New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-10
UNION LEAGUES VERDICT.
ACTION ON THE NEw-oRLEANs MASSACRE.
TIE GOVERNMENT IMpoRTUNEp TO PREVENT
THE ARRIVAL OF UNDESIRABLE
IMMIGRANTS.


convincing report nom the COMMITTEE Political
reform on this subject, which should commend itself
A every thoughtful citizen of the country Here Is
tna fun report and Its resolutions:
On the 14th day OF March the civzed world was
.sockcd and startled by event at New.orleans I'M
narseled In the history Of modern Anglo Saxon cvliza
ton.
No event occurred the history of this country
IN time Of fsught with peril to our institutions
~ this. Whatever the wong may be that was COM
rttted against the victims, greatest was to
the country and r. boosted system Of selfeovern
,nsnt 1t be conceded that It is highly probable
that there kind Of rude justice meted out TO the
victims OF the massacre and, In so far rs that result
was reached It may be received in explanation OF the
motives OF thos, engaged in It, and relieve them from the
chsrgc brutal. murder, committed TO crafty
wicked and ferocious natures. Under government OF
law order comatted murder and nothing
hut murder and in community alive and sensitive TO
the duty Of maintaining law and order the perpetrators
would be sought and punished not as they meted out
punishment, but IN due course Of law.
probable that any such course VIII be
pursued for far be gathered
almost entire sentiment Of the city. official and I'M
ofca either wholly approves Of the act or is ready 70
excuse and defend 1t.
The citizens Of this State all the other States.
having common interest law and order for the good
Of are brought the startling spectacle OF tne chie
city Of one being either unable or unwhne
to rise up demand that the majesty OF the law snail
be maintained This is peculiar and deserves the
study Thoughtful consideration Of every lover OF ms
country, Outbreaks OF violence ana muruer NOV
usual Mob violence is sometimes Formidable ana
threatening.
Heretofore it usually broken out in resistance to
law or to legal proceedings and infict more
speedy and summary punishment The New-oiloahs
case important and feature that no force was
exercised until the had taken its full course and hao
Is alleged failed to punish dangerous characters me
conditions just those Of government OF anarchy II
the laws failure this to do justice can JUSTIFY
mob violence IL can do Il again and again. This Is the
FIRST great step history taken by the alleged pest
citizens to teach illustrate the doctrine Of the MOB
violence in place Of law The strength OF the Ia" Is INC
peoples respect for 1t.
The law of country has actual force behnd IL
able TO It's DEGREES except the respect ana Wiling
obedience Of citizens. The events in New'oreans
and the tendency Of them cannot be viewed by any Sooa
citizen without gTaves apprehension. Such exam
pies are contagious. No tell where the next
mob will undertake to correct failures that are sup
pos,d TO occur the administration Of the law
nor how many such assaults our system OF
government will endure. We all know that the decline
and fall OF gradual Failure never occurs all
at The 6rst false steps are the ones that hna eaa
to ruin.
II is the interest Of every citizen this broad land to
resist in all proper ways tendency Of this Neworleans
outbreak and what he to create such public sent
mept that no second attempt Of like nature shall DO
made While condemning without qualification the course
pursued in Neworoans it is not believed that the MAORI
IL Of engaged in the illegal proceedings were IN any
sfnse enemies OF country, or INTENDED 10 make
dangerous upon institutions They are hou
nor revoutons undoubtedly lovers OF
their country They mistaken in the remedy they
adopted for q real evil they were suffering under.
The charge is made that organization Of foreign
criminals bound together solemn oaths had In cold blooa
murdered the Police of that city; that they hao
committed many other criminal acts and had threatened
many citizens with summary death, ana Ch@'
finally, when brought TO trial, they were
able To ntim!date or corrupt the jury and cause mis-
carriage Of justice such glarng nature as to excite
just indignation Of good citizens and JUSTIFY them III
their summary punishment of the criminals
OH
the outbreak they condition Of things that demands
thoughtful consideration by American citizen WINE
the outbreak has turned the attention at this time 10 New"
Orleans the Judgment Of all intelligent ana patf
oc men is that In greater less degree every large
city In this has condition Of things somewhat SIM
far in kind reported to exist In Neworieahs
The recent Anarchist troubles in Chicago the events IN
Cincinnati ard our July riots In 1858. with numerous
lesser Incidents may be cited proof that such Is the
TACT
We are thus brought face with a condition OF
things that ought exist and natural inquiry crises
why does it exst9 Our Government is Government OIL
law and order. 1t Is founded upon that rock anu ls
right TO and command the respect OF nsnkho ue
pends upon its ability TO maintain ana preserve uh
pyred that principle IL is also Government OF equa
,ohts whore the people elect own rulers To main
ts1n such Government presuppoes intelligence on the
art OF the citizens and devotion TO It's principles we
have also boosted this land is the asylum Tor ne op
pressed Of all nations.
No one desires to abandon of these proud positions
and vet IL may fairly questioned whether we have been
discreet in administration Of them II is known OF
all men that many years we have been the asylum
the criminals and poupers OF all nations.
While we have into the body polite vast BODY
n, honest and intelligent foreigners who have accepted
American citizenship in good faith and VINO have con-
trbuted their full share the prosperity nd glory Oh our
country we have taken in such flood OF Ignorance
aupers crime and clothed 1t with the fuh pahopy Oh
citizenship that Americansm is being diluted anu ae
in ways that are truey alarming. We are unable 10
as-imilsta so much ignorance, pauperlsm and crime
without great danger TO the body polite the hius'ta
tions OF this danger nnunerabe all around u.s. All
the better elements country overaxed In deal
ing with this food Our religious benevolent ana eouea
tona institutions are appalled, in the presence OF the
demands upon them.
The time is ropitious TO agtae questions before
10 is too late II something cannot be dohe 10 save
r country Institutions from the peril that men,
aces them The courts should be rigid and conscientious
in enforcing safeguards OF the law against Suffrage
unworthy bestowed. The General Government anu the
several States should exercise all the power they pos
ssss TO Keep OF the country crime and pauperlsm
the present laws sufficient others should be framed
that will be sufficient, If 1t becomes necessary TO
provide that every enigran must produce consular
certificate Of good character at home before he shall De
permitted to Of the family OF the United states
1t can be concusvely demonstrated that 1t is possible
and easy 10 ascertain the previous character OF any pro-
posed emgrant. The means 10 procure this Information
can and should be provided by the Government Neither
the cost nor difficulty Of doing u Tears any proportion
TO the Importance and necessity OF it for the good Of our
country postpone finch from meeting this issue
perlous and cowsrdy TO degree ndfensibie iof ms
great people contended for is not applicable
10 any one nationality all nationalities 1t the
criminal paupers OF the world that we should
defend ourselves from.
press and the public should take up and discuss this
subject until remedy shall be found that Will rid us
OF foreign bandits anarchists criminals and the Dauper
class that such 70 country.
therefore recommend the adoption OF the following
resolutions
Resolved, That we call upon the General Govern
ment and the several States TO use all lawful
means that they possess prevent the importation
Of criminals and paupers that we call upon the
courts 10 be rigid In administering the laws as TO
naturalization and resisting the opportunities political
parties elohe improper persons with the rights OF
citizenship.
Resolved call upon the press and the public TO
apate dscuss subieet OF the impOrtaton OF crm