New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-02
THE IT4LIAN PERFORMANCE.

~ the Italian Government shall stop ut the
mint 70 which it has now gone in its suggestive
proceeding to bring the American people to It's
view of their duty no great harm Will be done'
American good-nature is proof against the mere
withdrawal of the Italian Minister, whatever the
MESSAGE that his Government intended thus to
deliver. BY this we do not intend to deny that
the general effect in this country OF ltalys
action has been bad. Strong as is their sense
of the absurd. Americans will endeavor to re-
gard Baron Favas departure with whatever
measure of seriousness Italy herself attaches to
it. and will not fail to resent 1T as dscourteous,
ill-consdered and mistaken. Ii intended as a
protest, it was unreasonable If as menace, au-
dacious ; but whether as one or the other 1t must
be understood as meaning that Italy sees no ad-
vantage to be derived from further negotiation,
either because the United States Government is
insincere or impotent and that is insulting In
evitably the effect of the proceeding must be to
excite resentment and irritation, but it will not
render us the less disposed to do whatever we
should have done anyhow Such reparation as
the facts call for, when they are fully ascer-
tanned, and as the Federal Government in the
nature of its functions can give will be freely
rendered.
1t is apparent on the face of the Italian de-
mand, however, that it goes too far. Italy is
concerned only with those of the murdered per-
sons who were her subjects, and they at most
are only three For them she was by treaty
entitled to require that protection, and only that
which the United States gives to its own citi-
zens and, sudden and unforeseen violence hav-
ing been done upon these three Italians she IS
entitled to demand that satisfaction, and only
that. which the laws afford American citizens
similarly wronged. She is not entitled to de-
mand specific acts of vengeance, nor in the
absence of all the facts specific acts OF repara-
ton and indemnity. In doing this she acts UNI
reasonably. and estranges not only American
sympathy. but the sympathy OF all nations.
What happened at New-Orleans is possible in
any country, and no Government, however
strong, could do more than investigate the facts,
fix the blame and prosecute the culpfits, leaving
their final fate to the courts 10 demand more
than this and to put the demand in peremptory
tone backed by an open threat of rupture is to
invite general condemnation Italy is scarcely
so free of crime herself as to justify her in any
reflections upon American administration OF the
law.
corning the condition of Italian sentiment and
reporting the language of Premier Rudini are
ANYTHING but reassuring. 1t is necessary to be-
Iieve that the action already taken was die
tated. not by the deliberate judgment Of states
men, but by the intlammatory appeals OF the
press and the ignorant outcries of the populace.
An act of mob violence which, however I'M
iustiiable was in no respect expressive OF pTeJu-
dice against Italians generally, or Of enmlty to
the Crown of Italy-an act, indeed, as to which
the right of Italy to concern herself at all is still
in doubt has been accepted as National al
front. and the Government at Rome finds itself
called upon to behave Extensively toward the
United States at the bidding of political dema-
gogues and frantic newspapers That the New
Orleans mob overcame the local officers and in
yolved us in an international difficulty was Tor
us simply misfortune. But when Govern
ment lends itself, for reasons of political expedi-
oncy TO be the voice Of excited and unreason-
able crowds and, in order to retain Office, act
ualIv sacrifices the rights and feelings OF
| friendly nation, it commits grave wrong ana
renders the question of how far such influences
are likely to lead it one of pressing moment.
It will not console the American people for the
dscourtesy offered them to be told that their
misfortune is merely being made use of by one
politician to get office or by another to hold it.
But to suppose that Baron Fava's withdrawal
means more than this is TO SUPPOSE Italian
statesmen as blind to their cOuntry's welfare as
to a nice sense of international 'propriety.