The record-union., 1891-05-07
Comment on the Findings of the
Grand Jury.
THE EXCUSE OF JURY Y-BRIBING DEP.
RECATED AT WASHINGTON.
On the Whole, However, it is Believed
That the Affair VIII Have Whole
some Effect Upon Turbulent For
eigners Residing in This Country
Newspaper Comments.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-The report of
the New Orleans Grand Jury upon the
killing of the Italians was the fruitful
theme for discussion among the people at
the Department of State to-day. 1t may
be said the finding of the Grand Jury ex-
cited no surprise, for some such conclu-
sion in the case was expected. The at
tempt to palliate the infraction of the law
by otfsetting alleged attempts at jury
fixing is deprecated by the legal minds OF
the department. But there is a we'll
known opinion on the whole outcome OF
the case that it will be beneficial in its
effects upon the turbulent foreign ele-
ments in the United States, inasmuch as
1t will make clear to them the fact that
they cannot rely upon treaties to escape
responsibilities to great Republic for
their unlawful acts.
The report of the Grand Jury will, it is
expected, reach Secretary Blaine in the
course of time, and figure in the official
correspondence between the United States
and Italy. There is reason to believe in
some of the details it differs from the re-
port made to the Department of Justice
by District Attorney Grant, and notably
in the matter of the nationality of the
victims. The Grand Jury's report found
eight of them naturalized American citi-
zenS, and that one had declared his inten-
ton TO become naturaliZed. District At
torney Grant, it is believed, found one OF
the victims of Italian nationality, but
who was an escaped convict, and that an
others nationality was so doubtful as to
make it unsafe to hazard an opinion. So,
at any rate, the Italian complaint will be
narrowed down TO at least two persons.
Although the United States has no
naturalization treaty with Italy, the last
named nation invariably, through comfy,
has recognized our naturaliZed citizens as
free from amenability to their native
Government. When the case of these
two victims is considered, the question
will Immediately arise, Were the treaty
stipulations with Italy broken? This
question is likely to figure in the CORE
spondence between the two Governments,
as soon as the Italian Government is
ready to fall reasonably into the usual
diplomatic method of treating the sub
ject respecting which they took issue
with another nation, and unless it ap-
pear RS clearly that the treaty has been
violated, the Italian case falls to the
ground, and the leading diplomatic
min dis of the State Department maintain
this fact cannot be made to appear. In
Secretary Blaine's absence, there has been
no forward move in the correspondence.
1t is learned that Porter, our Minister
at r ONE, had applied to the Department
of State for leave Of absence before the
New Orleans affair happened. He has
been constantly on duty since March,
1889. Moreover, the sickly season is ap-
preaching in Rome, so it is entirely prob
able his request will be granted, as in
deed would have already been the case
had not the trouble reached such an
acute phase.
Attorney General Miller said he had
read the report of the Grand Jury, but
declined absolutely to express any opin-
ion in regard to it or to discuss it in any
of its Il atures.
Secre tary Foster, when asked his opin-
ion on the report, said he really had not
had the time TO read it, and therefore was
not in a position to express an opinion
regard ing it.
CORTE GETS EXCITED.
New ORLEANS, May g. Pasquale
Corte, the Italian Consul in this city, in
an int erview to-day was not satisfied at
all wit h the conclusions arrived at by the
Grand Jury, and became excited in dis
CussinJE it.
Il lad taken pains to bring before
those gentlemen" said Mr.. Corte, ''all
the documents and information in my
posses sion. l now find that the Grand
jury has not used my information
as l ha q given it to them. Much as / did
say, it was only partly made use of. 1
Will Sc nd copy of the report and an ac-
count OF my actions to my Government
soon"
EDITORIAL COMMENTS.
NEW YORK, May 6.-The EUeninq Post
saws: "It is confessed by competent au-
thority that the machinery for criminal
Justice has completely broken down in
the State of Louisiana, and that crimes OF
any magnitude have to be punished by
the revolutionary tribunal"
The Star says: ut throws some light
on the working of the jury system which
people of other States. particularly New
York, viii do well TO digest"
The Herald says: cit is no time to ser
moni2e about mob violence. An upris-
ing of the people is not an outbreak of
mob q iseaSe. 1t is called such for cour-
tesy nd justifies the MEANS"
MINNEAPOLIS, May 6.-The Tribune
says: The Grand Jury has published a
declars tion that New Orleans is ruled by
a detective agency on one side or a mob
on the other; that the very forms of law
are disregarded by those whose sworn
duty It Is TO uphold its majesty, and the
Grand Jurors themselves, and that
anarchy reigns in New Orleans"
MINNEAPOLIS, May 6-The Journal
says: Public opinion viii hardly in
dorse the omission of the Grand jury To
formally indict the leaders of the lynch
ing P arty or as many of the party as were
known. 1t would have been much more
to the credit of the community had this
been DONE"
Cr'CINNATI, May 6.-The T9meS-.Star
says "All believe it will be common
opinion that far from showing any grave
weakness or defect in our social or politi-
cal system, the episode and outcome
demonstrates the strength and efficiency
OF popular government in America"
CLEVELAND, May 6.-The Leader saws:
If the Grand Jury had briefly disposed OF
the case by the assertion that a com
munjty cannot be expected to charge
itself with murder, the world would al
least have given that body credit for
man mood and common sense As it is
the lfeport is very weak and rambling.
CT lsveland PidtndedIer: So far as the
people of Louisiana are concerned the re-
port ends the matter. Under the circum-
stances Rudini may as well dismiss the
whole subject as a 'bootless contro-
versy."
NEW ORLEANS, May 6.-The States
says: THE people did it and no Grand
Jury could devise a way TO indict tho
people," The Times Democrar saws
'The Grand Jury's return will meet the
approx al of the entire country. The case
has bee n tried before the bar of public