Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-21
MAFIA AND VENDETTA
The One Had Its Origin in Sicily,
the Other in Corsica.
POLITICAL AND PERSONAL.
for vengeance--The Mafia Has Degenerated'
Until its Members Are Some Of the Worst
Characteristic Vendetta 10 Against
Whole Families,
4 THOUGH THE WORD MALTA Is NOT

Whole Families.
4 THOUGH THE WORD MALTA Is NOT
"a found in the English. French, Italian or,
Spanish dictionaries it nevertheless carries to
| our minds pretty distinct idea. 1t is under
stood to have its origin in the fact that one
Mafa founded the order that now bears his
name. We associate it with thoughts Of Sc
cret organization existing for the purpose of
| robbery and murder. In its extraordinary
mystery and unseen power it is not unlike the
dreaded nihilism of Russia, but nihilism is a
political creed and the Malta does not now. in
this country, exist for political purposes. al
though its origin in Italy was probably due to
political disturbances.
The thugs Of India, hereditary strangers,
constituting caste and following their hidden
occupation rs a religious observance. were not
unlike the italian assassins OF the Malta. But
eventually thugsiani was stamped out of exist
ence. while the Malta still exists, unless per-
haps, it received its death blow at the hands of
the mob in New Orleans last week. II any
body really knows what are the workings Of
the Malta. he has not yet dared to disclose
them. In general way il is a sort of secret
vendetta. With the latter we are now threatened
by the Italian newspapers as retaliation be-
cause Of the lynching of the New Orleans assas-
sins. but this is probably a mere threat,
prompted by the impulse of temporary fury.
STARTING POINT OF THE MAFIA.
The starting point of the Malta appears to
have been what used to be the kingdom of the
Two Sicilies, embracing the province Of Naples
and the Island Of Sicily and, indeed, this was
the place where Italian brigandagc fiourished
most furiously in days which have not become
| so far distant that they are forgotten. Both
| the Malta and the Vendetta mere varieties
Of Italian brigandage. the most renowned and
ill-famed hero of which was the picturesque
Fra Diavolo. although it may we'll be questioned
whether the picturesqueness that now surrounds
him mot purely fancIful attribute gratuitously
bestowed upon him by the poets and musical
composers. He fourished nearly century ago,
and when he was at the height of his power was
general Ut an army of free hooters l, 500 strong
more than 800 of whom he had recruited among
| the ex-coavicts and soldiers of Sicily. He was
conquered and destroyed about 1906 during the
| regime of Joseph Bonaparte and Murat. and at
the same time several other chiefs almost as
powerful as Diavolo fell From that time on
Sicily has been the principal refuge of scattered
brlgand bands. and only quarter of century
ago they contained among them some of the
best family names of southern Italy.
PROBABLY HAD A POLITICAL ORIGIN
That the Malta had political origin is highly
seen almost an incessan. conflict there Wars
and uprisings have followed one another in
quick succession and parts of the dominion
have suffered from cruel despotism. Secret,
illegal associations are the natural outcome of
such civil commotions Especially has Sicily
suffered trials The people have participated
in revolution after revolution. and even Carl
baidi's triumph hardly brought balm to
her wounded feelings. since the king
that was placed upon the throne did
not occupy the throne Of the old
sicilian kings. The country is a good harbor
for brigands for the additional reason that it is
the most backward OF the Italian states. Ten
years ago over 60 per cent OF the inhabitants
over twelve years Of age were unable to read
and write, and only one out of twenty mine
people went to school. whereas one out of if
teen goes to school in the rest of Italy. Never
| theless. Sicily has furnished some Of the most
eminent of the modern Italian statesmen. Sig
nor Crispi. lately the premier sometimes
termed the Bismarck of Italy, and his sue
cessO-, the Marquis di Rudini. are both Sicil-
ians.
THE VENDETTA COMES FROM CORSICA.
While the malta comes from Sicily the VEN
delta comes chiefly from Corsica, and if it
should invade our shores we can have the Sd lis
faction of rejecting that the greatest man that
was ever born in Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte,
never dared to do SO much. The popular novel,
Mr.. Barnes of New York" dramatic adapta-
ton of which WAS recently presented in Wash
ingtOn, gives a fair idea of Corsican vendetta,
but the vendetta of today is not such terrible
affair as it was some years ago. The word it.
self In Italian means vengeance. and applies to
state of persistent revenge and hate of one
family for another for some fragrant injury
committed. 1t is not unlike the family feuds
that sometimes arise in our southern states,
and that Mark Twain has described in "Huckle-
berry Fin" There is the important difference,
however that family wars in the south are
waged openly and fairly and do no. last for
great length of time, whereas the Italian is
fond of ambuscades and the treacherous use of
the knife, and bequeaths his feud to his chill
dren. What in less civilized stages of our civil
lZation used to lead to duels, in Corsica lead to
a vendetta. French author explained this:
I'm states where indiyidnalism prevails it ID
natural that personal justice should take the
form of the duel; man is attacked by one
other and he revcnges the insult But in a
state like Corsica; where the family group is
firmly established. where all the members of
the same family hold themselves as closely
united as it il possible for them to be- an injury
to one member is an injury to the whole family
by another family and thus a veritable war en-
sues instead OF q mere duel"
NO ORDINARY oFFENsE CAUSES VENDETTA
Corsicans it must be borne in mind. have
always been accustomed to CARRYING weapons,
habit that was contracted in early times when
the island was favorite resort for pirates and
other lawless Characters and when it was often
necessary for the residents to take the law into
their own hands. 1t is no ordinary offense
that causes a vendetta. The injury committed
must be the assassination OF parent an insult
TO daughter, sister or wife or the malicious
injury Of a reputation. Such an Offense having
been committed the njured family assemblies
and discusses the matter in every phase and
perhaps negotiates with the offending family
with view to PREPARATION being made. This
being denied, the vendetta is declared bv an
nouncing the formulas BE on your guard r'
Then the war begins. Usually members Of the
family who are without wife or children are
selected for specific assassinatious and thew
consider themselves charged with sacred
mission. Here is a sample note found pinned
upon the door OF q house in Corsica:
by decree of this day you have been con-
demred to death tor your crime. BE Oh your
guard! "THEopoRE."
ANY FORM OF INJURY Is ALLOWABLE.
Any shape or form of injury is allowable to
the enemy; any method of accomplishing his
ruin and death is allowable. Treachery is
legitimate, and years ago when brigandage was
the great pest Of Italy and especially of south
ern italy. Corsica was filled with the ruins of
the houses that had been destroyed in these
family wars. The child that refuses to accept
his inheritance OF Vengeance is an migrate and
an object OF family execratlon. When n MAN
| falls by the hands OF the enemy the survivors
use MS death as a means of inspiring further
hatred. Tie body Is placed upon u table and
the women, including his wife and daughters,
| and all his friends walk around and around
the corpse vowing vengeance against the