The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-01

WASHINGTON, March 3l.-[Speciall II
| With an official notice dated to-day
Baron Fava, Italian Minister, has de-
clared to the Secretary of State that the
| United States Government not having
| given assurances that the murderers of
Italian subjects acquitted by American
magistrates and murdered in prison
while under the immediate protection
of the authorities Of New Orleans,
would be brought to justice, the italian
government has found itself under the
very painful necessity OF showing open
ly it's dissatisfaction by recalling the
minister of his majesty from country
where an Italian representative is una
BILE to obtain Justice.
The Baron will soon leave the United
States, leaving the secretary Of the le-
CATION in charge only of current affairs.
This action by the Italian govern
mont caused the deepest surprise in
official circles hero when the fact be-
came known. 1t has been generally
would at least await the action of the
New Orleans grand jury, which is
| charged with an investigation Of the
| bloody episode at the New Orleans Jail.
1t appears, however, that information
received from its representatives must
| have led the government to tho conclu-
sion that the grand jurys investigation
would fail to result in the punishment
or even indictment Of any person con-
nected with the killing of the Italians.
The letter Of Governor Nichols, in
reply to Secretary Blaine, was also, it
is thought, regarded as evasive of the
real point at issue.
The reparation for an alleged wrong,
and the Governors assurance that
further bloodshed would not follow, was
unaccompanied by any excuse for the
failure of tho State or municipal author
tiles to take precautions to prevent the
killing, was, it is said, regarded by the
Italian government with extreme dissat.
isfac ton. 1t appeared that the United
States Government had exhausted its
resources. The relations between the
National Government and tho govern
ments of the States were so fixed by the
American constitution that when the
Italian minister, obeying the commands
of his government sought for some
assurance that the persons concerned
in the killing of its subjscts would be
punished, it was not possible for tho
General Government to give any definite
assurance of the kind.
1t could and did point to the fact that
the grand jury was an American pro-
vision for calling before the bar Of JUS
tice persons who had violated tho law
of the land. But this particular grand
jury was called together under the
laws of the of State Louisiana, and
whether or not it would punish accord
ing to the Italian idea Of Justice, was
something that no national official, from
the President down, could guarantee.
Tho Italian government was not salts
| fed with such views. With the rela-
| tions between the State and National
Governments, and the peculiarties of
our constitutional system of govern
ment, it had nothing to do. But it was
necessary, according to its views, that
Italian citizens in foreign countries
should bo accorded the full measure of
protection fixed by the laws of those
countries.
Here was a case where, according to
the statement of tho minister, Italian
subjects had been arrested on the charge
of crime and acquitted by an American
jury according to tho forms of American
law. These men, declared innocent by
the judicial tribunal, had been slain by
an angry people. The Italian govern
ment could not go behind tho verdict of
an American court, and, notwithstand-
ing it was stated in some quarters that
the men were really guilty of foul as
sassination and had been acquitted by
means Of bribery, in the eye OF the
Italian government they were innocent
Italian subjects. In their violent kill
ing the Italian people had been out
ragged and insulted. The National Gov.