The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-18
should DO all Americans.

There ID great uehI VI blcAhy eeHS
exhibited in many of the
comments on the recent
tragedy in New Orleans. Particularly
ia this true Of the New York press,
where the situation is viewed apparently
from foreign standpoint, probably with
a design to maintain the favor Of the
larss foreign element in the population
Of that city. The Italian organs are even
worse in this respect, but with more rea'
son. Remember" say the Italian
papers Of this country, shat we are all
Italians; that while earning livelihood
in the United States, and free to enjoy
It's institutions, We are subjects OF tho
King Of Italy," Right here is where
the trouble comes in, and the Cleveland
Leader has a proper conception OF the
whole question when itsays that inper-
sisting in remembering that they are
"all Italians" aud in establishing So
cieties for their personal government
and protection, they place themselves in
direct antagonism TO tho institutions
under which they live.
The extent to which they subordinate our
laws 10 their code depends entirely npOn thelr
power, NOT upon their disposition. The justin
cation Of this attitude by The most prominent
Italians IN this county can only agGrAvAte the
situation. The people Of the United States
should all be Americans. II they are not con-
tent 10 be American citizens they ought 70 get
set themselves up against this sentiment they
will create au antag0niAm that must DO pFoduc'
tive OF unhappy results. il there weroA million
Americans scattered about In the large cities o.
Italy, many Of them leaIued In an oath. bound
MAha society for their own government, inde'
pendent Of the laws Of that country, and de-
pending for immunity from ptfntshment on
their ability 10 corrupt Jurors; II some OF these
Americans were charged with crimes, and, 10
escape the penalty Of the law. had composed
the assassination Of high Official like Chief Of
Police HennesSy, the punishment inflicted upon
them would have been 90. prompt and severe
that none Of them would have ielt IKE boast !;
fully exclaiming I'VE are all Americans"
Their long imprisonment or ejectment from the
nation would have been only q matter oil
national Seli'preserVation.
Ne such condition Of affairs could
exist in any other nation in the world
and would not be allowed to exist. All
European nations take precautions
against such things. The contemporary
referred to above, the Cleveland Leader,
points out the cause for complaint
America in referring to the fact that we
have among US the odds and ends OF all
nationalities. Naturally clannish, they
organize for mutual help and the aims
Of their societies frequently conflict
with our laws. While they are as free
as any Of our citizens many Of them re-
fuse to content themselves with this
freedom. Naturally clannish, they or
ganizs for mutual help and protection
and the aims Of their societies are fro
auently extended until they conflict
with our laws. BeRides the Malta we
have the Clan. na.Gael murder society,
the Anarchists, the Molly Maguires, the
Chinese Highbiuders, and the existence
Of murderous Polish order was recent
ly unearthed in Pennsylvania. The
Polish vitriol throwers and destroyes OIL
property in Jamaica, L. l., were acting
under orders of their society, which
promised them immunity from punish
ment, and their leader has already been
released from Jail on $4,000 bail.
We agree with our contemporary that
all these societies should be swept out
Of existence. They have no place in
America. The country belongs to
Americans, native and nsturalized. II
welcomes, and even invites, the honest,
industrious, w-abidingimmigrants from
foreign shores, but when they organize
into societies to defeat justice and vic.
late American laws, It has no use fol
them.