Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-16
THURSDAY. APRIL l6, 1891.
The Correspondence Made Public.

The Correspondence Made Public
The great telegraphic news feature OF
our paper to-day Is the correspondence be-
tween Italy and the United States with re-
spect to the uprising at New Orleans, by
which three or four Italian subjects and
several American citizens lost their lives.
The demands Of Italy are for the punish
nent Of the persons concerned in the
uprising and for indemnities to be paid the
families Of the slain Italian subjects.
II appears that, notwithstanding the
departure on leayen of Baron FAyA there
has been no sundering of diplomatic rela.
sions between the two countries, and
there is nothing to support the rumor OF
The past few days that this Government
had been threatened" because OF its de-
Law in answering tho Italian demands.
The King of Italy insists upon view OF
The treaty with the United States, which
Is by no means accepted by this Govern
mont. and Mr.. BLAINE takes pains to give
Che true meaning OF that instrument. as he
understands it, and TO explain what has al
ways been the position of this country in
cases Of like character.
About all that Mr.. BLAINE will promise
that the United States will do is contained
On the following paragraph-which IS his
answer in a nutshell:
@If Il should appear that among those killed
BY the mob ct New Orleans there were some
Italian subjects who were resident or domiciled
On that city agreoably 70 our treaty with Italy and
not IN violation of our immigration-leWs, and
who we're abiding in the peace Of the United
States and obeying the laws thereof, and OF the
State of Louisiana, and that the public officers
charged with tho duty Of protecting life ana
property In the city connived at the work Of tho
mob, or upon proper notice or information Of the
threatened danger failed 70 take steps for tho
preservation Of tho public peace and Afterwards
10 bring the guilty 20 trial, the President would
under such circumstances feel that case was
established that could be submitted TO the con-
alteration Of Congress with a view 70 the relief
of tho families OF the Italian subjects who had
sost their lives by lawless violence"
The letters of the Italian officials and
BfAIxE's answer will repay close reading.
The former started of blusteringly and
laid themselves open to observations,
which BLAME shrewdly makes TO the dis
advantage of the old-world statesmen.
BLAINE cannot and does not promise that
the "murderers shall "be punished
ard he does not copcede that the Italian
Government has any fright to demand an
indemnity for the victims" unless Gas he
does not admit it comes under the head OF
!" treaty violation" About all the con-
ISOLATION he offers to HUMBERT and RUDrS1
is the qualified and well-guarded para
graph above quoted. and he does not seem
10 care fig IL the public opinion in Italy
is justly impatient"
Mr.. BLAINE says the Federal Govern
ment is inquiring whether the United
States grand jury at New Orleans can take
cognizance Of the offences of the rioters,
but if at shall be found, as seems pro-
bable, that criminal proceedings can only
be taken in the courts of Louisiana the
President can, in this direction, do no more
than to urge upon the State officials the
duly of bringing the offenders to trial."
He adds that cit is understood that the
State grand jury is now investigating the
affair. aud while it is possible that the jury
may fail to present indictments, the United
States cannot assume that such will be the
case"
Mr.. BLAINE, therefore, can give no as
surance that anybody will bepunished. He
remarks that by the treaty the United
States did not " become the insurer Of the
lives of Italian subjects resident within
our territory" nor is it, he says, possible
for any government TO insure the lives of
its own citizens against violence pro-
NOTED by individual malice oraeSsudden
popular tumult."
In short, Mr.. BLAINE requires Italy to
make out clearer case than 1t has yet
done, and in that event encourages 1t to
hope that Congress may afford some
moneyed reliet to the families of the
Italian subjects whose lives were taken in
the irregular administration Of justice by
the New Orleans people.