St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-03
LET Us BE STRONG.

The published correspondence be-
tween the recalled Italian minister and
Secretary BLAINE may be interpreted as
giving more serious aspect to this inter-
national trouble than it was at first sup
posed to bear. The Italian government
declares that if recalls its representative
because Mr.. BLAINE has refused to ac-
QuieSce i'll its demands. These were.
first, that the New Orleans lynchers
would be brought to justice; and, sec
ondly, that the relatives of the murdered
Italians should be Unidentified by the
UnltedStateS government for their death.
Mr.. BLAINE, in his reply, disclaimS
having refused to consider the pecuniary
liability of the United States for the
acts of the Louisiana mob, but asserts
with much force and emphasis that he
can give no assurance that even the
leaders OF the mob will ever he pun
ished for what they have done. He says
that their crime, if any crime there is,
will have to be investigated and dealt
with according to our legal methods,
and that it is impossible to forecast the
result. And he is equally emphatic IN
declaring that, in its Investigation and
melting, out of justice to the Iynchers,
this government cannot and will not be
hurried.
1t would seem on first reading that, in
demanding an assurance that the lead
ers of the mob should be brought to JUS
tice, the Italian government means
nothing more than their acts should be
inquired into by the local grand jury,
and, if indicted, that they should he
tried as they would be had their victims
been citizens of this country and not of
Italy, But the Italian government must
have understood when it recalled its
minister that this was already being
done. Mr.. BLAINE'S Interpretation of
its letter is therefore probably correct
one. and its attitude appears to be that
friendly relations between the United
States and Italy cannot be maintained
unless the lyncherS at New Orleans shall
actually be found guilty and punished
for their participation in the riot. 1t
will not be enough that the usual course
of law is followed i'll their case. That
will not be satisfactory. Their convic-
ton is made essential to a continuance
Vi luG CuSlOlIdIS pedCGlul iulGICOuES6
between the two countries.
No one who knows any thing about it
believes that there is the most remote
possibility that Mr.. PARKINSON or his
comrades will suffer any penalty at the
hands of Louisiana jury. Their i'm
munlty is as completely assured as
though there had been no breach of law
or order perpetrated. If the Italian gov
eminent is sincere in its declaration
that it will not be satisfied with this
outcome, it would follow that nothing
| short of war would settle the trouble.
| The general feeling, however, is that
| Italy is not sincere. She has a new
ministry eager for popular favor, and
vigor in dealing with foreign nations is
an easy highroad to plaudits and votes
| in European countries. All these Ora
matte episodes of curt letters, peremp-
tory demands and prompt severing of
diplomatic relations appeal to the hearts
of the theatrical Italian, who wears his
heart Oh his sleeve, and whose tears
| flow and blood boils on provocations
which would seem quite inadequate to
| people of another cline and nationality.
But there is just enough danger in the
| general situation to make it wise to look
to our arms. The love of war is keen
III Southern Europe, and the treasury OF
Italy is not more impoverished than
was that of Turkey when she last COPIED
with Russia, or that of France when
| after the German war, she began to
dream of an empire in Northern Africa