The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-17

qulIIlIy Oh conscience as a policeman who
arrests an unfortunate rabbie of beggars,
OF soldier VINO fires on his brothers ON
a strIke. his object was TO become a
Camorrlst, and as he could obtain this
only through the recommendation of his
immediate Chief, he sought to propitiate
the latter by all possible means. Yet, as
MI. AlongI remarks, merit was more
likely to insure success under the Ca
mora than Il is under any public admin
iStratlon. Any stranger might challenge
aenlef to single com bat, and If victorious,
lot only would the Camorra take no re-
Venge on him, but he would he invited to
take the dead chiefs place-a practice
obviously intended to keep alive the
Valor OF the chiefs, and to prevent them
from regarding their posts as mere sine
cures.
After nomination, and previous to as
Stunning his new dignity, the picciuotto
mad To hight a duel with Camorrist. The
Two adversaries. having sworn that they
were not al enmity, now crossed daggers,
aiming OILY al each others arms. The
encounter usually ended with mere
scratch. and was not so much of a test of
skill as ceremony of inyestiture." The
author goes on detailing the remarkable
ramlncationS OF the duties OF the Ca
mora, but our readers Will be more in
terested IN the strange secret association
known as the Mania.
The Neapolitan Camorra developed in
the midst OF a popuIous town aud as
sumed the form OF an organization with
DEFINITE functions and names. It was,
however. Dut an eXcreScence of society,
without deep organic connection. The
NIafla, on The contrary, was a sponta-
neouS growth in the rural regions, and
though lar less definite IN aim and or
ganlZatIon, was more deeply rooted in
Z a "a mr.
governed only a little world and ex-
plotted but petty interests, the Mafia
permeated all social relations, Whereas
the Camorra grew with tho couniVance of
the Government, the Malta was ever in
conflict with ii. In the case of the
Matla there was no established hierarchy,
no set rules, no regular revenue. The
Mafia,' says Prot. Villari, has no written
statutes; 1t IS not secret society, and
hardly an association. 1t is formed by
spontaneous generaLion.' 1t adapts itself
wonderfully 10 the environment appear
ing i'll various forms. There are several
Mafias-high and low, country Malta
and town Malta, Malta of the mountain
and Mana of the plain, or OF the seaside.
According 10 Messrs. tranchetti and
Sonnino, people of every rank, profess
sion ana occupation, who have no other
Ties, unite Tor their common interests,
without regard to law, justice, or public
order They believe as in the middle
ages, that they can best provide for the
safety OF their own persons and Of their
own property by their own strength and
personal influence, independent of all
authority and law
In country where the soil is ex-
tremely fertile, while very little is needed
to support lie, where towns are few and
scattered, where communication between
places is extremely difficult, where the
Government is distant and careless, and
society has split into different classes In
consequence OF a long succession of for
elgn lnYaslons-ln such "a country the
limit TO the exploitation OF man VIII be
hXed, not by law, but solely by force
CLASS Will be against class, man will be
opposed to man. Personal tyranny will
lie met with personal vengeance. Hence
the necessity viii be felt by every indi-
vidual TO have friends who will stand
by hun Tor good or for evil. Such asso-
cations, at hrst purely defensive, will be-
come in time purposely otfensive; or,
rather, their character Will vary SO much
according to circumstances as to make
the continuity Of their existence uncer-
tain.
1.-THE conditions of Sicily before and
for many years after the political unifica-
ton of Italy answered to the above de-
scrIption. Even at the present time Sic
lily contains vestiges of feudalism. The
tiet still exists in name and to some ex-
tent in reality
The authors description of the condi-
ton OF things under the land-leasing GUS
toms is almost warrant for the existence
OF the Mania. 1t has called into existence
small bodies or cliques OF men organized
Tor the purpose of wreaking vengeance
Tor wrongs and oppression and keeping
out of the hands of the law.
''Quite different from the Malta. which
relgns III agricultural and mining dis
trlcts, is the commercial Malta OF the
coast, which may be described as an asso-
CATION OF brokers, shopkeepers, bogus
merchants and bogus bankers, more or
less bankrupt. Their object is to monoD-
Ollie the produce from the interior before
IL reaches the market OF Palermo, where
another and higher Mafia-lndeed. the
highest and richest some OF the members
being mIlllonairesl-is established, AT
harvest time every farmer in the country
receives the visit of some mysterious in
dlvldual. who wishes to buy 'on behalf of
his friends such anu such produce at
such and such price. The demand is
couched IN courteous, ;rreproachable
terms, but II not granted the manning of
the farmers cattle or the destruction OF
part of his crops will bring him to his
senses.
1.-The Malta of Palermo receives the
goods and delivers them to wholesale and
retail merchants, debating It's own terms.
Beside, there are or were many Syndi-
Gates or trusts, like the mili-owners,
trust, which was dissolved in 1882, whose
object was to limit production, raise
prices and share profits alike. This is
supposed to be a legitimate object when
attained by legal means, such as war of
prices and fines. In the case of the Sicll-
ian trusts, however, the means employed
to induce members OF trade to enter q
com bination or 20 keep their obligations
toward the same, were somewhat primi-
of property. gashing in
the face, and even murder"
The description of the operations Of
the Malta, interesting as it is, must be
cut short to allow of q few words as to
the general characteristics:
The dominating spirit of the Malta is
oppression. Still, Tor most people, ca
reer OF oppression is q pis aler, the only
alternative To being oppressed.
The ManusO IS man who wishes to
be respected (farisi respectari); that he
may be respected, he makes himself
dreaded. And DC strives 20 that end.
He practices with the rifle or dagger. and
prepares 10 face the dangers which await
him. He has blood in his veins mas
nerve,' is man, and requires that his
be acknowledged. A slight Of
Tense, an unseeming word, show of re-
and he will assail even to death
a friend for whom he would have risked
his life but moment before. His repu-
tation is precious to HMM fact, it is his
only capital, and must be maintained at
any cost. The slightest offenses against
his dignity he must punish promptly
and publicly. The more serious wrongs,
however, he avenges secretly, especially
those bearing the character of treason.
like the seduction OF a wife by a friend.
should he cease to he highly sensitive
in such matters he would be treated as