The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-16

The riot in New Orleans is in many
respects a deplorable event. From
the domestic point of view its worst
feature is the implied confession that
the State Of Louisiana is unable to
administer justice and protect life in
its principal city. 1t is impossible on
this and other obvious grounds TO
avoid lamenting the outbreak OF
Saturday, but for us who live far from
the scene to indulge in sweep
ing condemnation-as some New York
papers do today-iss implyahsurd. We
are confronted with the approval of
the entire press of New Orleans, if not
OF Louisiana, and with the endorse
inent of all the conservative and re-
sponsible organizations of that city.
From the general voice Of these we
may judge of the urgency of the
crisis, and may well hold u judg-
ment in reserve as to the blame to be
attached to those who took the law
into their own hands.
But there is another aspect of the
case on which any one may form a
judgment, and that is the effort to
make this rude popular execution of
the Italian brigands an international
question. This is about the superla-
tive of international effrontery.
The italian laborer comes here to
make what he can out Of this
try. He is like the Chinese. He is
not a settler, he is a raider. He has
no idea of making America his home.
His idea is to pinch and squeeze to-
gether all the money he can in the
course Of six or eight years and then
go home to Italy TO drone out an in
dolent and sensual life on his savings.
He does not become a citizen. He
does not learn the language. He does
not cultivate American habits, or
ideas, or morals.
He segregates himself from all
American influences. He hardens
himself in the ways of his native
country. He doggedly clings not
only to its habits and its ideas but
even to it's vices and its crimes. He
intrenches himself behind a bulwark
of organized murder and sets the
laws of the country at defiance. He
pursues his vendettas not against his
own countrymen alone but against
Americans, and especially officials
who dare to vindicate the dignity of
American law.
And where does the alien italian get
the courage to do this? How has this
stranger in a strange land triumphed
over the usual meek and lowly con
ditions of exile and outraged the hos
pitality that has been so layishly ex-
tended to him?
His confidence grows out of his
alienism. He relies on the guns of
'.his own country. italian cannon
will avenge this killing" says n
Italian consul, speaking to a news
paper man.
The less Of this bully and bragga-
QOCAO We nave TIC DCAtCi- W. VA
know that Italy, barring one or two
good ships, has no means of max
ing war. We know that her credit is
low, her resources limited, and neither
her internal nor foreign relations are
secure enough to allow her to indulge
in the luxury of fighting over dead
brigands. 1t is possible she may with
draw her minister and make things
unpleasant for a few American tour
lists and art students; but that will be
all. Indeed. we do not see how a
civilized nation can afford to pose be
fore the world as the protector of the
hideous Malta which it vigorously
prosecutes at home.
We rather think the international
phase of the thing will consist entirely
in talk. Assuredly if Mr.. Blaine
makes any weak concessions, he will
secure for himself the most emphatic
condemnation of the American peo-
pie.