The morning call., 1891-03-17
THE NEW ORLEANS LYNcHING.

IL 4
We are not vet in possession of all the
facts leading up to and in connection with
The lynchng of the Italian prisoners at New
Orleans. Until we are, it will be impossi-
BILE to form an opinion as to the full measure
Of prov0cation which induced the action of
the people. There has been a grave de-
p1rture from legal methods San Flanciscans
can realize the nature of such outbreaks
better than the people of most great Ameri-
can cities, because they have passed through
similar experiences. One of the questions
vet open is whether the situation at New
Orleans was as grave as the p0pulace sup
posed.
It should be promised in any considera-
ton Of this matter that it contains no ee-
meut OF race war. The action Of the New
Orleans yigilantes was directed not against
Italians but against alleged conspirators and
assassins. The Italian citizens and resi-
dents of the United States should make this
distinction in their consideration OF the mat
ter There are Italians and Italians. Within
ll'e wears there has been large emigra-
tion from Italy to the United States. As a
rule. these newcomers have proved to be
industrious and useful citizens. The status
If the Italian race in San Francisco is sul1i-
Cient evidence to thattffect. AIlnatiOnalities
lave their black sheep, and Italians recog-
riZe tile fact that there is criminal element
among their people which has methods Of
its own. In Sicily and Calabra brigandage
has fiourished for centuries. Perhaps 1t is
partly due to the tradition and experience
Of unsettled political and governmental con-
ditiOus The country has been the battle
ground Of tie ages, from the time when
Greeks Romans and Carthaginians con-
tended there for thu mastery down TO Carl
baidis revolutionary movement of 1860. Per-
haps the infusion OF Greek blood from early
colonization has something to do with it.
Tie Greeks have always carried a good
deal of Legitimate enterprise along with
their commercial and political activity.
Whatever the cause, the fact remains that,
even to this day, brisandage is so interviewer
with business and government in some parts
of Sicily that it is able to defy the law.
Progress has been made in suppressing it,
but much remains to be done before tourists
or natives can wander at will on the island
without danger Of being captured and held
for ransom. A system of secret under
standing between a certain class of the poo
pie aud the bandits has made things easy
FIR the latter. Out of these facts have
grown conspiring, oath-bound societies,
which have made themselves felt in the pO-
litical as well as the criminal history of
Italy.
Natural conditions have drawn many peo-
pie from Southern Italy and Sicily to New
Orleans. They form numerous colony
there Of peaceful and industrious residents.
" iuh them came few OF the vicious class
who always follow in the track of move
ments OF population. The "Mafia," crimi-
al Of -,
outcome Of Sicilian brigandage, began oper-
atoms in New Orleans 1t is simply muir
derous, Matchmaking. terrorizing associa-
ton of criminals, similar but probably more
formidable than the Chinese highbinders of
San Francisco. The Italians themselves suf-
fered more than any other people from its
presence.
The reign of terror organized by this So
ciety eliminated in the assassination of
Chief OF Police Hennessy last fall. The
body of the evidence adduced against those
arrested as participants in this crime is not
IN hand, but 1t was strong against some, at
least, Of the prisoners. Meantime it was
discovered that bribery and intimidation
had been used to influence the jury, and
some arrests had been made in that con-
nection while the trial was in progress. The
verdict Of the jury was considered miscar-
riage Of justice. The people Of the CITY,
believing justice had been defeated through
bribing of the jury, proceeded to correct it
In their own way. The thing was not done
In corner; due notice was given OF their in
tentionS. Leading citizens headed the move
ment The city government had ample
warning if it desired to oppose the move
meni. The Mayor could not be found by
those who sought him in apprehension of
the event No official appeal could be made
to the State or United States authorities
The few police in charge of the prison at
TEMPTED no resistance. 1t is perfectly clear
that there was no public or official senti-
ment IN New Orleans to withstand the
movement to lynch the prisoners. The
peaceful Italian residents of New Orleans
are not and have not been in any danger
from an American mob, although many of
them openly rejoiced over the verdict of the
jury.
The matter in nutshell is that New
Orleans vigilantes have lynched a number
Of suspected asSassins vino had been ac-
quilted by jury that they believed to have
been bribed. Their nationality had moth
ing 10 do with the matter. If any of these
victims were Italian subjects the Italian
Government will naturally inquire under
what circumstances they were killed out
side of legal proceedings. That is all fight
and will be settled in accordance with Gus
tomary international procedure. Beyond
that the matter is question as TO the neees-
sty of mob law to yindIcate justice in New
Orleans.