The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-04-24
NOT AN INTERNATIONAL
QUESTION.
EX-SENATOR McDOnald's Opinion
Upon the Italian InlbrOgliO.

indianapolis ssntinsll
Ex-senator Joseph T.. Mcdonald, o
this city. is generally recognized ss out
lof the highest authorities on interns
tionsl law In this country. lie has fol
lowed the Italian controversy vely care.
fully through all It's phases, and wheI
asked yesterday by Sentinel represen'
ItAtive for an expression OF his views re.
garding Mr.. Blaine's latest reply to The
Italian demands, he said:
"The reply Of Secretary Blaine to the
late uoles from the italian government
In regard TO the Louisians outrage is I
very great improvement over former
papers from our state department 90
this subject. It shows very clearly,
however, that there is no great lawyer
In the state department now like Mr..
Webster or Mr.. Marcy. Indeed, Sec
retary Blaine, while man OF great in
formation and very able politician. il
unfortunately not . lawyer, and does
not claim TO be. or his last letter would
have been In substance his first utter
ance on the subject. II has never seemed
to me that there was any case whstever
In the New Orleans outrage where de-.
mand for indemnity on the part OF the
Italian government might lie. The riot
Was not directed against the Itslisns %
such. It was sn standardization Of ly nch
law upon parties. most OF whom. il is
conceded, were citizens Of the United
States by adoption at least. for an alleged
crime Of . most heinous character and Of
v hich Il was claimed BY the Iynchers
that the parties had obtained . verdict
Of acquittal from the jury BY bribery
and subornAtion OF perjury. The act
OF the mob 10 executing these men was.
Of course, utterly lswIess and indefen.
sible; but the wrongs committed bv
the mob are clearly redressable In the u.
s. courts or Ia the courts Of Louisiaus
il favor Of those who have . right TO
complain Of the outrage. The people OF
and recover damages, and the citizens or
subjects Of Italy may sue In the u. 5
courts and recover damages. So that
there cannot be the least discrimination
90 far as the United States are concerned
between the citizens Of this country Of.
fected by the outrage and the citizens or
suhjccts OF Italy similarly affected. The
precedent that Secretary Blaine cites oI
the mobbing OF spanish citizens 10 New
Orleans in 1851, In retaliation for th(
execution Of Lopez' followers, undoubl'
iedly covers this case. and even goes be-
vOnd II, and the reasoning Of Mr.. Web
ster on that occasion takes away any rre
tense OF claim on the part Of Italy for in.
deinnity In this case This Secretary
Blaine seems to concede In his reply
but, rather unfortunately ss l think. ID
the concluding paragraph OF bis reply
he intimstes that there might arise Ou
or the unfortunate affair a state or factl
under - hlch the president would fee
that . case was established that should
be submitted 10 the consideration o.
congress, with . view to the relief o
families Of Italian subjects who had los
their lives by lawless violence Ani
yet oil the facts referred to by him Il
that paragraph, even II they existed, in
culpating the local authorities in th,
charge OF connivance ct the outrage
would simply give the injured partie
the right Of action against the parties q
inculpsted. O. we'll to the citixens Of ID,
United States q TO the subjects Of Italy
So that | may Say again thst It seem
impossible TO make : case out OF thi
under which Italy could have any righ
or claim TO indemnity, and IL the Wei
sserias view had been presented in th
beginning think the controversy woul'
have been over BY this time."