The record-union., 1899-08-07
WHY WE PAY ITALY.

The Government has resolved to pay,
indemnity demanded for the lynching
of certain subjects of Italy at Tallulah,
Louisiana. The iynching was without
the slightest excuse. Two men quar-
relied over a predatory goat and one
shot the other. Thereupon a mob
turned itself loose and hanged all the
Italians in the village. because the
original shooting had been done by an
Italian. But the lynched men had
nothing to do with the goat quarrel.
We will pay the indemnity demanded,
notyin recognition of Federal liability,
but for the sake of amity. If we re-
fused, and Italy made demand upon
Louisiana, that State would refuse also.
Italy would then declare war upon the
State, and the Federal Government,
while. it has no fear of Italy in arms.
would be bound to defend her against
foreign assault. Therefore 1t is cheap
est to pay in the first instance.
That this statement is correct is
proved by the case Of the eleven 1tal-
ians hanged by mobs in New Orleans
some years ago. AT that time Italy
made demand for indemnity in the
name of the families of the murdered
men. While there was much aggra-
walton in that case, and a Malta society
had been numbering Americans in the
city, the Federal Government told Italy
that it. disclaimed responsibility and
that she must look to the State. Italy
responded: What sort of a Govern
mert have you over there? Your Fed
eral Government treats with US. We
sign the treaty which guarantees our
subjects due protection in your land.
When they lay claim under the treaty
you refer us to State with which we
have no compact"
Our reply to that was: When you
signed the treaty you knew the order
andesystem Of our Federation. Your
people understood well enough that
they when they take up residence in a
State they are protected by and amen
able to the laws Of that State" Italy
then made rejoinder: LAS the Federal
arm is superior to the State cannot you
compel the latter to do US justice, en-
ploy force and require these State au-
thorittes to indemnify u.s."
At that point rather than further
argue the case and explain about the
sovereignty of State of the Union and
their independence and reserved pow
ers, we settled the bill. But Louisiana
brought none of the offenders to JUS
tice, nor has she ever paid the Federal
Government the sum it is out of pocket.
That one incident came near bringing
on much trouble. Italy went SO far as
to recall her Minister and suspend all
diplomatic relations but before he had
had his grip sack packed we reconsid-
cred and paid with the expressed state
ment that We disclaimed Federal re-
sponsibility.
Some Chinese were murdered over In
wyoming before that and we paid
China an indemnity. but expressly set
forth that we did SO as an act of amity
and not by way Of acknowledging re-
sponsibility., Before either of these in
cidents, as far back as 1851 a party OF
American filibusters went into Cuba
under Lopez. Colonel Crittenden and
fifty of his men were captured and
shot by the Spanish authorities. The
friends of the executed filibusters in
New Orleans formed a mob and in re-
taliation committed outrages against
Spanish residents in that city. Spair
claimed damages and we paid the bill
About five years ago Sheriff's posse
in Pennsylvania was pursuing some
lawIess Hungarians who had gotten ur
a mob and had taken life and destroy
ed property in strike. The Sheriff:
men fired and killed some of the Hun
earians. Austria demanded damages
of the Federal Government, and wa'
refused payment. because the men Were
defiant of the law of place. and tn
Sheriff acting in line of duty.
When some of our blue jackets were
murdered by a Chilean mob In Valpa
rsiso while President Harrison was II
Office, he demanded instant PREPARATION