Evening journal., 1891-04-02

or 70 any degree bound before the trial Of the
accused by any assurance which the president
Of the United States had ventured to give 70
foreign power. In the constitution Of the state
OF Louisiana, under whose immediate iurisdic-
ton the crimes We're committed, substantially
the same provision is found SO that the govern
on Of the state would be as unable t. give
pledge in advance for the result of a trial under
state law as the president would be were it
practicable 70 try the leaders of the mob under
the laws Of the United States.
In Baron Fava's second point he demands the
recognition in principle that an indemnity is
due 70 the relatives Of the victims. He Is as
suredly under grave error when he declares
/ that the United States government declined 70
take this demand into consideration, and l shall
regret il he has communicated such a conclu-
sion 70 your government The United States
50 far from refusing, has distinctly recognized
the principle OF indemnity to those Italian sub
lects who may have been wrongod by viola.
tion Of the rights secured to them under the
treaty with the United States Of Feb o. 1871,
Impatienoe a Very bad plan.
have repeatedly given to Baron Fava the
assurance that under the direction Of the pres
ident all the facts and incidents connected with
the unhappy tragedy at New Orleans on March
IA last should pe most thoroughly investigated
! have also informed him that in a matter OF
such gravity the government of the United
States would not permit itself 10 be unduly
hurried; nor will it make answer 10 any de
mand until every fact essential 10 correct
Judgment shall have been fully ascertained
through legal authority The impatence Of
the aggrieved may be natural, hut its indulgence
does not always secure the most substantial
justice.
Accept sir, the assurance Of my high consid
Grafton. JAMES q. BLAINE.
Were Blaine and Fava Unfriendlyg
Notwithstanding statements to the con
trary, Baron Fava has not always been on
the best Of terms with the state depart
menti and il has been suggested by high
official that the cause Of the strained re-
lations between the minister and the de
partment is the basis of the circumstances
surrounding the baron's recall The
primary cause of the friction was report
concerning brigandage in Italy written by
the United States consul at Palermo Its
publication brought a demand from Baron
Fava for the immediate dismissal Of the
| consul
Mr. Blaine was not in Washington when
| the baron made his demand and when be
returned he found that through the repre-
sentatlons of Baron Fava the consul had
been removed Mr. Blaine was indignant
and when he found after an investigation
that the consul had not exceeded his au-
thority in writing the report, he made a
/ formal complaint TO the Italian govern
/ ment concerning the Efforts that were
made to secure the consul's recall. Ii is no
| secret about the state department that the
/ relations between Secretary Blaine and
/ the minister were considerably strained by
the incident, and it was suggested yester.
| day by the authority alluded to that Baron
Fava's action in the matter made the au-
thorities in Rome believe that his usefnl.
ness had been seriously curtailed and that
his speedy recall would be of advantage to
the Italian government.
What Secretary Tracy Says.
In an interview Secretary Tracy was
/ asked;
Your recent report, Mr.. Secretary, por.
trays in strong colors the defenseless con
dition Of our coast cities. It is not over
drawn, is itf"
1T is not nearly SO strong as I might
have made it, II had pictured the situa-
| tion as my representative reported il to me
| should have been called an alarmist II
is absolutely true that a foreign fleet could
send its gunboats into the East, North and
/ Harlem rivers, and by destroying our rail
way bridges and other mode OF communi-
/ cation shut us off first from the mainland
and second from all supplies of food.
The situation would be simply appalling
/ if you will stop to consider it carefully II
would not be as bad in Boston or Balti.
more or other Of our Atlantic cities, for
these are built upon the mainland and our
/ people could seek refuge in the interior.
But New York and Brooklyn are built
| upon islands and the two and half mill
ion inhabitants OF these cities would be alb
solutely helpless. ! cannot understand
why all the people along our coast do not
insist that the government shall give them
the amplest protection in this respect. The
present difficulty with Italy-while it is
not expected to result in war-will empha
size the necessity on our part Of greater
| precautions against attack -