Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-23
BLAINES REPLY TO RUDINI
United States Does Not Con-
duct Life Insurance

This Government VIII Fulfil Every OBJ
legation 1t Has ADMINISTRATIONS Have
nm Advantage in Courts Not Accorded
American Citizens.
WASHINGTON, April 15-Another stage
has been reached in the diplomatic episode
with Italy. Secretary Blaine tonight gives
10 the press for publication the letter
which the Italian prime minister through
the Italian legation at Washington, adj
dressed to this government April ID, and
also n copy of the reply which he adj
dressed yesterday to the Italian Charge
d'Aifairs in this city, the Marquis I'm
periali.
This is the first time that the text of the
Italian letter of April I'd, has been given to
the public, but there is nothing in the let
Ter at variance with the summary of its
contents which was printed in the Wort0
the day after it was received. The sum
and substance of that communication was
that the Italian government had no desire
70 be unreasonable. that II did not demand
the punishment of the New Orleans mob
Irrespective of the forms of justice; all il
wanted was the assurance of the United
States government that the judicial pro-
ceedings against that mob would be
promptly instituted through the regular
channels.
The other part OF the Italian letter was
confession of error II showed that Mr.
Blaine's letter Of April LIST had been mis-
read in Italy; that the Italian government
had understood it to mean that Mr.. Blaine
admitted outright the undoubted liability
of the United States government for a
money indemnity to the families of three
or four Italian subjects who happened to
be among the eleven victims of the mob's
violence ON March 1ith.
Mr.. Elaine, of course, admitted nothing
OF the kind, as has been frequently pointed
out in this correspondence, but simply nc.
knowlcdged on general principles that il
the Italian subjects in question or any
other Italian subjects had been deprived OF
the rights which were guaranteed 70 them
by the treaty of 1871, they would be en-
titled to indemnify at the hands Of the
United States government Mr. Blaine
distinctly left it an open question whether
that treaty had or had not been violated,
and very properly he still holds it an open
question.
1t was long letter which MIR. Blaine
addressed 10 the Marquis lmperiali yes
tefday. The major part Of il is taken up
with statements and citations and argu-
ments that have been generally antiei-
pated by the press. That part of his letter
which could not be anti ,ipated and which
refers to What the Federal government
might do in ease the regular machinery of
justice failed to give satisfaction in Louis
lana is couched in questionable terms and,
like his letter o. April LIST, Is very likely to
be miscnnStruc6 in Italy In his letter of
April ID the Italian prime minister said
that the diplomatic incident could not
be considered as closed" until an assur-
ance should be received from the Federal
government that judicial proceedings
against the New Orleans mob would he
promptly instituted through the regular
channels
Now while Mr.. Blaine, in the letter
made public to-day, goes as far as he pos
sihly can, and further than was generally
imagined H. would go, in the way Of Civ
ing assurances to Italy, he does not, and
he shows clearly enough that he cannot,
give exactly that assurance which the
Italian prime minister said would be
necessary to close the diplomatic incident.
Mr.. Blaine tells the Italian premier that
he hopes the criminal courts OF Louisiana
will do justice in the case. He points out
that the Federal government has already
appealed to The state authorities to do
Justice, and he promises that the Federal
the state government the prophecies of the
case.
lie goes further, and says that in case
the grand Jury of New Orleans should fail
To find an Indictment against the leaders OF
the mob who killed the Italians on the
nth of March the Federal government
will exhaust all its resources to discover
some other means of bringing criminal
Justice to the Offenders and with this
object iii view the Attorney-general of the
United states has instituted searching
investigation into the entire occurrence.
This is not exactly the assurance that
tine Marquis di Rudini asked for, but it is
more than this government was expected
TO give. 1t is distinct and notable con
cession on the part of Mr.. Blaine, and il
remains 10 be seen whether il will be ap-
precated by the Italian premier.
In relation to the other branch of the
subject touching indemnity TO the fami-
lies of the victims, MIR. Blaine's letter is
equally liberal Mr. Blaine informs the
Italian premier that the families of the
italians who suffered from the lynchinp
are situated so much more favorably than
the families of the American citizens who
lost their lives at the same time, that while
the latter can sue for damages only in the
state courts, the former, after exercising
equal rights i'll the state courts, may re-
new their suits in the courts of the United
States.
Mir, Blaine, on the part of the Federal
government assumes responsibility in
case all the courts should fail TO give salts
faction. He describes u case in which the
President would take it upon himself to
apply to Congress for an indemnity in
favor of the Italian families involved
The case which lie describes is very
likely to be taken in Italy as exactly the
CitSt HOW III lutollbl- ilul us tue Ilhllhl
prime minister misread Mr.. Blaines letter
Of April LIST, he is quite likely to misread
the last letter,
1t will be noticed that while Mr. Blaine's
hypothetical case includes most of the cir
cnmstances attending the New Orleans af
fair, it also requests that the Italian sub
iccts who fell in the massacre shall be
proved to have lived in obedience to the
law of the state of Louisiana and the laws
Of the United States. 1t is very doubtful
whether full investigation will demon
strate that the unfortunate Italians in
question were such law-abiding subjects
that, being 50, the apparent concession
contained i'll the latter part of Mr. Blaine's
letter should not be construed in too san
guine spirit. The Marquis di Rubin
had hetter take a careful and conservative
view Of that part of Mr. Blaine's letter, Of
Mr.. Blaine may have occasion in another
letter to say that he has again been mis-
understood.
In the mean time the Italian Govern
ment must be heard from again before W.
can know whether or not the diplomatic
incident is yet closed