No. 293.
Mr. Marsh to Mr. Evarts.

No. 746.]

Sir: The second session of the present Italian Parliament was opened on the 7th instant by the King in person, attended by the Queen, the royal family, and the court. His Majesty read a speech, of which I inclose herewith two copies.

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In the organization of the Chamber of Deputies, Benedetto Cairoli, [Page 472] long conspicuous as a strenuous champion of Italian independence and liberty, both in the field and in the national councils, was elected president by a large majority. Although a leading member of the left, the party which raised the administration to power, Signor Cairoli was not the candidate of the ministry, to which he was opposed on various important questions of public policy. The ministers, therefore, considered his election as a parliamentary defeat, and the next morning offered their resignations, which were accepted by the King, and Signor Cairoli was charged with the formation of a new cabinet. His success has been expected from day to day, but was not definitely announced until this morning. The ministry is composed as follows:

  • Benedetto Cairoli, deputy in Parliament, president of the council of ministers, without portfolio.
  • Giuseppe Zamardelli, deputy, minister of the interior.
  • Count Luigi Corti, formerly Italian minister at Washington, minister of foreign affairs.
  • Raphael Cenforti, senator of the kingdom, minister of grace and justice.
  • Frederick Seismit Doda, deputy, minister of finance.
  • Giovanni Bruzzo, lieutenant-general, minister of war.
  • Enrico di Brochetti, vice-admiral, minister of marine.
  • Francis di Sanctis, deputy, minister of public instruction.
  • Alfred Baccarini, deputy, minister of public works.

The question of the legality of the decree for the suppression of the minister of agriculture, industry, and commerce, and for the creation of a ministry of the treasury, will be raised early in the session, and it appears to be thought that the decree will not be maintained by Parliament, in which case the ministry of agriculture will be reconstituted.

Mr. Cairoli, though in the opposition during several of the late ministries, enjoys the confidence of all parties as an upright and conscientious man, and though he had many difficulties to overcome in forming a cabinet, I do not think that a factious spirit in any quarter constituted one of the obstructions which delayed his success. The new ministry is by no means a unit in its party sympathies, and it is at present quite impossible to predict how far it will be able to agree upon a harmonious policy, or how far it can command a parliamentary majority in support of the measures it shall recommend.

A dissolution of the chamber of deputies and a new election are certainly within the range of probabilities, but it is premature to speculate on the result of a new election which, unless in case of some sudden change in the foreign relations of Italy, will be controlled rather by local and personal considerations than by political views of a wider scope.

I have, &c.,

GEORGE P. MARSH.
[Inclosure in No. 746.—Translation.]

Speech of His Majesty the King, at the opening of the Chambers, March 7, 1878.

Gentlemen Senators, Gentlemen Deputies: Next to the unexpected death of my august father, to whom history has already awarded the title of father of his country, nothing has caused me deeper regret than my inability to avail myself directly of the counsels of my country’s representatives. Now, however, that I have an opportunity once again to open my heart to you, I feel the confidence again rising and growing strong within me that we, being all inspired by the same idea, shall be able constantly to solidify and render more fruitful the great work to which the glorious founder of the kingdom devoted his life.

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The spontaneous accord of the affectionate sentiments, of which a manifestation of so solemn a kind was called forth by the very misfortune which visited us, proves to us that Italian unity is fixed upon a foundation that cannot he shaken, and that we may henceforth devote all our efforts to the study of the reforms which our people await with patient confidence. This people, which, for so many years, has been called to submit to exceptionable sacrifices, has understood that it was necessary above all to secure the creation of a country free, strong, and the mistress of its own destinies.

The reforms which, in the midst of the necessities of a growing country, have not had time to be developed, formed the constant preoccupation of the first King of Italy, during the last and too short period of his existence. I have religiously accepted the legacy of this laborious task, and I now appeal to you for your enlightened co-operation in the performance of the duties which Providence and the will of the nation have imposed upon me.

The chambers commenced, during the two foregoing sessions, an examination of the most important reforms. This preparatory work, I trust, will not be fruitless.

During the recess of Parliament, which was lengthened by a coincidence of extraordinary events, my government submitted to a re-examination several bills which I desire to recommend to your attention.

First in the order of importance is the reformation of the electoral law; in which reformation my august predecessor took the initiative and which he advised as being the crowning triumph of our political institutions. This bill which, I do not doubt, you will carefully examine and sanction by your votes, will secure a more complete and more sincere co-operation of the popular will in the life of the state.

Other important bills will be presented to you, with a view to protecting ministerial responsibility by an efficacious sanction, to securing the autonomy of the communes and provinces, and to introducing reliable rules, and such as are destined to guarantee personal liberty, into the laws which protect public order.

With the design of simplifying the working of the executive departments, certain plans will be submitted to you, the object of which will be, without impairing the efficient control of the public funds, to extend these same guarantees to all the departments, and to render the administration of the government more prompt and vigorous.

Parliament and the country have urged, with an insistence which was quite proper, the rectification of the laws designed to secure a just assessment of taxes. This is a subject which requires attentive, impartial, and patient examination. The condition of the treasury, which is now improved, thanks to the courageous zeal of the law-makers, and the patriotic devotion of the tax-payers, renders it possible resolutely to undertake the transformation of the system of taxation, with a view to lightening the burdens of the poorer classes, and to making amends therefor, so far as possible, by means of a less costly administration of the government, and by an assessment of taxes more in conformity with social equity.

I am happy to announce to you that my government will at once submit to your examination bills designed to bring about a reduction of the price of salt and of the tax upon the grinding of grain. Bills will also be submitted to you, the object of which will be to secure a larger income from the other taxes which bear less heavily upon the necessaries of life.

These will be the preliminary steps in a reform which will be completed by an equalization of the tax on real estate, and by a re-assessment of the taxes on articles of consumption.

This will pave the way to a permanent improvement of our municipal finances, which are now in such a straitened condition.

We shall realize, from our new tariff and our commercial treaties, considerable resources for the treasury, and still greater advantages for our national industries. I urge you to examine, as speedily as possible, the treaty which has been concluded with a view to settling our exchanges with France on an equitable basis, inasmuch as these exchanges are of the utmost importance to our commerce. Numerous interests which are worthy of consideration demand the speedy enforcement of this treaty.

The bills concerning parish property and forced circulation will again be submitted to your examination. A bill regarding banks with a circulation will likewise form the subject of your consideration.

Bills for the reduction of the rates of postage, for the improvement of the telegraphic service, and for the development of means of communication of all kinds, will aid in accelerating the work of improving our financial condition.

The administration of justice, that first need of all periods, and popular education, the main hope of the future, demand your attention; together with the reforms tending to ameliorate and render secure the situation of judges, to regulate the organization of the chief magistrates of the kingdom, to solve the difficult problem of church property, the commercial code, and the penal code, will again be submitted to you. It is urgent to accomplish at last, by this latter, a work of necessary unification, which is required by the national unity.

Parliament, by ratifying the principle of compulsory education, which it did last [Page 474] session, rendered it obligatory upon the government to provide for the enforcement of this principle. After urging the rising generation to attend school, we must see that their educators are worthy of the name which they bear. The bill will again be laid before you for the creation of a fund for the benefit of elementary educational institutions. The bills designed to give greater efficiency to scientific, literary, and professional instruction, to protect monuments of art and history, and to reform the superior board of education, have no need of any recommendation. Knowledge is power. Italy, even during her greatest misfortunes, never gave up the noble consolations of science and art. Being now free to follow her own aspirations, she will seek her true greatness and her true strength in the same pursuits which have been for her, during so many centuries, the indomitable manifestation of her vitality and unity.

The experience of the late war has forced all countries to remodel their military systems. With your usual zeal for the honor of our flag, you will surely favorably receive the propositions which will be presented to you, to the end that, within the limits of our financial resources, the arms and other means which military science is improving more and more every day, may not be wanting to our army and navy.

My government has examined, as was required by law, and it has prepared arrangements the object of which is to intrust the management of the railways to private enterprise. I commend to Parliament the examination of this bill which is of the highest importance.

The task of revising and correcting the general organization of the state has become incumbent upon us at the very time when the events that are occurring near us in the East are attracting general attention. While maintaining in the midst of these vicissitudes the most cordial and friendly relations with all the powers, we have religiously respected existing treaties, and have observed a trustful neutrality free from all suspicious precautions. Being desirous to secure lasting peace to Europe, we have, without hesitation, consented to take part in a meeting of the powers. Our candid impartiality will add to the efficiency of our counsels, and the examples of our recent history will furnish us with arguments in behalf of such solutions as may be most in accordance with justice and the demands of human rights.

Such is our faith. It secures to us the most valuable of all alliances, the alliance of the future. This faith is now being brilliantly confirmed by the events which are taking place before our eyes. The logic of justice and truth has already produced its beneficial effects.

In the midst of circumstances so extraordinary for ourselves we have beheld the occurrence of an event that was awaited as being pregnant with difficulties. The Pontiff who had been at the head of the church for thirty-two years has gone to his grave, lamented and venerated. The traditional rites according to which his successor was chosen, have been freely observed, without the slightest disturbance to the tranquillity of the state, the conscience of the people, or to the independence of the spiritual ministry.

By maintaining our institutions, and by constantly uniting a respect for religious beliefs with the maintenance of the rights of the state and the great principles of civilization, we have shown, and shall continue to show to the world how fruitful of benefits is liberty.

Gentlemen Senators, Gentlemen Deputies, vast and multifarious subjects are before you. Time, however, will not be wanting if the spirit of harmony shall facilitate your labors. Our country is expecting the fulfillment of your promises made long since. Having again become tree and united, after so many centuries, it expects that wisdom will preserve and increase the blessings of its good fortune for it.

I feel full confidence that in our hands Italy will continue to occupy the high position in which she has been placed by the noble perseverance of her first King and the virtue of her people.