The weekly intelligencer., 1891-03-21
SERVED THEM RIGHT.

eleven members OF the vllllanous oruer
that assassinated Chief of Police, Hen
nessey, at New Orleans last October,
has created quite feeling of indigna-
ton among Italian quarters in our lead
ing cities. The Italian government is
also on its ear, and demands repara-
ton.
The INTELLIGENCER hopes the gov
ernment at Washington knows how TO
treat any undue insolence on the part
of King Humbert and his organ grind
ing counts and princess and that it
has sufficient spunk to knock the chip
off his shoulder should he place one
there-otherwise of the international
phase of the affair the INTELLIGENCER
has nothing to say.
But every American newspaper ought
to have something to say about the
evil which is constantly arising from
permitting such creatures as comprise
this Sicilian Mafia-another name for
secret, oath-bound society whose pas
time is crime and whose trade is assas-
sination-to acquire homes in this
country.
There is some sort of a law to pro-
hibit the landing of evil characters on
our shores, but it is but lily executed,
and besides, it is not half strict enough.
For the past thirty years this country
has become the sanctuary of almost
every vicious creatures that has escaped
from a just punishment of his crime in
foreign lands. Foreign governments
have been permitted to dump their
refuse population at our ports until in
every large city there are quarters and
localities where none but criminals of
the very worst character resort. The
very scum of Europe here finds liberty
and license, and ninety per cent of
this class is bad, reckless, aud Goddess.
Among others have come these in
famous Sicilian criminals. In Italy they
were out-lawed, and fleeing to this
country, where men of that character
80 easily mistake liberty for license,
they attempt to continue here the prac-
tices that got them into trouble in
their native country. Here they con-
tinue their mode of living, talk only
their own language, keep up their
secret organizations and continue their
trade as assassins.
Very naturally as soon as they dis
covered that New Orleans chief of
police was preparing to check their
career of infamy and secret crime. they
dscreed his death and encompassed it.
For the crime not only were the
men actively engaged in the killing ar
rested and placed on trial, but Others
who were made particeps crimini by
conspiracy. But from the first there
was little hope of conviction. The
officer who empanneled the jury was not
to be depended upon. The jury was
not strong one. Then, many of the
friends of the accused were wealthy
much of that acquired possibly by
other assassinations and every one
knows how deftly your "fine Italian
hand" can place bribe. In the other
hand is the stiletto, and who can more
readily handle that than the Malta.
So here was the condition: A jury
weak in moral character and trembling
with fear of the midnight assassin. Love
of money and fear of powerful order
whose agents were unknown-who
might spring upon their unsuspecting
victims at any time and drive their dag
gers through their vitals swerved them
from their duty to society and state,
and the outrageous verdict of acquittal
or mistrial was brought in.
What could the people whose lives
and whose property were menaced doP
How could they provide against other
trial farces save by appealing to that
higher law whose judgments may be
rude but whose execution is swift and
sure?
The people of New Orleans had to
treat the case as they did. There was
no hope from any other course. 1t was
necessary to strike down the bloody
handed Malta with a mob, or surrender
to the rule of band of bloodthirsty
scoundrels with no more mercy in their
souls than Kaffir warrior.
There is no use in Italian newspapers
and Italian mass meetings howling over
the matter. These had as well be told
first as last that of all the hordes of ig
norant, squalid and filthy creatures,
that have come to this country during
the part thirty years, the Italian lazza-
roni and Sicilian "dagoes" are most
unwelcome, and held to be the most
worthless and debased. 1t is a crime
against the American people to permit
such creatures as compose this Sicilian
Malta to find sanctuary in this country,
and the sooner all of them are driven
into the sea, the better off will the coun-
try be.