St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-06
THE SAVAGE sIcILIAN.
He Is Bad Enough, But 1t Is a
Wonder He Is Not Worse.

He Is Bad Enough, But 1t Is q
Wonder He Is Not Worse.
James Parton in N Y Ledger
There is much hard feeling at present
throughout the United States against
the immigrants from Southern Italy,
and particularly against the Sicilians.
Let US, however, think twice before ex-
GLIDING any class of immigrants be-
cause of the misconduct of a few.
Contractors who know the SIcil-
ians well, from having employed
large numbers of them. and other
business men who have supplied
their wants. describe them as frugal,
temperate, industrious, and faithful to
their engagements. Some of them are.
indeed, violent in their anger and cruel
IN their revenge, and certain number
of them still adhere to the secret sOcie-
ties that grew out of their oppressed
and miserable condition at home.
All the famous islands are unhappy
except the two or three which are large
enough to defend themselves against
powerful neighbors. But of all island
ers. the inhabitants of Sicily have been
for 5000 years among the most unfort-
innate. Separated from Italy by a strait
two miles wide. they have suf-
AO1C0 luC COiOluCQ
OF isolation and SubjugatiOn. I'm
der the Greeks they were mis-
governed and oppressed, and if they en-
joyed independence during the reign
of Dionysius. ''the Tyrant of Syracuse"
their condition was not improved. Play
goers still shed tears over the pathetic
story of Damon and Pythlas. in which
DiOnysius figures as the capriciouS and
irresponsible deSpot.
Carthage dominated Sicily for while.
Under Rome. rich patricians sent gangs
OF slaves to till the Sicilian estates, until
the yeomen of the island were all
ruined. From the Caesars to the Bour
bOns. as often as Italy has changed
masters. Sicily has been regarded by
each in turn as part of the spoils of con-
quest. and the people, too few and weak
to resist their tyrants openly, have had
no resource against the direst OppreS-
sion except the secret society, the
Stealthy assassin and brigandage.
Under the present Italian government
the Sicillians are less oppressed and
more hopeful: but they have to Outgrow
and undo the accumulated mischiefs of
5000 years of subjhgatiOn, during which
lhey have never been governed except
for the advantage either of foreign
despot or teudal chief of their own
blood.
1t is surprising that, after such an eX-
perience. majority of the people should
have retained the most essential virtues
of human beings. just as the Irish have
under similar oppression and SpOliation.
The British consul posted there, in his
last official report, describes the cOndi-
ton of the Sicilian farmers and at the
same time testifies to their good
disposition. Such is the poverty
erty of the peasantry that they
are wholly unacquainted with any
sort of luxury. even with tobacco,
the poor solace of the poorest in other
lands. Their food is mostly the hard
est kind of rye bread, which they miti-
gate with raw onion or small guam
tity of beans or cabbage. A little in
ferior olive oil, very strong in point OF
Odor, occasionally serves as butter to
their black bread. AS for the laborers,
they live in houses composed of a
single. room. with is shared by tn
pigs. the goats, the donkey and the
chickens. In spite of this grind
ing and hopeless poverty, the
consul describes them as moral, po-
lite, patient. extremely industrious and
wonderfully prudent. In Sicily, he re-
marks. are seen creatures clothed in
rags, living on the very last items or
subsistence TO which human nature
seems capable of being reduced, but
enduring the hardships of their lot
with resignation for which the joyous
spirit of the old Greek pastoral poet
would have found no notes of recog-
nition."
We may add to this the testimony of
an American resident. who gave to the
Evening Post some days ago several
curious facts respecting the brigandage
in this ill-starred island, resulting, as
he ssys, from 1.-The black pail of oppres-
sion'' under which the people have lain
helpless and hopeless age after age.
The American, having a letter of in
PRODUCTION to one of the chief
ladies of the island, was taken out
by her to see one of the country
seats. one of the most beautiful retreats
on the island. The owner of this para
disc did net dare to pass night in it
for fear of being carried off to the
mountains by brigandS and held for
ransom. and even her town house was
inclOsed all about by heavy iron rail-
ratings for defense against the outlaws.
He related the following:
The landlord of our hotel showed a
ring which he put on when ne drove
out to his farm near the city. That
ring contained poison for himself if he
should be carried off to the mountains.
He objected to having mis- ears and nose
and fingers sent down to his family by
installments in default of ransom, and
did not wish them to be ruined by pay
ing it."