ALARMING STATE OF AFFAIRS IN SICILY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 135, 3 December 1875, Page 7

ALARMING STATE OF AFFAIRS IN SICILY.

Thb success of the Government in having contrived to have the Bill for Public Safety passed by a maj 'rity, hu occasioned the gieateafc agitation in Sicily. Even before the fact of its approral had become generally known the excitement wa,i inten«e. Individuals of all clasiei were equally concerned in the new bill, and their anxiety to know bow the ditcuiiion had terminated gave riie to great disturbance! and disorder! in the public squares and thoroughfares of the principal cities of the Island. At Palermo, more than at any other town, these demonstrations wei'e manifested. When, howerer, the final issue of the debate in Parliament became public, the population of the city of Palermo became frantic with fury against the ministry. Large crowds of roughs, smiths, and artisans collected on the square" of the city. The shops were shut. Seditious crirs were heard on all sides. The guards of public security were insufficient to calm the threatened riot. A company of cavalry rode at full trot into the principal square, swinging large carbines on their backs. The erie! of the mob redoubled. " Down with Minghetti !" " Down with the Ministry !" "Long lire Taiani!" we>'e heard on all sides. The commandant of the cavalry troop halted in the middle of the square, very coolly ordered his men to load their carbines, a-'id, turning on the crowd, ordered all to disperse before the third trumpet signal, under pain of being shot. The crowd hesitated, cheered the soldiers, and very quietly dispersed. Other disturbances, however, hare taken place in several other parts of Sicily, which were not of such a quiet nature. Several battalions of infantry have been sent to the' disaffected island, and a fleet, amply provided with shell*, has anchored off T&rentum, to be ready at any emergency to rain down upon the headi of the unfortunate Sicilians their bombs. Deputy Taiani, who so strongly opposed the measure hi Parliament, and who revealed to his horrified auditors the doings of G-overnment officials in the island, hat been greatly applauded and cheered on his way home agaiu. At Naples a regular demonstration was improvised in his favour. The most ardent of the throng unharassed the horses of his carriage, and conducted him in triumph over the town as far aa hi 3 dwelling, where he was obliged to app«ar at a balcony, in order to satisfj the demand* of the crowd.