Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1896 — EX-PREMIER FRANCESCO CRISPI, ITALY'S GRAND OLD MAN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EX-PREMIER FRANCESCO CRISPI, ITALY'S GRAND OLD MAN.

Francesco Crisp], whose resignation as premier of Italy has been accepted by King Humbert, and whose Ministry has fallen with him, has had a remarkable career. More than once has he saved his country from ruin by his masterly statesmanship. He is distinctively a statesman of crises, and smaller men naturally hesitate to accept the premiership when this political giant has failed. Signor Orispi is now 77 years old. He began his life as a lawyer at the bar of Naples. Early did he ally his powers with the Liberals and Revolutionists and took a prominent part in the conspiracies which ended in the overthrow of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1848. Had it not been for Crispi the campaign of Garibaldi in Sicily would have been a failure. For the thirty years following Crispi was a conspicuous member of the Liberal party in Parliament. He was one of the few men to whose counsel Garibaldi would listen. He became the most skillful debater in the Chamber of Deputies and the most astute political manager. In 1887 Crispi was made Prime Minister and he learned to rapidly become a Conservative. It was

believed that the radical element would dictate his policy, but never was mistak so erring. He maintained order with an utter indifference to the triple alliance. He dominated the chamber with a will so imperious as to find no parallel except in that of the old German Chancellor. In 1891 his Ministry was defeated and he resigned. After that he announced his intention of retiring from politics. Rudini succeeded him and distingnished himself by almost precipitating a war between the United States and Italy on ac-. count of the work of a mob at New Orleans that lynched a number of the Mafia. Giolitti succeeded Itudini and he resigned in 1893 in the midst of a Sicilian revolution and when the nation was on the verge of bankruptcy. This was in November and one month later Crispi, the man of crises, was again called to take charge of the Government. Resigning again in 1894, he appeared on the scene a few days later vested with almost dictatorial power by the King. Since that time the Chamber has had very little to do with the Government. Signor Crispi has ruled the country to suit his own fancy nnd the King’s desire.