Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1897-11-03

4
of restitution and of the uncer-
tainty that attached to the daily
battle for bread. That similar
result would develop in many
localities today is highly proba-
BILE, except for the strict surveil
lance of the government, which
patrols, both day and night, even
the lonely mountain paths. To
sum up the question of honesty in
this country, the Italian lsborer
prefers to earn his bread, aud,
rather than steal, will toll on un
complainiDgly TO obtain even
bare subsistence; but he believes,
whether rightly or not, that the
luxury which thrives about him
is in some way derived from his
labor, and that the Government,
which taxes him in so many direct
and indirect ways to maintain
great army and navy, is response
BILE for his situation, and that it
is his right to demand of it an
opportunity for him to exist.
When it fails in this respect, as it
does, and must do continuously
considering only the facts that
there are already 107 persons to
be supported from every square
kilometer of territory, and that
the excess of births over deaths~is
eleven In every thousand-be IS
not troubled with conscientious
scruples as to how be is to exist.
Italy is more or less reputed to
be country OF thieves, but every
year there are more thieves made
than born in this fair land.
The Italian laborer has no poll
teal ambitions to serve, no exag
gerated pride in his lineage
or quality of blood, which one
sees at every turn in the more
ignorant peasantry OF Spain. He
loves his country, its legends, its
songs and merry makings, and
more than all its sunshine, which
is, perhaps, the infiuence-through
generations - that has developed
his cheerfulness OF temper and
hopefuluess of disposition; and he
would not emigrate except through
necessity, or in the hope of being
able, by his labor in another coun-
try, to obtain a surplus to aid the
members of his family remaining
in Italy, who by reason of disease,
age, or inability to procure EN-
ployment, require assistance.
He is, in general, less thrifty
than the French peasant, for the
reason that he is more unselfish,
and more willing to share his
crust, even with stranger, than
those of many other nationalities
By nature he is deferential and
polite, and despite his hard lot
and unpropitious surroundings,
often exhibits a delicacy of feel
ing and of manner, that one would
hardly expect to find among q
class of people whose heredity has
been one of many expressions
Attachment to persons and
places is a marked feature of his
character, and he will often sacri
fee personal Interests to continue
in the employ OF person who has
treated him with kindness and
fairness in their relations, partly
from an appreciation of these qua
lities, but more from the fact thai
he is warm hearted, and that il
causes him pain to sever con
nection with those to whom he
has become attached, and who, il
his humble way, he has come tc
consider himself as part of.
This emotional feature of his
character has its contrary aspect
] in his readiness to resent wrong
when, acting under the impulse o.
the moment, he will resort to the
knife for satisfaction, though fal
less frequently than he has the
reputation of doing. Incidents o
this kind occur in all districts, bu
are much more common in large
cities, and in the southern pro
vinces and in Sicily. They are
generally owing to disputes ovel
cards when the parties are over
laden with wine or stronger drinks
They are usually confined to tive
persons, and rarely terminate il
general riots. Secret assasslna,
tons are oftener in vindication o
serious injuries, or are the resul
Of jealousy in love affairs, and ar
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