The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-03-19
WoRTHINGTcN. MINI. MARCH 10, 1891
THE MAFIA,

The stexciting public event which
has taken place within the past week
is the punishment by lynch law of GER
tain Italians who were on trial before
court and jury at New Orleans for
the murder of Chief of Police Hennes-
sey, and acquitted by a briOed jury. A
public meeting Of citizens was held in
daylight, and without masks, or any
attempt at concealment, the crowd
went to the Jail, arming with VIM
chester rifles and revolvers on the way.
The Jail was forcibly entered and the
alleged murdrrers were shot to death.
With a cOmmendable discrim nation
the mob obeyed the command of their
leader to spare one or two men whom
the presiding Judge pronounced lnno-
cent.
The murderers of H-nnessev were
members of the mu,derous society
called the Malta. Since the execution
by the mob there has been much talk
of an interference by the Italian gov
ernment. and dire calamities have
been prophesied. But no citizen of the
United States will lose any sleep
through fear on this account. There
will be the usual show of zeal for the
protection Of their countrymen by Ital
ian consuls and their minister at
Washington, whose appeals and pre-
tests will receive courteous attention
from the Secretary of State and the
Governor of New Orleans. The press
of Europe and the United States, with
the exception of the press of Italy,
agree in pronouncing the Maffietta Il
band of cruel and muruerOus conspira-
tors, of whose presence Italy was
glad to be rid, and that all
the buster made about their "tak-
ing off" on the part Of Italian
officials is largely matter OF form.
gone through with indifference to the
clannish prejudice Of the ignorant and
unreasonable of their people.
All friends of law and order will de-
ploJs the sad events of that day OF hu-
man slaughter, but they will de-
plOre still more the existence Of the
crimes a,d cOnspiracies which lead to
such scenes Of disorder. 1ynci, law is
never to b. juslilied-and is never with.
out menace to the innocent. But it
may be resorted to under such provo
cation, through the failure Of justice
through authorized Institutions, that
orderly people will pronounce it excu-
sable.
The slain Italians were active in
New Orleans politics, and some Of
them We're registe. ed votelS. It is
possible chat some Of them voted with
out being made lawful citizens. With
such the Italian government has no
thing to do. With those who remain
subjects Of Sicily, the Italian govern
ment Can only complain OF de:i crate
neglect, if such neglect can be show {.
The mob is not the govern
men.. The government State
and National, will honestly do for l.w
abiding Italians, all it is able to 10 for
them, or for our own cit!Z'ns. We
We have not always been able to pro-
tect our own people from nlobs.
The people of New Orleans had suf-
fered long enough from the bloody
Malta. The mob was not the result of
sudden impulse. 1t was not d Class Oh
race persecution. The whale affair
was il protest against the perverSiol
of justice by means of bribery and ter
rorism. An officer of justice had beer
murdered aud il jury, believed to have
been bribed, had acquitted the muir
derers. Honest men began to feel un-
safe on account Of 4 strong wealthy
and malicious gang Of conspiralors il
their midst. The best thing Italy Car
do is to subject the Mati. to the retri
button of extermination, within hel
own border, aud Say rs little as pos
sible to other nations who, whether b,
methods regular or irregular, meet ou
co.,digu punishment to murderers ant
other criminals.