Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-08
staunto1l Speftaiox.
Tronble with the Italian Government.
BEHOLD WHAT A GREAT MATTER. LITTLE
FIRE KINDLETH.

BEHOLD WHAT GREAT MATTER LITTLE
FIRE KINDLETH.
One man, Chief of. Police Hennessy, OF
New Orleans, is killed-a number of ltal-
ians; who belong to secret assassination
society; are arrested, under charge OF being
guilty Of his assassination they are brought
to trial, and, though the evidence shows
them to be guilty, the jury, being afraid
that they will also fall victims of the secret
society, the Msphia, or having been bribed'
or both, fail to convict the prisoners, and
thersupon the citizens of New Orleans, see
ing that they are to be at the mercy OF
secret Rssassins unless they strike fatal
blew at the Maphia, arise Indignantly 10
obedience to the law of preservation
the first law of nature, that supersedes all
other laws-and indict the penalty of death
on eleven Italian prisoners, four of whom
are unnaturalzed citizens, and the subjects
of Italy--the Premier of the italian Govern
ment demands of the Federal Government
of the United States, that the citizens who
killed these Italians shall be punished and
that an indemnity shall be paid to the fami-
lies of the parties murdered-our Secretary
of State informs him through Baron Fava,
the Italian Minister at Washington, that
under our form of Government, the only
power that has the right to punish the citi-
zens of New Orleans is that of its own
local Government-Ihis does not satisfy the
Italian Government, which ''gets upon its
ear" and recalls its Minister from Wash
ington-this was unexpected cond uct, and
such as is generally prelude to declara-
ton of war, and hence for few days there
was quite sensation last week in Wash
ington and throughout the country, az o
war with strong naval power seemed prob
able, if not certain. The sensation has
greatly sbated as the sober second thought
of Rudini, the Premier of Italy, has ap-
parently convinced him that he was de-
msnding too much, or in the vulgar slang
of the day, he found that he was splitting
off more than he could chew" and has
come down notch Or two, and is not in so
much Of hurry as he was, and will wait
the action of the State authorities Of Lousi-
ana. 1t is probable that the precipitate &C.
ton of the Italian Government was due to
Misrepresentation Of the character of cur
dual government, which divides the pow
ers between the Federal and State govern
ments, or to pressure of public sentiment
in Italy which demanded bold demonstra-
ton, or to both of these causes combined.
One thing seems to be very certain, and
that is that the allies Of Italy-Germany
and Austria-will not consent that Italy
shall go to war as that would disturb Euro
pean combinations. The indications of an
alliance between France and Russia, will
make Germany aud Austria influence Italy
to keep at peace with the United States.
We publish elsewhere some Of the official
correspondence on this question.
AS it is matter of some interest to know
sswhat manner of men" these Italian sub
iects are, about whom such an excitement
exists, We will state that, in the language
of despatch from New Orleans, s'a close
examination Of the record of the eleven al
legged assassius dscloses the fact that all but
four were registered voters, either by birth
or naturalization. The four who Consul
Corte claims were entitled to the protection
of the Italian government are Trahina,
Bagnetto, Monasterio aud Comitez The
first is found to have been voter in the
parish of st. Charles. Bagnetto was &
fugitive murderer from Palermo and mem
bsr of the opposite band Of highwaymep.
Monasterio was veteran of Garibaldi's
army, but he fed from Palermo while
charged with numbering a woman. Trahina
was also robber in Sicily. OF Comitez
nobody seems to know anything.