Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/276

 268] FOREIGN HISTORY. [1899.

and Giolitti, expressed their annoyance and surprise in their platform speeches.

The reopening of the Italian Chambers (Nov. 14) which occurred simultaneously with that of the French and Belgium Parliaments, was marked by an extremely modest Ministerial programme. Italy, according to the King's Speech, had aban- doned the idea of occupying the harbour of Sammun on the coast of China. Her relations with foreign Powers were cordial, and the state of the finances was most satisfactory. The debates which ensued were long and sterile, although the members were in a more nervously excited state than usual. For this there was to some extent a material cause. The cupola of the hall in which the sittings were held was pro- nounced by the architects to be in a dangerous state, and the reading-room was temporarily fitted up as the Parliament chamber. Whenever the orders of the day presented any subject of possible excitement or interest, the deputies not noted for their assiduous attendance crowded the small room, which thus became charged with nervous electricity, of which, especi- ally during the debates on Sicilian affairs, the explosions were frequent and violent.

The Maffia for the moment was uppermost in everybody's thoughts. The Government, with true military boldness, de- termined to probe to the root this association of malefactors. The glimpses of what was discovered, partial and intermittent, surpassed everything which the public either surmised or invented. It was asserted that for many years Sicily had not been governed by the legal authorities, but by a corporation of bold men who wielded the supreme power and enforced obedience by terrorism. Successive Governments, including that of Sgr. Rudini, had been obliged to come to terms with the unseen powers, and to admit into the management of public affairs the Maffiosi, not only as local mayors or simple advocates, but as Crown prosecutors, entrusted with the protection of public order. It had become impossible to obtain a conviction, especially in criminal cases, in any of the courts of the island ; witnesses were terrorised in full court, and forced to withdraw or contradict their evidence. The Government, urged by the Cham- ber to put an end to this state of affairs, ordered the arrest of a Sicilian deputy, Sgr. Palizzolo, accused of being the principal author of Notarbartolo's death. At the same time it became evident that he had had accomplices in various positions, and of them Sgr. Fontana, one of the most important, was arrested. For a moment the Maffia was checkmated, and the proceedings of the trial were commenced, revealing a condition of anarchy hardly credible.

The closing weeks of the year were marked in the Chamber by a renewal of those obstructive manoeuvres for which the rules provided no remedy. The debates on the Decree Law prom- ised to be prolonged beyond the year with which the law