The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-08
officials at the State Department De-
cline TO Talk.

WASHINGTON, March 3I.-with an Off
cial note dated today Baron FGva, the
italian minister, has declared to the secre-
tary Of state that the U. S. government,
not having given the assurances that the
murderers OF the Italian subjects &C
Quilted by the American magistrates and
murdered in prison while under the i'm
mediate protection of the authorities of
New Orleans, would be brought TO justice,
the Italian government has found Itseli
under the very painful necessity of show
ing openly its dissatisfaction by recalling
the minister of his majesty from country
where the Italian representative is unable
TO obtain justice.
The baron will soon leave the United
States, leaving the secretary of the lega-
ton in charge only OF the current affairs
This action by the Italian government
caused the deepest surprise in official cir
cles here when the fact became known.
1t had been generally supposed that the
Italian government would at least await
the action of the New Orleans grand jury,
which is charged with an investigation of
the bloody episode at the New Orleans
jail. 1t appears, however, that the in
formation received from its representatives
must have led that government to the
conclusion that the grand Jury investiga-
ton would fail to result in the punish
ment or even indictment OF any person
connected with the killing OF the Italians.
The letter OF Governor Nichols in reply
to Secretary Blaine was also, it is thought,
regarded as evasive of the real point at
issue-reparation for an alleged wrong
and the governors assurances that fur
Their bloodshed would not follow, unac-
companied by any excuse for the failure
of the state or municipal authorities to
take precautions to prevent the killing,
was, it is said, regarded by the Italian
government with extreme dissatisfaction.
1t appeared to it that the United States
government had exhausted its resources.
The relations between the national gov
ernme mt and the government Of the
states were so affixed by the American
constitution that when the Italian minis.
ter, obeying the commands OF his govern
ment, sought Tor some assurance that the
persons concerned in the killing OF it's
subjects would BIO punished. it was not
IL L. h..
give any definite assurance OF the kind.
1t could and did point to the fact that the
grand jury was the American provision for
calling before the bar of justice the per-
sons who had violated the law of the land.
But this particular grand jury was called
ogether under the laws of the sovereign
state OF Louisiana. and whether or not it
would punish cording to the Italian idea
Of justice was something that no national
official from the president down could
guarantee.
The Italian government was not salts
fed with such views. With the relations
between the state and national govern
ment and the peculiarities of our consti-
tutional system OF government it had
nothing TO do. But it was necessary, ac-
cording to its views, that italian citizens
in foreign countries should be accorded
the full measure OF protection fixed by the
lawsof these countries.
Here was case where, according TO the
statement of the minister, the Italian SUBJ
iects had been arrested on charge of
crime and acquitted by an American
jury, according to the forms of American
law. These men declared innocent by a
judicial tribunal had been slain by an
angry people. The Italian government
could not 90 behind the verdict of the
American court, and notwithstanding it
was stated in some quarters that the men
were really guilty of foul assassination
and had been acquitted by means of
bribery. in the eye Of the Italian govern
ment they were innocent Italian subjects.
In their violent killing the Italian people
had been outraged and insulted. The
national government d the United States
had, as stated. failed to give any definite
assurance that reparation would be made.
There was but one recourse and that
was taken today when the Italian minister
notified Secretary Blaine that he had been
recalled because his government was dis
satisfied with the negotiations. This is
the Italian view OF the matter.
There was commotion among the state
department officials when the fact became
known that Baron Fava had been recalled.
They did not know it otficialiy-save the
secretary-before the close of Office hours,
for the secretary was confined to his home
again by a recurrence of his old malady,
the gout, and did not send word to his
ieutenants in the department Of state.