The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-18
THE MAriA IN ITALY.
Malignant Activity Of IN Organ1xat4el
Whose Sole Penalty Il Death.

Malignant Activity OF an Organizataen
Whose Sole Penalty Il Death.
The Italian Malta Of to-day Is not q
complex organization with constitu.
ton, ordinances and bylaws. but a
community of sentiment striving to
preserve the feudal institution Of per-
sonal vengeance, and warning against
state interference with individual
license. There are, however, within
this great solidarity Of malefactors
numerous bands of criminals having a
formal organization and special fields
of action, as brigands, cattle thieves,
contrabandists, intimidators and extor-
TONERS, in family or personal groups.
such as the Posa, Fratuzzi, Amoroso.
Stoppaglieri, Fratellanza, Cosca, Mala
Vita and Carciolo. All these societies,
according to Chambers Journal, have
their officers. rules. oaths and penalties,
or usually one penalty-death.
A direct outgrowth Of feudalism, the
Malta originated in Florence and Genoa
at time when tho retain ers of the
later medieval mobiles lounged about
the now deserted palaces waiting for the
bidding CT their masters to carry out
some new assassination in the constant
campaign Of private vengeance. Unlike
nihilism, the malta is not strictly .
secret society-it is nonpolitical, and is
the development and perfection of q
supreme power directed to every kind
of evil; it Is the instructive solidarity,
brutal and selfish, that unites-to the
injury Of the state, of laws and of or
ganized society-au individuals that de-
sire to obt ain their living, not by labor,
but by violence, tric,lery and intimida-
ton.
In every part Of Italy it is undoubted-
~ a power of malignant activity, which
In these days Of unrest and anarchy is
rapidly extending it's nefarious iniu-
ences. The difference between the rich
and the poor mafosa is merely one of de-
gree. The wealthy proprietor becomes
an ally either to carry on hereditary
feud, to make himself beneficiary Of
past crimes, or merely to crafty desire
for power. If he is not in voluntary
sympathy with the offenders he is con-
strained to lend himself directly or in
directly to their schemes. Otherwise q
gunshot, a general slaughter OF his cat
tie, fire that consumes his harvest, a
threatening letter or sequestration of
his person, reminds him that, while the
law has many for1ralities and delays.
the action of the malta is summary. He
rarely hesitates longer as to where he
shall attach his interests; If he does
his own life pays for the delay. 1t hap
pens thus that family may be obliged
to witness the murder of relative and
remain silent rather than incur the fur
Their action of the malta, as they would
do by having recourse to tho criminal
courts.
That the strength and influence Of
the malta is recognized with apprehen-
sion by the Italian government is unde-
niable, and facts revealed at the recent
trials at Bari and New Orleans tend to
confirm the opinion that it is now close
ly allied with the anarchistic movement
Notwithstanding the efforts of the Ital-
ian police it's power is rapidly increas-
ing, and its attitude toward both gov
eminent and society Is certainly the re-
verse of reassuring.