cross-examination, able insinuation passes for evidence, and. it is not
etiquette to tell an honourable Member that THE ITALIAN SCANDALS. he is perjuring himself up to the lips. Passion tolls in Parliament has deprived himself, if he is guilty, of his We see it said that the " scandal " will overthrow or own best defence, the extreme reluctance of the majority weaken the Triple Alliance ; but that will only be true it to authorise or compel a thorough inquiry into the affairs the Royal authority is overthrown. The King controls of the Banca Romana. You cannot on the Continent foreign policy in Italy, with the consent of his people, prosecute Members while Parliament is sitting ; and the and the King has expressed a hundred times, in acts decision to prorogue was immediately followed by Signor as well as in speech, his conviction that Italy can Giolitti's departure for Berlin, and the issue of a writ only be safe under the shelter of a great Alliance. which will bring everything before a public Court. That he would be ready to make another one, is As yet, there is no sufficient reason for condemning the possible ; for Kings regard all alliances as temporary. Premier, and Italian affairs are bad enough in all conscience but where is another one to be obtained? Great Britain without that. Although the King's position in the State sympathises always with Italy, and has common interests is very different from that of our own Sovereign, Italy is with her in the Mediterranean ; but no British Govern- a Parliamentary country, and its Parliament is showing ment can make a formal alliance involving a war with itself quite incompetent to discharge adequately the France under unforeseen conditions, and for objects per- mission with which the people have intrusted it. It is, haps imperceptible to a majority of electors. Russia might to begin with, thoroughly Southern. Its Members, on any be willing to protect Italy in return for support at Constan- cause for serious excitement, seem to lose their reason, tinople, and this, it is said, was the Marquis di Rudinrs rage, bellow, and declaim instead of arguing ; and on this idea. But then, under what circumstances would Russia be occasion, in the judgment of the experienced correspondent able to do it ? Just as long as France needed her alliance; of the Times, intended, if the next sitting had not been and if the Great War resulted in a defeat for Germany, anticipated by the prorogation, to have recourse to the how long would that be ? The hostility of Prance to a revolver, as evidence that the situation justified an appeal united Italy will not end to-morrow, but is a permanent to arms. The minority is wild with hatred at its constant and incurable feature in her policy ; and to protect herself defeats ; and as it has had no chance of plundering, is against it, Italy must either join France in her military clear of the accusation of corruption, and thinks it can undertakings, a most dangerous enterprise, or remain use it as a weapon for the overthrow of its adversaries and. under the shelter which protects her now. The late possibly of the Monarchy. It suspects, therefore, every elections showed that the people of Italy understand act of the Royal Government, even the prorogation, as in- this as clearly as their King, and so long as that is tended to shelter the guilty, though that, as we have already their conviction, and the Royal authority remains in- remarked, so far from sheltering them, revives the full tact, the Triple Alliance will not be shaken by any power of the Law Courts to order complete investigation. It scandal in the Italian Parliament, or any change in must be admitted, moreover, that the minority has a. case. the Italian Ministry. Parliamentary Government may Persons and details are alike uncertain until the Courts be ; for the Italians who believe heartily in it are most of have acted ; but it can hardly be doubted that the Roman them Republicans ; but if it were suspended or modified in Bank has been used as the Panama Canal was used, as a favour of the Royal Authority, the Triple Alliance would fund on which important politicians could draw for their be safer than ever. Arrangements of that grave kind, in own necessities ; that, in fact, Members influential with short, are not dependent on fancies, but on permanent the majority, including some who have held high posts, national interests ; and unless Italy believes that she can are tainted with corruption. It is the old story of democracy stand alone, which is not at present the belief of her in America, in France. we fear in Austria, and in Italy. people, the present is the easiest alliance by which to pre- Poor men are chosen by the people, and find themselves vent or punish a future invasion. It is open to anybody at once in power and in debt ; they are surrounded to argue that it is not the arrangement which promises by temptations in the great capitals, they cannot bear most for the future of Europe—and no doubt an arrange- to fall from their grade, money is offered them in every ment to do sentry-duty every night is a burdensome one direction for "protection," for contracts, for local jobs, for any citizen—but Italians are not thinking of Europe bnt of themselves and. their own immediate prospect of remaining safe.
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