, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6. 1894.

For the ct.ua> thai lacis assistance, Far the wrong that needs resistance, for th* future in the distance, And the rood that ire can do.

The aspect of affairs in Italy at the present moment is exceedingly grave, and the financial strain to which the country is subjected is causing the most serious apprehensions. These misgivings are not confined to the Italian Government, for it is evident to all Europe that uniess some relief is afforded from the pressure of public burdens, the discontent which has been for some time gathering force in Italy may culminate in a revolution. For years the public debt has been increasing at a rate out of all proportion to' the wealth of the people, and it amounts at present to 000,000. The total revenue for 1893-94 was estimated at about and a cable message published to-day informs us that the Budget shows a deficit 0^5,000,000. To add to the difficulty, trade is at present in a languishing condition and many of the peasantry are on the verge of starvation. It seems as if the limits of taxation have been reached, and in their desperation the Government propose to monopolise the production of alcohol and matches. If resource is had to this doubtful expedient, it will only partially meet the difficulty, as the addition to the revenue by this means is only estimated at 3,000,000 per annum, and the expenditure is steadily increasing. It is impossible for any true lover of liberty to consider the present social and political condition of Italy without a feeling of profound regret. The struggles of the Italian people to emancipate themselves from the thraldom of the foreigner, and to weld a number of weakling States into a powerful nation which should take its place in the Councils of Europe, form one of the most thrilling chapters of modern history. The overthrow of the Austrian tyranny, the brilliant exploits of Garibaldi, and the successes of Victor Emanuel, raised the hopes of ardent patriots to the highest pitch. A generation of young and ambitious men, panling for freedom, were fired with the idea that their country, after groaning under long ages of misrule, would, under a more beneficent form of government once more take a foremost position amongst the nations in art, science and literature. Social reformers predicted that the scandalous neglect of education which had distinguished the rule of priests and princelings would be rectified, and that an ignorant and brutish population would speedily give place to an intelligent and prosperous peasantry. These anticipations became still more glowing when in 1870 the unification of Italy was completed by the annexation of Rome, and the extinction of the Pope's temporal Government.

It is seldom that the brilliant dreams of either individuals or nations are fully realised. If Italian statesmen had been free to direct their attention chiefly to domestic affairs, and to efforts for improving the social condition of the people, they would now be able to point to a much more pleasing record. In this direction they have already accomplished a good deal. Great efforts have been made to educate the people, to promote the opening of the country by railways, and to develop the national resources. If the measure of success has not been so great as we should like to see, it must be remembered that the Italian Government have had enormous difficulties to cope with. Unfortunately as soon as they had achieved unification, the Italians felt called upon to imitate their neighbours in maintaining costly military and naval establishments. Nor were they content to do this on a scale which might have been maintained without the infliction of excessive taxation. The inclusion of Italy in the Triple Alliance, although it is very doubtful ' whether she would receive much benefit from it if war actually broke out, has led to increased expenditure on the fleet in order to provide for the defence of her long line of sea coast in

the event .of a. Contest with France. The cost of the Italian navy for 1894 is .estimated at nearly The standing army has been also rapidly increased during the last few years, and at present amounts to 183,320.

In addition to the strain upon the Italian Government to provide defences against foreign invasion, there is a source of trouble at home. The claims of the Pope present an intense political difficulty. Of all the dispossessed princelings who formerly stood in the way of a United Italy, he is the most implacable. Basing his claim to govern on Divine Right, the Pontiff has hitherto resisted every effort that has been made to effect a compromise. If the will of the people count for anything, the result of the plebiscite that was taken in Rome in 1870 should be decisive. The number of voters on the list in the Roman provinces amounted to 167,548. Of these more than 135,000 recorded j their votes. The number who voted for annexation amounted to 133,681, and those who voted against it to 1,507. But Pius IX. maintained his pretensions, and his successor has been equally impracticable. Although there does not appear the slightest probability that the Pope will ever regain temporal power, yet his attitude of hostility towards the Italian Govern ment is embarrassing. In a Catholic country, where a large proportion of the people are ignorant and superstitious, it is not difficult to make them believe their sufferings are a token of Divine displeasure against the rulers of the nation. When we add to these causes of uneasiness the mischief resulting from the efforts of the Anarchists to stir up the peasantry to insurrection, it is easy to understand that King Humbert and his Ministers must have an anxious time o{ it.