Evening star., 1902-02-26
RING RULE IN NAPLES.
Recent Overthrow of the Camorra
Clears the Atmosphere

William E. Curtis in the Chicago Record Herald.
Naples Is supposed to be the most de-
praved city Of all that pretend to be civ
ilized, and there has been great improve
ment people say, within the last twenty
five years under the liberal government Of
United Italy. To a stranger such state
| ments are almost incredible, as the room
for Improvement Is apparent after only
few days stay. Recently, in fact within
a few months, there has been great moral
upheaval in municipal affairs. similar to
that which took place last November In
New York city, and the Camorra. that
great organized and secret body of conSpir-
ators against law and order, has been over
thrown after uninterrupted despotism of
nearly quarter OF century. Fifty off,
cials or more are under indictment for mall
foasance in office; $1O,OOO,O 600 Of stolen
money from the public treasury has been
traced to the thieves, and as much more
from contractors they have blackmailed
and corporations they have MIXED. In ad
dition to this probably ten times as much,
a sum incalculable, has been collected from
the poor people as dues and blackmail. just
as the Tammany policemen collected larger
sums from the shopkeepers, the gamblers
and the criminal and vicious classes Of
New York.
The Camorra was originally a league Of
loyal Neapolitans against the interference
Of foreigners with their affairs; vast Sc
and the interests Of the poor, but its man.
ayers afterward turned the engine which
was carefully constructed for their deliver
ance into a means for their oppression
Every peddler, every market man. every
fisherman, every boat owner. every man
who depends upon public patronage for his
support and could be injured by the police
or by evil reports has had to pay blackmail
to the Camorra, even the old women who
sell lemons and oranges on the streets. 1t
might be only penny, but It was some
thing, and it was not only money that the
leaders Of the Camorra were after, but the
cooperation and consolidation Of this class
Of people to promote their political schemes.
Every Camorrista, no matter how humble
or poor. whether beggar, servant or a
huckster, could be made useful in political
campaign and each person who contribute ed
to the support Of the institution was bound
to aid In its protection and was involved as
passive II not an active participant in
every crime and every conspiracy In which
the leaders Of the society were engaged
Thus a mighty influence was exerted upon
the minds Of every member Of the lower
classes-every laborer every wage Garner
because the ennlity of the Camorra was as
powerful as its protection, and no poor man
was strong enough and few We're bold
enough to defy Its agents.
Within this society was built up great
political machine by men with genius for
intrigue and conspiracy. The officers We're
unknown to the public and only suspected
by the police. 1t was easy enough to dis
cover the men who collected the blackmail
but it was difficult to find out what they I'D
with it. The lower the strata Of society the
but in the upper classes. where the men
who directed its movements and enjoyed it's
advantages were supposed to exist there
was great deal Of mystery.