Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-16
AS TO FUTURE PROCEEDINGS.
What Uncle sam May or May Not Do in
the Difficulty.


the Difficulty.
Mr.. Blaine points out that the resident
alien has privilege guaranteed to him in
that he can proceed in the United States
courts, while the citizen of the United
States can only proceed in the state
courts. He quotes the provisions Of the
Louisiana constitution which hold any
one responsible for damage done TO an
other by that one. He then goes on 10
say that there is difference in the cases
OF the mob of 1851 and that under consid-
Grafton. In the former case nobody was
killed, nor was a single member of the
mob identified, so that it was impOssi ble
to proceed criminally against any one.
What the President Is Doing.
Marquis Ru6ini is informed that the
president promptly ordered the proper
officers TO investigate whether criminal
proceedings would lie in the federal courts
against any member of the late mob, and
report. This report has not yet been re-
ceived II such proceedings will lie they
will promptly be begun. But If they viii
not lie, as seems probable. the secretary
says, the only recourse will be through the
courts Of louisiana, and the president
can only urge the authorities OF that
state TO act promptly in bringing the Of
tenders to trial: and this was done in the
presidents telegram TO the governor of
Louisiana of March Is
For Future Consideration.
Secretary Blaine then continues: aIf it
shall result that the case can be prosecuted
only in the state courts of Louisiana, and
the usual judicial investigation and pro-
cedure under the criminal law is not re-
sorted to, it will then be the duty of the
United States to consider whether some
other form of redress may not be asked.
IL is understood that the state grand jury
is now investigating the affair, and while
it is possible that the jury may fail TO pre-
sent indictments, the United States cannot
assume that such will be the case"
Our Treaty Obligations.
He then says that the United States did
not by treaty insure the lives or property
of Italian subjects living in this country.
No government can insure the lives of its
own citizens, and the foreign resi-
dent must be content with the same re-
dress as can be obtained by thegnative or
naturalizad ones. The treaty limits the
rights guaranteed to alien sidents of
each country to equal treatment. and free
access to the courts. Foreign residents
are not made a favored class Where the
injury inflicted is not the act OF the gov
eTninSDL lJsell or us OiUcerS, II l. Dell
that no claim for Naturalization Is good,
'uuless it shall be made to appear that
the public authorities charged with the
peace of the community have couuivei at
the unlawful act, or having timely notice
o. the danger have been guilty OF such
gross negligence in taking the necessary
precautions IS 70 amount to cOnaivance"
The >ecTetary's Conclusion.
'If, therefore. it should appear that
among those killed by the mob at New
Orleans there were some Italian subjects
who were resident or domiciled in that
CITY, agreeably TO our treaty with Italy,
aud not in violation of our immigration
laws. and who were abiding in the peace
of the United States and obeyng the laws
thereof and OF the state of louisiana and
that the public officers charged with the
duty of protecting life and property in
that city connived al the work OF
the mob. or upon proper notice
or information of tine threatened
danger failed to take any steps for the
preservation of the public peace and aft
erward to bring the guilty to trial the
president would, under such circum-
stances, feel that n case was established
that should be submitted 70 the consider
alton of congress with view to the re-
lief Of the families OF the Italian subjects
who bad lost their lives by lawless VIC
lence.
Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of
my high consideration.
JAMES G. BLAINE.