The Government of the Marquis Rudini has fallen already. It
had annoyed Conservatives by admitting Signor Nicotera, who is a Red ; Radicals by failing to reduce military ex- penditure; and all parties by economies which are declared to "irritate the electoral class without relieving the Trea- sury." If the people are to make sacrifices, they want to see the country made safe. On Thursday, therefore, in a general debate on the finances, a vote of confidence, pro- posed by Signor Grimaldi, was lost by 193 to 185 votes, and the Ministry at once resigned. The general belief is that the King will entrust power to Signor Giolitti and Signor Saracco, both of them unknown outside Italy ; but it is not clear that they have any definite financial programme. Re- trenchment on a large scale is indispensable ; but Parliament is most unwilling to sanction large dismissals of officials, who are absurdly numerous, or to compel a rigorous exaction of taxes, the absence of which is the great blot on Italian administration. It is suggested that if one army corps is disbanded, the African Colonies abandoned, and all new public works postponed, there will be money enough ; but these steps are considered derogatory to the nation. tt is possible that the King may dissolve, and issue an address to the people, calling on them to sanction rigorous economy, even if classes suffer. To save three millions a year, however, on an expenditure which, when the charge for debt is deducted, does not exceed forty-five millions, is not easy.
