JUSTICE TO AUSONTA
Continued from page 1
ITALIAN >IIM>
The characteristic firmness of Orlando and Sonnino reflects said qual
ity in the entire nation. Once an Italian, the builder of the moral family,
makes up his mind on a question of right, justice and liberty, he would ra
ther perish than see that long cherished principle destroyed.
WHY SHOULD A VANQUISHED PEOPLE RECEIVE SO MUCH THOUGHT |
A very elementary argument arises in the writer's mind, i. e., that the
reader should not forget that the so much beloved Jugo-Slav of today, un-,
<ler false attire, was the most bitter Austro-Hungarian of yesterday, fight
ing against "Italy and her allies. This statement has been, beyond a rea- j
sonable doubt, substantiated by the military dispatches of General Con
rad Then, why in the name of common decency, should we give these
vanquished people so much consideration? Is it imaginable that, had
Italy been in her place she, as vanquished, would receive consideration at
the hands of those barbarous people? No, and a pronounced NO will the
acquiescing of their claims prevent future wars in the Balkans, which has
been the hotbed for many wars in Europe. If that were the case, Italy j
would generously and magnanimously concede the point, but wars will nev- j
<er cease as long as ambition remains in men.
It is well to remember that under no circumstances at least for the
next two decades can that bitter hatred which existed in the hearts of those
people yesterday depart so subitaneously today. No. It is not natural and j
finds itself contrary to the human course of events.
HLATCHA'S l .N JUSTII IABILE REMARKS
Colonel I "go Pizzarello, who four times was seriously wounded and for |
FOUR times dared monster death itself, writing an unbiased article on the
Italian claims to Fiume and the Adriatic littoral, which was severely criti
cized by an unknown R. F. Hlatcha, who still owes five months board to
.Mrs. Enrichetta Leone, of 39 Tunnel St., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Hlatcha's
article appearing in the N. Y. Times on December 29, 1918, saying: "It is
unworthy of the Italian Government to violate historic facts in this way for
political ends," with such Croatian irony, forgetting that it was they, who,
■with their barbaric hordes and invasions mercilessly destroyed the wealth
and civilization which the Romans had brought to this eastern shore of the
Adriatic, as the inhabitants of Illyria never obtained a political unity. It
was thus that her boundaries were never clearly defined and her ancient
}anguage was divided into two groups; that of the northern population al
lied to the Venetian, and that of the southern population allied to the Mes
sapian, now represented by the Albanians. Mr. Hlatcha should know if he
is cognizant of history, that the colonization of Illyria* from that side of the
shore did not begin until the seventh century B. C., and the most import
ant parts colonized were: Epidaumus, now called Durazzo; Trogurium,
now called Trau; Rhizon, now called Cattara; Salona, now called Spalato;
Epidaurum, now called Ragusa Vecchia; Zara, the islands of Curzola, Les
*ina and Lissa.
HISTORY OF THE JUGO-SLAVS
The writer, after having perused many standard authorities, historically
speaking, has failed to find anything registered of a Jugo-Slav civilization
in the annals of history. In the year 156, B. C., the Roman general Caius
Marcius Figulus, conquered Dalmatia, and in the following years the Illyr
ians were definitely subjugated and no signs of any Jugo-Slavs are to be
seen. Then Publio Saipio Nasica captured Delniinium and in the year 119
B. C. Lucius Caecilius Metellus brought victories upon Illyria and conquered
for himself the title of "Dalmatius." So this, finally, became, as history
says, one of the training camps for the Roman legions.
This is the land that gave unto civilization great Aurelius, Claudius,
Probus, Diocletian and Maximian. Roman culture had now extended to
whole of the Dalmatian coast, and this thoroughly Romanized country had
attained its zenith when the barbaric hordes of the Huns, like the wolf in the
fold, came, as in 1914, and furiously began their characteristic cruel in
vasions of this beautiful country, thus profoundly modifying the character
of their civilization. Then in 441 A. D. and 447 A. D. this magnificent
country was sacked and ruthlessly devastated by these Huns. Then in 481
A. D. picturesque Dalmatia, with all its art and literature, which at this
time had been partially destroyed by ancestors of our brethren, the Jugo-
Slavs, was placed under the yoke of the Ostrogothic kingdom, but the Ro
mans, being a brave, persistent and tenacious people, reconquered a good
portion of it under Justician in 536 A. D. Along the year 565 A. D. again
this region was put in destruction by the Avaric and Slavonic bands. Be
tween 600 and 650 A. D. a good portion of the 'lllyrian immigrants were
Croats and Serbs. The Croatians at this time fell under the Italian in-
lk Brainy Bowers Practices the Darwinian Theory B y^vl
fluence and the Serbs suffered o: the Byzantine influence with that of the
Greek Church. Both the Croatians and the Serbians have tried surrepti
tiously to destroy the independence and Italian character of the Illyrians,
but, notwithstanding the dastard attempts of denationalization which have
always proven so futile, the rich and stately Roman cities have maintained i
and will ever maintain against any foreign aggression their independence!
and their distinct Italian character.
FIUME IS ROMAN
Even Kostelski, the Croatian historian, admits that Fiume is Roman, 1
and according to this same authority Fiume was built by the Ancient Ro
mans at the sea on the right bank of the river. This new fort has been j
called "Oppidum at Fiumine" castle at the river from which the city de
rives its name. Before the war, the population of Fiume, according to De ,
Ambris, was composed of 26,000 Italian subjects of Austria; 6,000 sub
jects of the kingdom of Italy, 12,000 Croats and 6,000 Magyars, consequent
ly the Italians constituted a majority of 65 per cent of the pupulation. In
Zara, the capital of Dalmatia, there are 10,000 Italians and only 3,000
Croats. Now of the 450 miles of Dalmatian littoral Italy only asks 90 miles
solely for protection. Is she equitable? Has she a right to protection in
the Adriatic for her self-preservation, which Emerson says, is the first law
of Nature. These questions the reader may answer himself.
Therefore, Italy should have Fiume and what part of Dalmatia is as
signed to her under the treaty of London, on the following basis:
1. Because of her well established historic right.
2. Because of her well established national right.
3. Because of her justified right to the safety of the Adriatic.
NEWSPAPERS SUPPORTING ITALY'S CLAIMS AND HER ADRIATIC
POLICY.
The just and judicial claims of Italy are supported by some of the
most prominent and unbiased newspapers of the country, e.g.. The N. \.
Herald, N. Y. Sun. N. Y. Tribune, Ogdensburg, N. Y., Republican Journal,
Boston Transcript, Boston Record, Boston Herald, Illinois State Journal,
Columbus, Ohio. Evening Dispatch, Detroit Journal, Des Moines. lowa, Capi
tal. Des, Moines, lowa, News, Providence Journal and numerous others, but
I shall not take time to mention. The N. Y. State Senate, by a unanimous
vote, went on record as supporting Italy's legitimate demands, and the
writer is pleased to observe that Representative Emerson, of Ohio, with a
broad visiion of international affairs, has presented a resolution in the
House, May 20th, 1919, calling upon the American peace commission at
Paris '"To see that Justice is done to Italy in the matter of Fiume, because
of her great assistance to the Allies."
You all know that Italy's Adriatic policy is to her precisely what Al
sace-Lorraine is to France, and France has received many concessions in
cluding that of the rich Saar valley, where not one Frenchman is to be
found. Japan gets without a murmur the Shantung peninsula, where mil
lions of Chinese will be in bondage under the imperialistic yoke of Japan.
The comparison between Fiume and Danzig is very apropos at this point.
England, on the other hand, had grabbed and automatically received, by
its grabbing procedure, a fine chunk of Messopotamia, with several man
dates over rich territories. We fought to make the world safe for democ
racy, beg pardon, for autocracy. England's maritime hegemony has not
been molested —nay, it has on the contrary been strengthened through the
English seizure of a good portion of the German Merchant Marine. The
world was so overjoyed to emancipate itself from the Teuton hegemony, but
it. has fallen into a worse one. O, freedom of the seas. How beautiful it
sounds in theory, Mr. President, but when we come to Italy as to her part
of the spoils—Oh, she fought for GLORY". And forty millions of Italians
in Italy are going to be fed on glory? Behold, what travesty on justice is
being committed.
FRANCE'S PERPETUAL JEALOUSY OF ITALY.
France fears Italy on account of her overgrowth in population; per
| haps, justly, but Italy can never forget the French invasions of the Italian
soil a century ago; Italy can never forget the incident of Pietro Micca; Italy
can never forget the Sicilian Vespers; Italy can never forget, O Latin Sister,
the wholesale slaughter of those poor Italian miners at Acquemonte,
I France, and, lastly, she can never forget the nefarious political policy of
i Cardinal Richelieu colluding with Catherine dei Medici to Italy's dotriment.
Is that friendship a la Francaise?
SECRET COVENANTS STILL MADE
A secret alliance has been entered into between United States, France
and England. Can anyone explain the exclusion from this triple alliance
of Italy, their most sincere ally? The act is full of moral turpitude and
| very base and certainly not very honorable O, how easy it is to fall into
tbat stage of oblivious slumber. It now seems that President Wilson must
have remasticated his 1 4 points, for the world knew him to be firmly op
posed to secret covenants, since he has pledged the whole of (he American
people without popular consent. Have the people of the great and glorious
United States lost all rights under the benign Presidency of Mr. Wilson?
Or have they lost their rational powers? Awake, O sons of America.
The delivery to Italy of what was by sacred right and honor pledged
to her. would make her a United Italian People, with a strong government,
and a capable European power, to which position she is justly entitled to.
This in turn would make for stability in part of Europe which is now threat
ened with all sorts and varieties of wars and disorders, great and petty, na
tional and tribal.
REALITY OF ITALY'S RIGHTS
Italy's rights in truth are the concern of the better part of the Old
World—not merely for the sake of justice, but for the security which is es
sential to the welfare of Europe, should those rights to which she is entit
led De given her. Had it not been for victorious Italy. Austria would still
remain a power, strong and more tyrannical than ever, and our Jugo-Slavia
would have been nothing more than an irridescent dream. Notwithstand
ing they have proven to be such ingrates that the world has ever known.
The reader will remember that the general of the Jugo-Slav army is Gene
ral Borovich, who was in command of the Austrian army on the front at
the Piave when the armistice was signed. Then at the Peace Conference
when the Jugo-Slavs were heard their case was presented not by a Serbian,
a Croat, or a Slovene, but by Trumitch, who is an Austrian.
WHY ITALY SHOULD HAVE FIUME
In fine the writer deems that Italy should have her legitimate de
mands for these two cardinal reasons: First. Because she has more than
fulfilled the terms of her agreement with the Allies. Second. Because she
has saved the Allies thrice before American intervention, i. e. (a) by her
declaration of neutrality which permitted France to withdraw the troops
on the Alpine frontier, thus enabling Marshal Joffre to turn the tide at the
Marne in Sept.. 1914, winning one of the most decisive battles in the his
tory of the world: (b) her declaration of war May 24, 1915, not only cast
about 5,000,000 well trained troops to the lot of the Allies, but she entered
the conflict at a most critical time, when the Russian armies were in full
retreat and the German-Austro-Hungarian troops very well might have
been thrown against France, quickly crushing her. and our French friends
would not have very much to say today, and (c) Italy's desperate and vic
torious defense of the Piave last May signalized the initiation of the coun
ter-offensive of the allied nations against the Central Empires. Are such
beneficent deeds to be forgotten? Italy nevertheless was not satisfied with
this. She, with her indomitable spirit went still further and administered
the knock-out blow, thus, decisively defeating her enemy, one of the most
formidable members of the Teutonic military machine. It suddenly col
lapsed. expediting the termination of the World War. The world will lit
tle note nor long remember the immense sacrifices that Italy has had to make
and that she will have to make for the next generation. O, Sons of Italy,
awake from your dream and remove the opprobious shackles with which
certain nations are trying to bind you. The motto of Emperor Ferdinand
1 (1556-1564), though a German, is to the point, "Fiat Justitia Ruat Coe
! lum," which means this, "Let Justice be done though the heavens should
fall.
D'ANNUXZIO'S FEAT
How is it possible to forget the benevolent act which our great poet-sol
; dier, D'Annunzio, performed on his flight over Vienna. Not the daring of
the flight, for that was a minor part for D'Annunzio, but the pamphlets
which he dropped from the air which read and incited with poetic magic,
the people of the dual monarchy to awake for Italy had come to help them
and not to exterminate them. He. mark you, did not drop bombs as their
aviators had done in Venice and other beautiful and romantic Italian cities.
POSSIBLE FUTURE ALLIANCE
Is Italy to get nothing in return for her great financial sacrifices and
, deprivations? The Allies would do well if they will apply the aforemen
tioned motto, for they should not lose sight of the fact that within the next
ten years a most powerful quintuple alliance between Germany, 'ltaly, Spain,
Japan and Russia may be perpetuated. Such a strong combination of nat
ural resources on the part of Russia and Germany, man power on the part
of Italy and financial aid on the part of Spain and Japan would in the near
future, be mastery of the world after it had plunged the rest of the world,
outside the alliance, into a greater and more dreadful war than the one we
have just witnessed. Oft times it pays to take heed.