Evening star., 1896-08-12
THE LYNCHED ITALIANS
Baron Tava Instructed to Obtain Official In
formation Of the Circumstances.
His Request Forwarded to the Cover
nor of LOuisinna-Thc Mana
Case Recalled.

It Is probable that the United States will
lie compelled. by precedent and a sense Of
Justice. to pay an indemnity for the Italian
prisoners recently lynched by a mob at
Hahnville. La. The occurrence has caused
great indignation in Italy. anj Baron Fava,
the ambassador to the United States, has
teen instructed to make prompt investi-
cation and report in the case.
The Italian newspapers are filled with
articles on the subject melting the govern
p.ent to take energetic action. The "Popolo
Romano" recalling the lynching of Italia rs
at New Orleans in 1891. and referring to the
prese mt affair, urges tine Italian govern
ment to call the attention of the European
powers to the strange position of foreign
ers in America and to promote the collec-
tive action of the powers.
Baron Fava's Inquiry.
Ambassador Fava, who is summering In
Bar Harbor, has telegraphed the Secretary
of State in accordance with cabled tnstruc-
tions from his government asking for Of
fetal Information as to the circumstances
Of the Hahnville case. He also directed
Charles PapinI, the Italian consul at New
Orleans, to make thorough investigation
Of the lynching and to ascertain beyond
question the nationality OF these particular
victims Of mob violence. No demand for
reparation will be made by the Italian gov
efnment unless 1t Is established that the
men We're citizens of Italy.
If il can be found that the Italians were
naturalized American citizens. ehe inquiry
will STOP as the Italian government can
no longer take any interest In the affair;
but If the men are shown to be aliens to
the United States. an indemnity will un-
doubtedly be demanded and Congress ask
ed to appropriate for that purpose as it
has done in former instances.
Secretary Olney'S DOlicy IL to readily
grant to foreign powers exactly the same
treatment as he insists upon when Ameri-
can citizens meet with indignities abroad.
He has held, however, that where author
tiles are overcome by mcbs, after Offer
Ing strenuous resistance. this constitutes
eXtenuating circumstances and operates to
reduce the amount of indemnity from that
properly called for when the legal author
tiles cooperate with the lawless.
Italy will probably take no further action
until after the reply Of the governor of
Louisiana.
In the case of the malta lynching at
New Orleans In 1892 the United States
government was compelled to pay an in
demnity of $25,0o0 to the families of the
victims. being at the rate OF S, 900 for each
man killed by the mob.
Forwarded to the Governor of Lou,..
iana.
Mr.. Rockhill who is acting Secretary of
State. has forwarded Ambassador Fava's
lowing the same procedure observed upon
the occasion of the lynchlng of members
OF the malta. 1t Is presumed that the GOV
ernor will call upon the district attorney
Tor report for the Information of the
department of State, and thus initiate an
other International inciient and pave the
way Tor the payment of an indemnity
Will Procure q Report.
In answer to the inquiry from the State
department and the request from the Ital-
ian ambassador for Information respec ting
the lynchng at Hahrviile. the governor OF
Louisiana has telegraphed the State De-
partment that he knows nothing officially
OF the affair, but will take steps to pro-
cure report upon it.
Although our government has as in the
case OF the killing of the Italians in New
Orleans under the last administration, dis
claimed responsibility for such occurrences.
the fact that the President has in that and
subsequent affairs of like nature felt
obliged to seek from Congress authority
for the payment of suitable indemnities,
may fairly be regarded as an admission
OF the moral responsibility upon the gov
ernment Of the United States, under its
treaties with foreign countries, to protect
citizens Of such countries from illegal acts
of mobs. In view of the comparative fire.
Quency Of these affairs Of late years. 1t is
probable that the executive may call upon
Congress to provide by law for the ex-
tension OF federal jurisdiction to cover all
ofenses committed against subjects of
countries whom we are pledged by treaty
to protect.