The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-15
CESAR MORENO
PASSES AWAY.
He Was Known as a Promoter
Of GsnsraI Unsaslnsss.
WAS KALAKANES PREMIER.
Political Guardian Of Robert WIlctY Of
Hawaii -RscsSsa 100000 From
Congress on q Claim.
WAS KALAkANA'S PREMIER

The death OF cesare Celso Moreno the
fine old promoter OF trouble. which oc-
CURED In Providence Hospital, Washing
ton. ID. c.. on "Wednesday has removed
one Of the most interesting characters OF
,..e national capital.
Moreno was of the crank species and
good deal OF a nuisance, but he seemed
10 exert considerable influence In Wash
ington. lie had led dime novel sort OF
existence all his life and was mixed up
In the affairs OF more different countries
than the hero OF AN English novel.
There was not section OF the world
ne had not lived in and he generally
managed 10 get next the throne in the
smaller places and establish for himself
a position of importance. lie could talk
all sorts Of useless languages and dialects
and his "reminiscences, If they exist. wiz
make good reading.
Moreno became part OF the history OF
the Hawaiian Islands, and was for years
mixed up In the politics OF that section.
He had also lived In Sumatra, China.
Japan. Russia. the Philippines and out OF
the way places that the average geogra-
pher neglects TO tell about
lie was a wanderer, a born conspira-
tor and so constituted that he was never
so happy as when mixing up in the ar
fairs OF some country he had no real af-
fillation with.
Moreno Was born In Chiavassa, Pied
mont, Italy In 1880. and was educated at
the Genoa Naval Academy. He was grad
uated with the rank of lieutenant and
saw service In the Crimean war.
SECAME A SHIPS CAPTAIN.
He later studied civil engineering. and
when he had mastered that took up navi-
CATION As Soon as he had through SER
vice in the merchant marine of Italy, Sc
cured a sufficient knowledge OF the man
ner Of getting ship through the water.
he became the captain of merchant ves-
sci.
Eventually he settled In sumatra, where
he became mixed up in a scheme 10 start
a Chinese steamship line and lay cable
across rhe Pacific. This enterprise led
him to Hawaii. and there he found his
work cut out for him.
He soon got into the good graces of old
kalakaua, the opera bouffe ruler of the
islands AT that time lie was made prime
minister. and became "A figure in the
politics OF the dominion OF the black king.
About the year 1881 Moreno. by strange
whirl OF circumstances, became the po-
litical guardian OF Robert Wilcox. now
delegate 20 the United States House OF
Representa- atives. and two other Hawaiian
youths. selected 10 be educated at the ex-
pense OF the crown.
He took the three young men 10 Italy,
where he succeeded I'm having them plac-
ed In the three government military acad-
emies.
SPOILED MoRENo's PLANS.
Wilcox later. posing as a native Ha-
waiian prince. married into the princey
Colonna family and would have been fix
cd for life had not his bride discovered
later, on returning with him To Hawaii,
that he was simply a common half breed,
the son of a Rhode Island ship carpen-
ter and a Kanaka.
The revelation OF this state OF affairs
rather spoiled Moreno's influence In Italy.
and caused his overwhelming defeat when
he returned there later and attempted 10
secure election to the national legisla-
ture
For a decade or so past Moreno lived In
Washington He had claim against the
government, and became one Of that nu-
merous body found hanging around the
lobbies OF the House and Senate
Just how Moreno lived during this per-
iod Is impossible TO ascertain. but he was
principally engaged during the term be-
tween sessions IN trying to make Baron
Favs, the Italian Minister. unpopular.
He wrote scathing things in the Italian
papers OF the country and translated
them for the American dailies.
IL was he who started the story that
Fava was the head OF the padrone sys-
I'm "a Iso
on the hip and succeeded I'm having him
recalled but the willy old diplomat was
kept away from his favorite post but a
short time
Abort SIX years ago the Moreno claim
was approved by Congress. and the old
Italian drew down about 500 900 thereaf-
ter he lived a life of easy Incidence.