Italy has a Parliamentary crisis of a serious kind. After
excited debates, during which all the fractions of the Opposition fused themselves, Signor Giolitti, the late Premier, produced an envelope full of documents which, he said, proved Signor Crispi, the Premier, to be implicated in the Hance Romana scandal, or, in other words, to have received money in consideration of official action. The documents were handed to a Committee of Five, who pronounced them valueless, but Signor Crispi declared one or two of them to be forgeries upon which he will prosecute. The agitation in the Chamber became, however, so furious that, according to the Times, there was grave danger of the revolver being used; and on December 15th the Parliament was prorogued, and Signor Giolitti left Italy for Berlin. It is understood that a dissolution will follow in January. The Opposition is furious, but Signor Crispi will probably obtain his majority again. The people, like the King, disbelieve the charges, and the principal accuser has not the confidence of the electors. It is natural, as we have argued elsewhere, that the minority should be irate ; but they have injured themselves by their violence, and their apparent reluctance to face the Courts. It seems to be forgotten in England that they could not be prosecuted with. out a prorogation, unless permission had been obtained from the Chamber; and as they and the secretly corrupt would have joined forces on that vote, it might not have been ob- tained. The prosecution is apparently to go on even if Signor Giolitti is not present.
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