Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-02
Italy and the United states.

There is no probability Of war between
italy and the United States on account Of
the recent irregulsr administration Of
Justice in New Orleans. On the Contrary,
the probability is that the Italian Govern
ment has never once entertained even the
slightest intention 10 find in those pro-
ceedings odsus bel II there were no
other nation in Europe than Italy there
might be some plausibility in the assump-
ton that Italy could rely upon her fine
navy TO bring her safely out of war with
the United States. But there are other
and greater nations in Europe, and these
nations all watch Italy, as well as one an
other, with an eye that seldom looks
beyond their immediate environment in
search Of reasons for their domestic or
foreign policy. 1t would astouish some
persons who are persuaded that UNCLE
SAM figures more largely than anybody
else in the thoughts and conversations Of
European diplomats and European Gov
ernments to know how constantly the
minds Of rulers aud their advisers there
dwell upon their relations with their neigh
bors. The United States Government is of
course familiar topic of conversation in
all intelligent circles in Europe. whose
trained diplomats and well-informed states
men know that this Government always
favors peace with Europe when peace is
possible. They also know that il takes two
nations to get up war. As an object near
The eye may be magnifed 10 many times
Its real size, and one distant from the eye
may be reduced apparently to much less
than its real dimensions, so Russia, or
Italy, or Austria, or Spain, or France, or
Germany spends ten hours in the conside-
ration Of the status of affairs as between
one and another of those countries for
every single hour which it spends in con-
eidering its relations with the United
States-a country out of the European
world, 80 to speak.
Not that our country is not everywhere
recognized as one of the greatest powers In
the world. We do not mean that anybody
shall draw that inference from what we
have said. Indeed. nobody could draw
that inference without forgetting that we
have for years boosted of the well-known
prowess of the United States, and even in
dulged sometimes in q sort of American
Jingoism when we were opposing the waste
of money which would result from build
ing large navy on this side of the At
lantic. The people of this great country
can exult in their strength and smile at
the threats of foreign governments. We
wish to add that if Italy really purposed
declaring war with the United States that
purpose would be almost indubitable evil
dence that she had some great European
Power at her back. But this she has not
Therefore, as we said yesterday, we de-
cline for the present TO catch the war;
fever. The United States Government can
make itself easy. There Is no nation in
Europe which can afford in view of its en-
vironment 10 carry on war upon the
American side of the Atlantic. New York
and all the others of our seaboard cities
may consider themselves as entirely free
from such danger. There will be no war
between Italy and the United Statess
In fact there is no ground for war. 1t
would be insensate folly for Italy TO 60 to
war with the United States because of the
dual nature of our republican institutions.
The present case is not different in princi-
pie from others which have preceded it hn
our history. England was told forty years
ago by Mr.. WEBSTER that our Federal
Government had no power to compel Mis-
sissippi or Mississippi's citizens to pay the
debt they justly owed TO British subjects
nor could it punish them for not paying.
Here was what England considered a
wrong without a remedy, but she did not
60 to war and the debt has never been
paid. SO IN the New Orleans case, if there
was any wrong done TO Italy it was done
by people who for Interpretation must be
punished by the State government or not
at all. We say now, as we said two weeks
ago, it is a nine-days' wonder. There
is nothing in it,"