The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-06
A ROLAND ron AN OLIVER.

The controversy over the massacre Of the
Italians in New Orleans is reyiving an In
quiry which has been frequently active IN
the past. That is, the degree of responsible
ity of q Government for brigandage CON-
mitted on its territory. Since this century
began several scores of Americans have
been murdered by Italian brigands, and
still larger number have paid considerable
sums by way Of ransom; the world has
never heard that, in any one case. indem-
nifty was paid or Teparation made by the
Government OF Italy.
Brigandage, which is a common evil In
thinly-setIled, mountainous countries with
-out COED roads, has flourished fri m time I'M
memorial in all the Mediterranean countries
of Europe. In Italy 1t derived strength
from the frequent political convulsions,
which enabled brigRnds 10 claim that they
were acting from patriotic lmposes, and
that they we're entitled 10 the privileges Of
Eelligerents. Tie typical Italian brigand,
Fra Diavolo, who fiouIished al the close OF
the last and at the beginning Of the present
century, cloakcd his brigandage under
cover Of luminosity to the French. Others
were not 80 particular, and were simple
robbers. ike L, bin Hood and Jack Shep-
pard They operated in three distinct dis
tric;s: first, that part Of tie pOnttcal do
minitn which lay between Viterto and An
coma, and which embraced some of the
rouchest pats of the AIpennme range :;
second, the thinly peopled and uncultivated
portions of Caabria and thirdly, the noun
tain country surrounding the plains and
valleys of Sicily. Until quite lately, these
three sections of Italy have been infested
by brigands 10 such degree that traveller
who invaded them carried his life and
liberty in his hard. end no effort by the
Go vernment fer the time being availed to
prevent or punish outrages. Any number
Of artists, men of science, antiquaries and
tourists, were caught by the brigapdS year
after year, and neither the several Govern
meHts of Italy, nor the united kingdom
which succeeded them, admitted response
bility for the wrong.
Joseph Buonaparte had shown in the first
decade of the century that brigandage might
be crushed even among the barbarous peo-
pie of Calsbria. But when Victor Emman-
uel attempted TO do The same thing in the
former Papal States he found himself BAT
fed. The entire population, including the
local authorities and the regiments that
were recruited from the locality, were in
league with the brigands, supplied them
wi tn food and ammunition and kept them
informed of the wherea bouts of their pur-
suers. Il was only by the use of Piedmont
csc Bersagier, who were recruited from
better class Of the Italian people, that a
partial check was set to highway robbery.
In CalabIia and Sicily the suppression Of
brigandage has also Teen partially success
ful. Noled brigands have been hunted
down in the country back of Naples and Sa-
IeTno and ruthlessly executed. In Sicily,
the principal members of the Malta have
been taken into Government service and are
doing duty as mounted police. Travel has
thus been rendered safer than it was. But
to this day no traveller starts out from Rome
or Naples or Palermo without being warned
that he goes at his own risk, and that the
authorities will not be responsible for his
life or property.
Reflection uIon these facts has probably
warned Signor Rudini Of the danger of push
ing the New Orleans affairtoo deeply. He
cannot ask for Italians In this country more
than his Government guarantees to Ameri-
cans in Italy. If he denies responsibility for
the safety of the latter he cannot insist that
the United States are responsible for the
safety of Italians here. The rule must work
both ways. Nor is it TO the purpose to argue
that Italian brigandage is an evil of long
standing. and is the fruit OF generations of
ignorance and disagreement. With that
we, as Americans, have nothing to do.
When an American is held to ransom or
murdered by Italian brigands we do not
talk of sending ships of war to Naples or
Genoa, nor do we deem il necessary to re-
call our Envoy to Rome. We merely ex-
press our regret at the occurrence and de-
plore the impotence of the King of Italy to
preserve order in his dominions. Sober sec
ond thought will probably induce the Gov
eminent of Italy to follow the example.