No. 173.
Mr. Marsh
to Mr. Fish.
Borne, November 16, 1876. (Received December 9.)
Sir: I forward to the Department of State, by this post, two Roman journals, containing in detail the returns of the election of November 5 and 12 for members of the new chamber of deputies. Out of a little more than five hundred members, upward of four hundred were elected by the ministerial party. Only about three-fifths of the deputies were members of the late chamber, and a considerable number of the remainder are new to political life. Unfortunately for both parties, as I think, many of the ablest debaters and soundest legislators of Italy were defeated, and in many instances in districts where opposition was hardly expected. There are, however, a considerable number of deputies who are elected by two colleges, and their option between these districts-will leave vacancies which it maybe hoped will be filled by some, at least, of the rejected candidates. What parliamentary talent maybe shown by new members, or by those who are now transferred from a comparatively inactive minority to a responsible majority, cannot be foreseen, but, as far as can now be judged, the chamber will not contain many members conspicuous for statesmanship or for legislative ability.
The remarkable result of this election is, in a very small degree, if at all, due to administrative pressure or influence; and leaving out of view some groups of malcontents, whose position is determined by local interests, it must be regarded as a spontaneous expression, I will not say of deliberate public opinion, but at least of a popular sentiment of dissatisfaction with the policy of the late administration, and especially of discontent with the heavy burdens of taxation imposed by it upon the people.
The ministry is in danger from the tendency of all large majorities to divisions, from the want of experienced and dexterous debaters and party strategists, and more especially from its inability, I may almost say its apparent indisposition, to adopt any important measures tending to the relief of the grievances complained of. The ministry is thus far committed only by vague promises of administrative reform, but it is not pledged to any one definite measure of improvement in any branch of the public service, and I see no reason to believe that it will adopt a policy essentially different from that of its predecessor.
It is said that it will propose measures for securing a better administration of criminal justice; for increasing the facilities of communication between the different provinces; for putting the relations between church and state on a better footing; for a more efficient organization of the treasury department, whose attributions are more comprehensive in Italy than in the United States; for a considerable extension of the right of suffrage; and for transferring the nomination of many municipal officers from the crown to the people. But I cannot learn that it has any intention of suggesting any serious plan for the reform of criminal justice, and in fact the only definite measure I have heard of as contemplated is the formal abolition of the punishment of death, which has-already almost completely ceased to be actually inflicted.
[Page 323]The public feeling in regard to the repression of crime, roused two or three years ago, has, I am sorry to say, quite abated, and there is now an almost entire indifference on the subject. The failure of the ministry, therefore, to take the only effectual steps by which life and property can be rendered reasonably secure in Italy, will not excite disappointment or complaint.
I see no reason to expect from this administration any more vigorous resistance to the encroachments of the church. Financial difficulties will prevent the execution of important works of public improvement; and the administration does not even profess to design the abolition of the macinato tax, or of any of the financial abuses which weigh so heavily on the poor. The admission of younger men to the electoral franchise, which is now limited to those who have attained the age of twenty-five years, and especially a commencement of decentralization, by conferring on municipalities the power of appointing officers, the sphere of whose duties is local, would be real, and, I think, highly acceptable reforms.
But unless the new cabinet shall, as some of its more sanguine friends confidently predict it will, perform more than it has yet promised, I do not expect for it a long or a brilliant career, and it will require more parliamentary dexterity than its supporters have yet shown themselves to possess to save its great majority from speedy diminution, if not from a complete dissolution.
I have, &c.,