The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-16
Ia uArIA.

late New Orleans massacre-notabiy those
of the New York Pres manifest > wocfui
disregard for or ignorance Of the dangers
by which the people Of New Orleans were
confronted They treat it as an ordinary
case of lynch law, in which the wrath OF
the populace, moved by sudden and in-
discriminating gust Of passion, without
resort to legal forms or trial, has beer
wreaked upon individuals whose criminal
ity might be doubtful.
In this they are oblivious or Indifferent
to the peculiar and striking facts of this
case. To all who have given candid and
attentive heed to the revelations in this
case it has been made clear that the assas-
sination OF Hennessy, the Chief of Police
of New Orleans, was not the chance Of
Tense of individuals accidentally associated
in that or : connected crime, but was their
deliberate and prearranged act as members
of a secret, oath-bound organization,
leagued solely for career and for mutual
protection in that career.
This organization, known As La Aafa,
had its origin in the island of Malta, and
ultimately spread throughout Italy and
Sicily. Its chief objects were brigandage
and the kidnapping of rich citizens or
members of their families with view to
extorting ransoms; but. as matter of
course, their depredations we're not thus
narrowly limited, and in general way
they were banded for . life of indiscrim-
mate crime and for oath-bound mutual
speedy and cruel was the one and newt
able punishment for violation of this oath.
Alike in their disregard for human life
and in their systematic manner of taking
it, the members of La Malta differ from
the thugs Of India in respect that there Is
religious element in the acts and mo-
tives of the latter, and an absence Of
malice as to the particular objects Of their
murderous frenzy. La Malta kills with no
pretense of religious incentive, but always
and only from malice or Is . means Of
escape from punishment for other crimes.
And beyond all others on record they have
reduced robbery and murder to . science,
methods.
Their weapons are specially designed,
and their wrists are trained to . peculiar
twist in the heart Of their victim which Is
designed to reveal beyond peradyenture
that the deed Of death has been perpe-
trated by member Of their confederacy,
and by studied devices they make their
burglaries and robberies distinguishabie
from others. They are wholly demoniac
in their impulses and practices, pursue
crime as profession, are proud Of it, and
would scorn to live honestly and at peace
with society.
For years it has been familiar fact that
this organization has been formidably rep
resented in the United States, and espec-
tally at New Orleans. Its methods are UNI
mistakable. By palpable intent these
methods were made apparent in the assas-
sination of Hennessy. This as q warning
against too close pursuit or too serious
molestation Of their members in their ca
reers of crime. These facts were at an
early stage of the investigation made
clear to the authorities and citizens of
New Orleans, and to all who gave heedful
attention to the reports as published
But with full knowledge of these facts,
and q thorough. well-grounded conviction
that those directly implicated had been
caught, no effort was made to prevent
these from availing themselves of every
form and technicality of law, and in this
way months were FILTERED away without
any manifestation of public impotence or
discomfort. This in the face of full knowl-
edge that the life and property of every
officer or citizen who might be active in
bringing the accused to justice were
menaced by confederates who were at
large. Finally, through the unmistakable
devices of these banded confederates, the
jury was tempered with and travesty on
justice was perpetrated.
There was no recourse at law. The
guilty had been acquitted. They could
large. Their monstrous crime must go
unpublished. They and La Aofa were
INDICATED and virtually invited to repeat
upon those who had been active in this
prosecution the revenge that had been
melted out to Hennessy. Society had ap-
pealed to the law against La Malta, and
La Mafa by accustomed means had got
the best oft. Society took an appeal, the
only one left open to it.
And now at the national capital there is
babble about possibility that these people
were not naturalized, and CONSEQUENT
claim by Italy for indemnity, for which
the indemnity to China for the slaughter
Of Chinese at Rock Springs, Wyoming.
three years ago. is claimed as precedent
that viii control. So far from being a
precedent, there is not point at which
the two cases run parallel
Those Chinese were not tried for any
crime. They were not accused or sus-
pected. Their only alleged offense was
unwelcome residence in a community to
which they were obnoxious because of a
matter over which they had no control.
their race, but more particularly because
their presence was calculated to reduce
the wages Of labor No two cases could
be more widely opposite.
It will be interesting, and the marvel Of
the age, if Italy by demanding indemnity
in this case shall tacitly acknowledge re-
sponsibility for planting in this country
an oath-bound band of robbers and mur.
derers, potent 10 defy and defeat iust;ce
under the forms of law, against whom so