Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-28
THE MALTA,

that strange and terrible association
which has for so many years terrorized
Sicily, and which the authorities seem
powerless to suppress. But it is as
toniShing what erroneous ideas are
held on the subject, even by Italians
The malta has been confused with
brigandage with Socialism, with Re
Iublicanism. and is generally regarded
as a regularly organized secret society.
1t is none of these things: 1t has been
rightly called state of social immoral
ity. Most authors who have written
about Sicily have spoken of the malta.
out perhaps the most truthful and lu-
cid account of it that has yet appeared
is Signor Antonio Cutrera's book, La
Malta e Matiosi." 1t contains much
interesting information about an insti-
tuition against which the author. as
head of the Palermo police. has been
hshting for many years in the interests
OF law and order.
one of the chief causes of the malta.
according to Signor Cutrera. is the very
peculiar character of the Sicilian. He is
intensely proud. individualist. brave,
arrogant vicious. and has a tendency to
secrecy. He is impatient of all govern
ment: and hatred of authority-the re-
suit of ages of misrule-S a dogma of
his creed. Hence a feeling has grown
up among all classes in the island that
the authorities should never be allow
ed 10 interfere in the private affairs of
Sicilians. No one should ever give in
formation to the police about anything.
If a man has suffered an injury from
another. he must revenge himself like
"a man of honor" and not call in the
aid of the law. This feeling is expressed
by the word omerta. which means the
virtue of keeping silence. Against the
police. as the organ of the government,
which comes into closest touch with
| the people the bitterest war is waged.
WhoSoeVer helps them is a SCoundrel
| and 4 coward and generally comes to
| a bad end. This perverted idea of honor
makes it very difficult to punish even
| the vilest criminals. as evidence is
| hardly ever obtainable. Not only will
| the friends and fellow matiosi of the
| niurderers refuse to give information.
| but even casual witnesses of the deed
| who have no interest in the matter
would consider it disgracefu to aid the
| authorities in any way. A man who had
| III a field, when questioned as to the
I identity of his assailant by some cara
l binieri who happened to be passing. re-
| Piled "GeSu CriSto," although he knew
| perfectly well who had fired the shot
| SignoI Cutrera quotes several Sicilian
| popular songs which show that the SEN
| timent of omerta is regarded as the
! highest virtue. Among others there is Il
| curious sonnet in which two assassins
| are supposed to be listening to a con-
versa ton between the judge and their
| dying victim. When questioned the lat
| ter replies: knife with knife-if | live
! shall do my own justice myself
| will not speak" Well done. He is Il
| man Of honor" is the comment 81 the
| listeners.
a much discussed point is the object
and aim of the malta. The Italian gov
| eminent. when it occupied the island,
after Garibaldi's expedition. in 1860.
! thought that it was a political society
| of a patriotic and revolutionary char
acter. But such was not the case. 1t
| arose under the disagreement Of the
| Bourbons and occasionally took part in
revolutionary movements; but it was
more Il secret means of protection
against the extOrtions and expressions
of the infamous Bourbon police than
| anything else. In the revolution of 1920
| the malta helped the Liberals, chiefly
with the object Of plumber. and its
members committed all sorts of atroci-
ties When the BourbOns returned.
knowing the power of the malta. they
did not disturb it. and only punished
the Liberals. The same thing occurred
in lSiS. Again. in 1850. the maiiOsl sided
| with Garibaldi and We're rewarded as
patriots by the PiedmonteSe govern
ment with employments. offices and
pensions. But when the authorities
found that the objects Of the malta
were merely to acquire influence and
advantages for its members as the
expense of the rest of the community.
il partially withdrew it's favor. The
rebellion of Palermo in 1866 was the
| conSeduenCe-the only revolution in
which the malta played a leading part.
Since 1866 the power of the society has
gone on increasing: for although the
Italian government has introduced
| many reforms and has often tried to
| break its influence. it is in a way COM
| promised with the mafioSi because it
accepted their help in 1850 even after
1866 it has sometimes had recourse to
| them for electoral purposes. Hence its
| hands are not altogether free in dealing
with them. The malta is all-powerful
in elections, and it naturally faVors
| those candidates who belong to 1t and
by whose means it will gain still more
influence.
| Some very interesting chapters OF Sig
nor Cutrera's book deal with the peculiaI
| organization of the malta. 1t is no real
secret society. 1t has no central author-
ity, no government. no laws. In every
town and village and in every country
district there are groups of mafiOsi with
| their local chiefs. These groups are All
more or less connected with each Other,
land a matioso is sure of finding friends
and protectors in amy part OF sicily. Bl'
| there is no interdcpendence between one
malta group and another. although the
authority of the capi-mafia OF Palermo Is
: somewhat greater than that of the others
The matosi of Palermo are OF two KINDS
the mafioSi proper and he,rcottari. Inc
former are often men OF posltion-bar-
risters. municipal councillors. eiectord
agents. deputies. They arrange contracts
settle disputes fix the terms for the let
| ting of farms, and form a sort OF private
/ police for recovering lost or stoer
property, The ricottari. who constitute
! the rank and file of the malta. are idit
students and dishonest workmen. The!