The Italian elections have been a great success for the
cause of order. It is useless to give the precise figures until the second ballots, which destroy all the dramatic effect of a Continental election, have been taken ; but it seems to be certain that the Government will have a large majority, and, what is more important, that the moderate Socialists, who wish to attain their objects through Parliamentary methods, have completely defeated the extreme section, which relies either on violence or on systematised and universal strikes. The great cities, such as Milan, Naples, and Genoa, where the workmen are absolute, have distinguished themselves by their moderation ; and the Government, in the event of future demonstrations such as those which recently for five days almost paralysed social life in the industrial centres, will be able-to rely on Parliament. The result is the more gratifying since it will strengthen the tendency of the Socialist parties, wherever they are not oppressed, to become Radicals instead of revolutionaries, and to rely upon the vote to secure such changes in social order as, after they have been taught dis- cretion by the exercise of power, they may still desire.
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