The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-12-10
established without bloodshed.

The New Orleans Lynching.
The lynching at New Orleans in March
last of eleven men of Italian nativity by
a mob of citizens was a most deplorable
and discreditable incident. It did not,
however, have its origin in any
general animosity to the Italian people;
nor in any disrespect to the government
of Italy, with which our relations were
of a most friendly character. The fury
of the mob was directed against three
men as the suppo7ed participants or ac-
cessories in the murder of city official
do not allude to this as mitigating in
any degree this offense against law and
humanity, bat only as affecting the in
ternational questions which grew out
of it. 1t was once represented by the
Italian minister that several of those
whose lives had been taken by the mob
were Italian subjects and demand was
made for the punishment of the partici-
pants and for an indemnity to the fam
lilies of those who were killed. 1t is to
be regretted that the manner in which
these claims were presented was not
such as to promote calm discussion of
the questions involved. The views of
this government as to its obligations to
foreigners domiciled here were fully
stated in the correspondence, as well as
its purpose to make an investigation of
the affair with view to determine
whether there were present any circum-
stances that could, under such rules of
duty as we had indicated. create an OBJ
legation upon the United States.
Suggests Change in the Law.
Some suggestions growingiout of this
unhappy incident are worthy the atten-
ton of congress. 1t would, / believe,
be entirely competent for congress to
make offenses against the treaty rights
of foreigners domiciled in the United
States cognizable in the federal courts.
This has not, however, been done, and
the federal officers and courts have nc
power in such cases to intervene
either for the protection of a foreign
citizen or for the punishment of his
slayers. 1t seems to me to follow, In
this state of the law, that the officers OF
the state charged with police and judic.
| ial powers in such cases must, in tine
| consideration of International questions
| growing out of such incidents, be re.
| garded in such sense as federal agents
| as to make this government answerable
| for their acts in cases where it would be
| answerable If the United States had
used its constitutional power to define
and punish crimes against treaty rights.
+ The Chiiian War.
The civil war in Chilli, which began
in January last, was continued, but for
| tunately with infrequent and not i'm
| portant armed collisions, until August
%, when the congressional forces landed
near Valparaiso, and, after bloody en-
gagement captured that city. Presi-
| dent Balmaceda at once recognized that
his cause was lost, and a provisional
| government was speedily established by
! the victorious party. Our minister was
! promptly directed to recognize and put
I himself in communication with this
! government so soon as il should have
established its defacto character. Dur
| ing the pendency of this civil contest
frequent indirect appeals were made, to
this government to extend belligerent
| rights to the insurgents and to give
audience to their representatives. This
/ was declined, and that policy was prr.
sued throughout, which this govern.
ment, when wrenched by civil war, sc
strenuously insisted upon ON the part
of European nations. The Itata
an armed vessel commanded
by naval officer Of the insurgent feet,
manned by its sailors and with soldiers
on board, was seized under process OF
the United States court Of San Diego,
California, for . violation OF our neu,
trality laws. While In the custody oi