Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-17
ITALY AND THE NEW ORLEANS INCL
DENT

That Italy will make determined
demand for some sort of reparation
arising from the New Orleans affair ad-
mits of little doubt, and it will probably
in the end take the shape of pecuniary
indemnity. This is the course which
the Chinese empire pursued following
upon the riots in Wyoming and Colorado
in 1876. This country recognized the
justice of the Chinese demand and paid
the money over. England accorded the
United States indemnity for the ravages
of the Alabama in the shape of lump
sum paid as damages. The United States
exacted a pecuniary indemnity from
Japan for certain invasions of the rights
of American citizens. Our demand was
so excessive that we were obliged to
return large portion of it because no
claimants could be found with hardihood
enough to present any kind of vouchers
for it. OF course we were impelled to
return it by delicate sense of honor. 1t
will be urged that the citizens of New
Orleans were right in cleaning out the
members of gang of conspirators
who have set up kind of en-
perium IN imperjo in the United States.
This is strong point, and will have force
with immense numbers of Americans.
Any people have a right to root out or
CARNATIONS that menace the peace and
well-being of society. let these foment-
ers of misrule hail from what quarter
they may. 1t is on this ground that the
immense mass of our citizens, who ordi
narily deprecate mob law, will justify
their approval of the bloody scenes en-
acted at New Orleans.
Very many Americans, in all quarters
of the union, will, besides, condone the
sanguinarv episode in the Crescent City,
because they are tired of seeing the mis-
carriage of justice. A constant irrita-
ton from this source has gangrened the
ordinarily placid temper of our citizens.
The supineness of judges and juries, to
employ the mildest term permissible
under the circumstances, has done its
perfect work. 1t is doubtful whether,
in any stage OF the worlds history,
there was ever more subornation, ter
giversation, barratry, champerty and
every other device and deformity that
make law odious, than exist today in
this country. That judges and juries
fail to do their duty is an assured fact;
and, in order to be able to assert
this without harshness, it is not neces-
sary to assume that they have been
bought. That this grossest of all posi-
BILE infractions of decency and judicial
propriety is also OF frequent occurrence
is, alas also too true. That there is a
smouldering spirit of resentment thereat
in the breasts OF the American people
the New Orleans incident shows.
But, however clearly it may be shown
that the Malta organization in New Or
leans is sort of Italian Highbinders'
cabal, it must not be forgotten, when it
comes to the probable attitude of the
government of Italy in the premises,
that the men who were so summarily
dispatched to the other world had been
acquitted by an American court, or, if
not acquitted outright, the jury at least
disagreed. We believe the former is the
true state Of the case. The government
of the United States is therefore es-
topped from pleading that the
slain were conspirators and murderers.
We have a treaty with the Italian
government which guarantees to the in
habitants Of that kingdom resident in
the United States protection to life and
property and all the immunities enjoyed
by the inhabitants OF the most favored
nations SO resident. Here is where
Italy will get in her work of reprisal.
This country will find it difficult to
evade responsibility under the circum-
stances.
1t is interesting to know that Italy has |