The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-03
Bloody Free Masonry Of the
Neapolitan Criminals.
The HIoHsINDERs OF ITALY.
Organised Extortion and the Netheds
BY which II Il Taught-rak-
ing the Degrees.

- A1so SustOlS - vel 2lttie KNOWN anu
Offering few new and strange things TO
public curiosity, but above all for the sake
o. pointing out the real obstacles which
Italy has had TO meet at Naples. Foreign
puoilclsts. especially those who. for the
sake OF certain theories Of their OWN. are
IN opposition to italian national unity, are
ready to attribute these obstacles to GER
tain sentimental and pathetic opposition.
ihey constantly describe how Italy occu-
pies Naples without possessing il. impos-
ing herself upon people who reject her
and desire to separate from her, when they
conclude that the temporal power must be
preserved in the hands of the pope.
The failure of the Italian nation thirty
years ago to include Naples and Southern
Italy In peaceful union with the north,
was not due to any love Of the papal dy-
nasty, or to any sentiment which could be
even falsely named patriotic spirit That
struggle was not in any sense political. but
social; it was carried on against malefac-
tors who found the qualification of their
passions in anarchy and dissolution, and
who made their profit out of revolution.
1t was not popular national sentiment
which resisted, hiding in the forests to
stop the diiigences and rob the passers,
arIning bands of desperate men with
poignards and letting them loose on ter
rified population. There were. in fact,
two contending elements. Italy on the
one band and disorder on the other: and
with italy were enrolled not only those
who had q belief, principle to uphold,
but all who had families and homes TO de
fend.
The foreigner, and even the Italian, at
Naples few years ago, was often aston
ished, on landing from his ship, to see
robust fellow accost the boatsman and re-
ceive from him, secretly. few pieces of
small change. 1.-THE traveller was curious
and inquired about this mysterious col
lector. who was better dressed than the
plebeians, being often covered with rings
and smeared with oil, who stepped forward
with the authority of N aster, and with
out word took share of the passage
money from the submissive boatman-she
answer would be, HE is the Camorrist."
Arriving at his hotel, preceded by por-
ter with his luggage, the traveller COM
monty noticed q second exactor, equally
speeches. and mysterious. who received q
few sous from the porter If the stranger
observing the second contribution. asked
who was the new person in authority, the
reply was the same: He is the Canon
rist."
Let the stranger leave the hotel for q
drive in public cab. He would no more
than have entered when . third man
would present himself at the box, and the
driver. bowing respectfully, would slip a
coin into his hand. s.Is this the Canon
rist again ?" asked the stranger with in
creasing surprise at finding on his track
men, who. without rendering him any
service. constantly and everywhere re-
ceived share of the money which he dis
bursed- And the coachman replied: 1T
is the Camorrist"
If the visitor were not one OF those su-
perhcial tourists who think they know
Naples when they have seen the Museum.
Pompeii and Vesuvius, but one who finds
interest in observing mankind in the daily
life of the people, he would recognize at
every step In the poorer quarters, at the
railway stations, al the city gates, az the
inns, IN the markets, that impiacabie
bravo, who. with fierce eye and q
naughty head, armed with a club which
seemed to demand your money or your
life, entered into all the business and ell
the pleasures of the poor, especially the
vicious pleasures and the eqnivocal husi-
ness; dtscharging, in turn, the Office of
exchange broker, coGrtier. go-between and
police inspector, interme6dling checrfulIv
with everything that did not concern
him.
If you asked what the Camorr;sss were.
You were told that they were members of
sect called the Canaorra; bat if you tried
10 learn the nature of the sect YOU could
obtain only confused and contradictory in
formation, which would send You back to
your own country with the discouragiuc
idea that the Neapolitans did not them
selves know what was going on in Naples.
The Calnorra, or at least the Camorra as
IL existed not many years ago, can. how
ever, be explained in very few words. It
was an association OF the corrupt and vio-
lent men OF the people, which by intimida-
ton levied contributions from the vicious
and coSardiy.
That it was an association from the
ranks OF the people should be borne in
mind. The Neapolitans had way of ap-
plying the name OF Camorra to every abuse
OF influence and power, and of asserting
that the evil existed in all classes Of
society, so that certain badly-informed
writers have distinguished between the
high and the low Camorra. between the
Camorra in white gloves and the Camorra
IN the street. Bnt, after long investiga-
ton, NJ. Marc Monnier was unable TO dis
N&fN4 TIC 0l any RESERVATION
az the bottom OF the abuses practices by
the upper classes of Naples. They differed
IL no respect from similar practices in
other countries Ii Is. unfortunately, not
necessary 20 go to Naples TO md members
OF congress who accept gratuities for the
rendering OF important services. superior
officers who buy their support from subor-
dinates who desire advancement, or func-
tionaries IN high places who hold the fear
OF downfall before TOO scrupulous en-
ployes who lack complaisanee and plia-
bilily.
Among the common people. on the con-
trary, existed this peculiar sect. power
fully organized, and branching out
through the whole extent of the ancient
Sicilian kingdom IL has been described
as levying upon the vicious; il was, sc
oording.y, found in power wherever they
chiefly assembled, especially in the places
10 which stern necessity consigned them
that is, IN the prisons.
The politicians who have devised so
many ingenious solutions for the Neapoli-
ton question would have done well 10 in
qnire into the hringing-up Of the children
OF the poor OF this country. which had been
as deeply wronged by follv. ignorance and
tyranny as ii il was favored in the begin
Ming by the blessings Of heaven. From
the time Of leaving has mothers breast the
street boy was taught 10 held out his
hand % the passer-by, bursting into tears.
and swearing by all the saints in paradise
that he Was an orphan from birth, and
that he was dying Of hunger. There
were neither schools nor asyiums in the
country, and food cost too little 10 Fore.