Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-26
WAS NOT A RACE RIOT.
The New Orleans Italians Dragged
Down the Flag.

Tho Victims Of the Mob We're Dangerous
Men to Have at Large--The Stiletto Has
Been Struck Down.
Correspondence Baltimore Sun.
WASHINGTON, March 1Sth.--It is re-
garded that it would be Just as well if
the Italians throughout the country
would abandon the idea of public meet
ings and resolutions on account of the
New Orleans affair. The men who were
put to death on Saturday last were not
executed because they were Italians, but
because they were assissins and their
continued existence would have been
a menace to the peace and safety of
society. There is no more reason why
Italians should work themselves up
over the matter than that Germans or
Greeks or Turks should. No resolutions
that can be passed at these Italian meet
ings, and no ridiculous and silly threats
of what Italy will do, can have the
least possible effect upon the disposition
of the questions pending. They will be
met and disposed of only after full as
.certainment of the facts, and with time
and elaboration. In this era of rapidly
succeeding stirring events, it is more
than probable by the time the affair is
concluded it will have lost the interest
which now attaches to it, and in fact
may be comparatively forgotten.
In the course Of the correspondence
with the Italian government, il is to he
anticipated that Mr. Blaine will feel
called upon to submit some of the grew
ances of the United States government
in this connection. If Italy has right
to interfere in behalf of her subjects or
alleged subjects, she must, at the same
time, admit responsibility for certain of
their actions. ThSre has as yet, unless
we except the charge to the grand jury
In New Orleans, been no official account
of the occurrences of Saturday. All the
information upon the subject has been
derived from the newspapers. Accord
ing to the newspaper reports, when the
acquittal OF the assassins by the jury
which tried them was announced, Ital-
ian sailors in the port of New Orleans
trampled and heaped other indignities
upon the American flag. Ii these ac-
counts are verified, it will be Mr.,
Blaine's duty to demand reparation for
the insult. As this insult preceded the
killing OF the criminals, it would seem
that Italy must first apologize to lis be-
fore expecting any expressions of re-
greet on our part. The flag of the United
States waves from the top Of lofty sig
nal pole on the river front of the city.
Not satisfied with turning the American
flag upside down on the masts Of their
vessels and hosting their own flag above
it, these Italians tore the flag from the
signal pole where it fluttered as the em-
blem of national authority, and ran up
their own flag in its stead
Undoubtedly such acts as these inten-
sified popular Indignation and prompted
the men who met at the foot Of the Clay
statue to let it be known that American
justice and American authority would
IN one way or another strike the stiletto
from the cowardly hands which Use ii
only in ambush and in darkness.
The following is furnished for the
Sun by well-known gentleman who is
recognized authority on International
law:
"The taking off of eleven of the more
prominent and active members of the
Sicilian murder society in New Orleans
has no feature about it that suggests
the presence of an international or race
question. And the persistent attempts
made, here and there, to give the occur
renee an international aspect or color
ing originates either in gross ignorance
OF the nature and character Of inter
national relations and liability in re-
sPect to this tragic incident or in false
or criminal sentimentality that can only
foment a morbid and disastrous agita-
ton. Whatever regrets may be enter
tanned on the emotional side in respect
to the executions, one result is reason
ably assured, and that is that life in
New Orleans will be much safer from
the assassin's stiletto than it has been
for long time. And even the lives Of
the more prominent actors in the swift
retribution will be safer than they were
before from the terrible reckoning
visited upon the victims by AN outraged
and threatened community. In the case
Of the victims the whole populace of
New Orleans practically served aR
jurors, and followed the details of
prosecution and defense for nearly Il
Nonth. And at the CONCLUSION of the
trial the verdict of the people, rendered
with singular unanimity, was guilty as
indicted
"Other cities may learn useful and
necessary lesson from this occurrence,
and that is, that there is crying need in
many places for reform in the
municipal government Of many Of our
large cities, and in the administration of
criminal law in respect TO greater care
and vigilance in the composition and
adaptation OF the jury system to existing
conditions. And Congress may find
something to do in respect tot the amend
ment of immigration laws in directions
which demand restriction and regula-
ton"