ITALY.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 September 1901, Page 971

ITALY.

From Rome we hoard recently of {lie death of Signor Francisco CrLspi, an Italian statesman of world-wide reputation, at the advanced age of eighty-two. He commenced his career by assisting prominently in the Sicilian conspiracies, which culminated in the overthrow of the kingdom in 1848. The part he took in the Palermo insurrection caused him to have to seek temporary retirement in France. Again wo hear of him content to fight desperately in the ranks under that great leader, Garibaldi, in tho Sicilian Revolution of 1859-00, after he had himself been principally responsible for organizing it. As a conspirator he was unequalled, and his ability as a statesman was afterwards proved by the able manner in which as minister he facilitated the absorption of the two Sicilies by Italy. Italy owes much to this extraordinary man from the date of her first Parliament in 1861 to 1896, when he held the responsible position of Premier, Crispi has made his influence felt in a manner which it is given to few men to. do. He was naturally endowed with great administrative ability, and loved nothing more than an opportunity to indulge it, and in ftaly during his long term of statesmanship there is no denying the fact that ample opportunity was accorded him to exercise to the utmost his exceptional gifts.