Signor Crispi has fallen, notwithstanding his magnificent victory at the
polls. It appears that, while the Italian electors approve the Triple Alliance, they are discontented with the expenditure rendered necessary by the attitude of pre- paredness for war, and especially with some of the proposed new taxes, one of which, the tax on oil, reaches every family. The Budget, therefore, brought in by Signor Grimaldi was fiercely criticised, the Liberals demanding more economy in military expenditure ; and the Premier on Saturday found it necessary to reply. He made a powerful speech, but either from weari- ness of power, or out of sheer temper, he included in it a savage attack on the Right, who are his own allies. They balanced their budgets, he exclaimed, " by pursuing a servile policy." The Right considered this sentence an insult, and transferred their votes, so that the Government was defeated by 186 to 123. Signor Crispi immediately resigned, and the King, after several negotiations, will, it is hoped, finally persuade the Right and the Moderate Liberals to form a coalition under the Marquis Rudini and Signor Nicotera. It is believed that the policy of the new Government will be to maintain the Triple Alliance, but to spend less on the Army and military works, to come to a commercial understanding with France, and probably to abandon the African adventure. The event is of less serious importance than was at first supposed ; but it reveals the standing weakness of Italy, the impossibility of raising a revenue large enough for a first-class Power, and it has ex- cited some alarm in Vienna as to the policy to be pursued towards the Irredentists.
