The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-04-05


Ofcourse, Italy had no idea of declaring war
on the United States at any stage of the inter-
national incident of last week. And much
more of course, the people of the United
States could not seriously entertain the thought
that the country might be plunged into war
from any complications that might grow out
of the New Orleans affair. There was as
suredly no disposition among any section or
class of our citizens to refuse satisfaction to
the Italian government for any affront that
might have been given her, nor to deny justice
to any one who might have suffered wrong
fully at New Orleans The prevailing atti-
tude of Americans toward Italy and Italians
is one of sympathy and kindly regard. We
are not rivals nor have we interests which
clash in any part of the world. Therefore
the ordinary citizen could see no reason why the
New Orleans affair might not be settled with
out in the slightest endangering the peaceful
relations of the two hitherto friendly peoples,
But somehow the matter was not so settled
Ill-feeling was somehow aroused in the secret
diplomatic communications between the repre-
sentatives of the two governments. The
Minister of Italy seems to have become i'm
pressed with the idea that he was not receiy-
ing such frank and fair treatment as the
representative of a great nation should re-
| ceive, and doubtless he so informed his gov
! ernment. The peculiar state of politics in
| Italy may have caused the Marquis di Rudini
| to welcome this turn of affairs as affording
| him an opportunity to assume belligerent
| attitude toward the United States and thus
| overwhelm his enemies at home In a great
| outburst of popular enthusiasm. But 1t seems
hardly credible that the Marquis di Rudini
would have ventured to take the sue
ceeding step of recalling his minister
if he had not been given some show of justi-
ti6cation for it. Nothing but full knowl-
edge of the course of the negotiations between
Secretary of State Blaine and Baron Fava can,
of course, reveal whether or not there was
such Justification Until the public is in pos
session of this Information a full understand
ing of this exciting and perilous diplomatic
incident cannot be obtained But what the
public does know is that Italy and the United
States were plunged into state of excitement
in which false move on either side, an at
tack on citizens of either country in the terri
tory of the other, might have led to conse
quences that no civilized human being could
contemplate calmly. Diplomacy and diplo
matte routine may be effete, absurd, and al
outgrowth of monarchical institutions which
Americans should despise, but 1t still
seems to be potent for evil, if not TO
good. Out of situation that to the ordinar
mind looked clear and propitious enough 1
succeeded in this New Orleans matter In evoly
ing entanglements of a most threatening
aspect, which stirred up passion and causes
two friendly peoples to turn on each other 4
anger. Doubtless there was jingoism at tn
| bottom of it, and If in the light of all th
facts it shall appear that the jingoism wa
entirely on the Italian side Mr.. Blaine wi
have the answering and ardent support {
every American in demanding the amplel
apologies from the insolent Italian premier.