Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-22
BLAINE'S REPLY TO RUDINl.
NOT Much COMFORT FOR ITALY.

NOT MUCH COMFORT FOR ITALY.
The correspondence between Secretary
of State Blaine and the Italian Govern
ment since the Secretary's note to the Mar
quis Imperial acknowledging the notice OF
Baron Fava's departure, we publish in tbs
issue in full that our readers may UNDER
stand the questions at issue between the
two governments. AS the Baltimore Sun
says, this correspondence shows that MIR.
Blame is holding his own very we'll in the
Diplomatic battle OF words between himself
and the Marquis Rudini. IL his last let
ter to the Italian representative at Wash
ngton Mr.. Blaine, after reviewing the
course Of tho correspondence up to this
time, and showing how materially the orig
inal demands of the Italian government
have been qualified, compares the present
trouble with that which grew out OF the
attacks on the Spanish consulate in New
Orleans in IS l. He admits that it differs
ia some respects from the anti Spanish riot,
but he calls the Italian governments ct
tention to the fact that the United States
'sdid not by the treaty with sItaly become
the insurer of the lives orsproperty of ltal-
ian subjects resident within our territory.
No government, he points out, is able ITO
secure its own citizens against violence
prompted by individual malice or by sud-
den popular tumult." Under the treaty
sforeign residents are not made favored
class" and therefore, he maintains that
where the injury inflicted is not the act
of the government or one of its officers, but
of an individual Or mob, it is believed no
claim for indemnity can justly be made I'M
less it be made to appear that the public
authorities have connlved at the uniawfu
act or have been guilty of such gross neg
ligenoe as to amount to connivance. To
make cut claim for indemnity all these
conditions must be shown to have existed
and it must be proved, moreover, MIR.
Blaine adds, that among the persons killed
vera Italian subjects who were domiciled
in New Orleans agre eably to cur treaty
with Italy and not in violation of our i'm
migration laws and who finally were abid-
ing in the peace of the United States and
obeying the laws thereof and those of the
State of Louisiana. If all this can be salts
fsctorily proved, Mr. Blaine says, the Pfesi-
dent would feel that case had been estab-
lished that should be submitted "to the
consideration of Congress" AS to the
criminal prosecution of the leaders of the
mob, Mr.. Blaine says that if it be found
that the federal courts have jurisdiction.
the case will be presented to the next
grand jury. But If, as seems probable,
Grim inal proceedings can only be taken in
the State courts, the President can do no
more than urge the State officers to bring
the offenders to trial. Altogether there is
but little comfort in this reply to our fire
eating friends across the water, and they
will have to try aud contain their souls in
patience until they have proven their case.
But as Mr. Blaine prescrib5s SO many thin IS
| for them to prove before they can get hold
| of our greenbacks, the case will BIO apt to
| cause good deal Of swearing in more
senses than enc on the part Of Marquis
Rudini and his friends before they solve
| the diplomatic puzzle with which the Sec
| retary of State has so bland!y pre2eated
| them.