THREATENED REVOLT IN SICILY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 144, 18 June 1894, Page 2

THREATENED REVOLT IN SICILY.

If we wish to understand what distress and destitution actually are, let us take a glance at Sicily where, according to a cable message in our last issue, the people are in such a deplorable condition of poverty bhab they are actually compelled bo eat hay and grass in order to keep body and soul together. According to one who wrote of the state of the island in January last, when the peasantry had broken oub in revolt, bhe people of Sicily are almoab exactly in bhe position of bhe people of the worst districts of France jusb before the great revolution. Although they inhabit what has been described as the most fertile spob on earth, they are the most miserable population in all Europe. The land in Sicily ia held, not by groat land owners as ia the case in most countries, but by family coparcenaries. By the law of Sicily, when a person dies his estate is not split up, but the right to the yearly revenue is ao divided. The consequence is that the poor tenanb who under a single landlord might expect some clemency and mercy, is responsible to a company of individuals who have no knowledge of him, no mercy for him, and whose sole object is to geb as much for themselves as possible. They do not live on the esbates from which bhey draw their «hare of the profits : indeed, they dare nob live tfc^re; and they leave everything to the bailiffs who, of course, endeavour to commend themselves to their masters by squeezing the unfortunate tenant. The lot of the tenanb seems to us almost beyond endurance, and we no not wonder that1 there are symptoms of revolt. Only a few months ago bhey showed very distinctly thab if their burdens were nob alleviated, they would make some emphatic struggle to throw them off before they sank crushed beneath them. They are not without high courage, and when roused can be as dangerous a class bo contend with as ary in Europe. As it ia the bailiff with whom they are brought inte moat exasperating contact, it is against these men that the hatred of the peasants is manifested. Nob very long ago the Italian Government had information to the effect that led them to apprehend an insurrection which would probably lead to a general massacre of all bailiffs and agents in authority. Ib was in view of such an outbreak, no doubt, thab Signor Crispi, bhe late Italian Premier, who is a Sicilian himself, asked that the garrison of the little island might be raised to forty thousand men. But, of course, the employment of force, though ib may pub down a rebellion, will never redress those grievances which have caused ib. Another plan must be adopted and speedily, too. Ib has been suggesbed bbat the oppressive ocbroi laws should be suspended, thab holdings in co-partnership should be pro-

hibited and each owner given a fraction of bhe great estate and be compelled to live on it for six months in the year under penalty of forfeiture. Of the present method of imposing taxes, the Italian Minister of Finance, Signor Sonuino, gave a graphic account in a speech delivered by him not long ago. •• As to the way," said be, Yin which the class of the galantuomini have availed themselves of the communal administrations for their own benefit and to the injury of the contadini, ill will be enough, in order to form Borne idea of it, to examine commune by commune the lists of taxation. In a general, way we find the tax imposed in the heaviest way upon beasts of draught and burden, that is to say, principally on the mules and horses, which are bhe chief property of the peasants. And conversely the tax ia impoßed rarely and in less proportion on the cattle, bhat is to say, on the cows and oxen, because bheee are the property of the landlords. In most places the peasant pays as much as 8 lire for a mule and 5 lire for an ass, and the landlord and bhe superior tenanb pay nothing, or relatively a very small sum, for" a "hundred cows or oxen. The expenditure of the taxation is equally unjust. Rich nobles geb the money Bpent in roads and public works that benefit themselves only, while the -water supplies and the promotion of educabion are absolutely neglected. From all we learn of the condition of tho people of Sicily, we do nob wonder bo hear thab bhere is danger of bheir revolting against the tyranny they have been subjected to. Our wonder is that they have submitted so long and co patiently.