The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-07

WASHINGTON, May 6.-[SpecialI-
Inc report OF the New Orleans grand
jury upon the killing of the Italians
was fruitful theme for discussion
among the people at the Departments of
State to-day. 1t may be said that the
findings of the grand jury excited no
surprise, for some such conclusion of
the case was expected.
The attempt to palliate the infrac-
tion OF the law by offsetting the alleged
attempts at jury fixing is deprecated
by the legal minds of the department
but there is we'll defined opinion that
on the whole the outcome of the case
will be beneficial in its effects upon the
turbulent foreign elements in the
United States, inasmuch as it will
make clear to them tho fact that thew
cannot rely upon treaties to escape tho
responsibility to great republic for
their unlawful acts.
The report of the grand jury will, it
is expected, reach Secretary Blaine i'm
course Of time, and figure in the oficiai
correspondence between the United
States and Italy. There is reason to
believe that in some details it differs
from the report rlade to the Department.
OF Justice by District Attorney Grant
and notably in the matter of tho ma
tionality OF the victims. The grand
Jury's report found that eight of them
were naturalized Americans citizens
and that one had declared his intention
to become naturalized.
District Attorney Grant,it is believed.
nf fl,n To-,
Italian nationality, but was an escaped
convict, and that another's nationality
was so doubtful as to mako it unsafe to
hazard an opinion.
so, at any rate, tho Italian complaint
will be narrowed down to at least two
persons-one an escaped conviction al
though the United States has no natur-
alization treaty with Italy, the last
named nation has invariably through
comfy, recognized our naturalized citi-
zens as free from amenability to their
native government. When the case of
these two victims is considered, tho
question will Immediately arise-were
the treaty st!pulations with Isaly bro
ken? This question is likely to figure
In the correspondence between the two
governments as soon as tho italian gov
ernment is ready to fall reasonably into
the usual diplomatic method of treating
the subject. respecting which they take
issue with another nation:
Unless it appears clearly that the
treaty has been violated the Italian case
ialls to the ground, and the leading
diplomatic minds Of the State Depart
mont maintain that this fact cannot be-
made to appear. The treaty guarantees
the Italian citizens in this country the
same rights and privileges and immuni-
ties as arc enjoyed by our own citizens.
and 1T is asserted that If any Italian
subjects wero killed at New Orleans
they had the Same measure of protec-
ton that was accorded to American
citizens who were killed at the same
time, and for the Same reason and by
the same persons. Moreover, their
families may claim indemnity if it APP
pears that they are entitled to do so.
Inc same measure of popular vengeance
might have been inflicted upon native
citizens OF the United States, and alto
Sother 1T is not clear to the State De-
partment officials that the victims
failed in any degree to receive protec-
ton guaranteed by the treaty, which, it
may be said, does not and cannot insure
the lives of foreigners.
In Secretary Blaino'S absence there
has been no forward move in the cores
pondence. 1t is learned that Porter. our
.'Ai.A"'0i az 1Soiilc, APPltcu 10 the 10
partment of State for leave Of absence
before tho Now Orleans affair happened.
ITO has been constantly on duty since
March, 1889, moro than two years, and
1T is customary for the minister to have
leave at least once in year. More
over, the sickly season is approaching
In Romo, so that it is entirely probable
that his request will be granted as in
deed would already have been the case
had not the trouble reached such an
active phase.