ABSTRACT
THE Cavaliere is also a pillar of the Slav party in Dalmatia. Austrian politics are always difficult of comprehension to the outsider, and in this province they seem more puzzling than usual. The truth of the matter is apparently this, that they are really rather a farce. There are three parties, the Slav, the Serb, and the Italian. The latter, which is by far the least important numerically, is, not unnaturally perhaps, the most noisy. Its objects are less actual union with the present kingdom of Italy than to obtain a preponderance in Dalmatia for the Italian language in official matters, schools, eto., whioh, as the Italian element amounts only to some twelve per oent. of the entire population, is deoidedly ridiculous. However, as the party returns only some five deputies to a Provincial Diet of forty-two (and one to the Imperial Diet), it is a quantiU negligeable. The Serb party are the Greek Catholio Slavs. This party is more important in numbers, and also, for some singular reason, reoeives the support of the Roman Catholio Slavs of the Ragusa district. Even with the support of these and of
the Italian "item," it is, however, powerless, the Slav party being in an absolute majority over them all combined. Therefore the government must, as racing men say, "stand on velvet" to a much greater degree than our own prime minister does at present,· and, barring an unforeseen" cave," they have nothing to fear.
