Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-25


Even che most timid of those who are
Given 70 becoming nervous at the pros
pect Of war need not be disturbed by the
lvnching Friday IN Louisiana OF I'VE
eiciians and the formal protest against
the outrage" Count Vincl, the Italian
Charge d'Affairs at Washington, has en-
tered ut the state Department. We have
had before similar complications with
italy. due TO similar incidents, and when
we're adjusted satisfactorily and Count
Vinci's course was just what might have
been expected. Il Is more than probable
that the Italian Government VIII indulge
I'm some little buster over the lynchnS'
for home consumption, but after its eN-
perience I'm the previous cases referred to
il Is hardly possible that it will press
matters 10 the point OF exciting any Sc
rious friction between the two countries.
Specials from Washington indicate that
II is very probable that Italy VIII ask
indemnity for the killing of the Sicilians.
Here. also. it would seem she would but
profit by experience. However should
the United States Government grant the
request the transaction would be one en-
tiroly between the Federal and the ltal-
ian authorities, and would be free-wiil
Offering on the part of this government in
the interest of good feeling. Behind or
beyond that there is no way OF going I'm
respect OF rendering "saisfaction." Both
as TO this and as 10 the paying Of in
cemnitys being a matter of courtesy
precedent was established I'm the Malta
lynching affair.
II will be remembered that that affair
grew out Of the assassination of Chief-of-
Police Honnessy, Of New. Orleans. which
so incensed the people Of that city that
a mob broke into the parish jail and
lynched eleven Italians (Sicllian9,
charged with being implicated in the
crime This was under President Harri-
sons administration, and Mr. Blaine was
Secretary Of state at the time Baron
Fava was the Italian Minister 10 the
United States. and he Immediately en-
tered protest against the trial Of the
lynchers by the State courts of Louisiana
and demanded preparation for the muir
dered mems families" In its protest the
contention Of the Italian Government
was that the United States were not adj
herring to their treaty obligations in per-
hitting a State court TO dispose Of such
cases.
In the initiatory Of the excitement over
tho lynching. Mr.. Blaine made very bad
break. but soon remembered that The
States had some rights which tho Con-
sttutlou was presumed 90 regard. and
took the only position as 90 the trial of
The lynchers that was tenable. That 20
eition was that the case was one en-
,irelv within the jurisdiction o. he state;
that IT was absolutely impossible for The
Federal Government TO interfere without
violating the Constitution and our insu-
buttons. and that citizen or subject
of a foreign country resident OF the
United States was subject 20 our system
of dual jurisdiction. Several interviews
and exchanges OF notes between the Sec
rotary OF state and Baron Fava followed,
I'm which the former adhered 10 his posi-
ton. and as a consequence The italian
Minister. withdrew from Washington.
During the controversy NJ Blaine re-
fused 10 treat the subject Of indemnity
NJ a matter of right ANA when later he
Induced Congress TO appropriate $4,000
tor the relief Of the families of The men
who had been lynchcd he insisted that
the money was not 70 be paia in oompl-
ance with any legal merit OF the demand,
but solely as an act of international cour-
tosy. Subsequently Congress endorsed
The attitude OF Mr.. Blaine as to the issue
IF judicial jurisdiction and confirmed the
precedent. for whea an effort was maze
IN that body 90 pass bin providing that
treaties with foreign nations should lie
law Of the land. which would give the
Federal courts jurisdiction ia "a criminal
case involving offences against subjects Of
foreign countries, the measure MAS vio-
lcnuy antsgonlzed and failed Of enact
mont. Since the Malta trouble in Now
Orleans there has BEEN II We mistake
not. a lynching OF Italians out West, for
which we also paid indemnity, but with
the same understanding under which we
Undermined the families OF the New Or
leans victims.
30 We say that, what with experience
and Ia view OF the severe methods Italy
has had TO employ in dealing with sicllian
hAnditu ct home, we may rest pretty