No. 270.
Mr. Marsh
to Mr. Evarts.
Rome, October 27, 1878. (Received November 18.)
Sir: The retirement of Count Corti from the ministry of foreign affairs, and the assumption of that department by Mr. Cairoli, president of the council, which you have no doubt learned from the telegraphic dispatches of the journals, have been officially announced to the legation, and the vacancies created by resignations of other ministers have been filled, so that the cabinet is now completely reorganized.
The resignations of Count Corti and other retiring ministers have been occasioned by the promulgation of a ministerial policy, in which they are not prepared to concur, in a recent speech of the president of the council at Pavia, but they have not, individually or collectively, made public the objections to the policy proposed by Mr. Cairoli. The speech has not yet appeared in a pamphlet, or other convenient form for perusal, but I will send you copies as soon as they are issued in such form.
The speech, though satisfactory to very many, is more or less freely criticised by influential journals of both parties, but it seems to be understood that the ministry, though certain to be opposed by some of its former conspicuous partisans, will have a parliamentary majority at the next session of the national legistature, or at least at its commencement.
The points which will be most warmly contested are the proposed extension of the elective franchise, and the reduction and final abolition of the macinato or grist-tax; but there are other questions which may prove embarrassing, such as the liberty of association, or of forming clubs and holding public meetings for the discussion of political questions; the measures to be taken for increased security of life and property; the financial condition of the municipalities, many of which are greatly embarrassed; the increase or reduction of the army and navy; and the relief of the industries of the country from a paralyzing taxation, are all exciting and difficult topics. It is, of course, impossible to predict how parties will divide upon all these questions, and the ministry is less sure of a strong support in the Senate than in the Chamber of Deputies, but the more liberal features of Mr. Cairoli’s proposed policy will, I think, be carried out.
I have, &c.,