The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-12
THE ITALIANS.
Yn-tr ChHrActeristtcs ~ Natural Refne.
ment and Of Fidelity and Industry.

meDt and Of Fidelity ANA anuustry.
To Twx EDITOR or TEE SrN-Sr. As an
| American Of so-cslled Anglo-Saxon descent /
| beg 10 Join Prof Marchisio In his protest
against the unrar treatment Of our Italian
! fellow citizens. AZ evidenced not only in the
tone of some newspapers, but also IN the
brutal inaolence with which this gentleman
| pered people are brow beaten and hustled in
public places.
have often watched group OF bewildered
Italians yelled at and needlessly humil-
lated by some loud -mouthed brute Of a street
car conductor or railway station guard, pre-
umably Of the superior" race. wondering
how far the III treatment might go without
some act of retaliation on the part OF the
victims But. beyond an occasional enraged
fash from a pair Of dark eyes or smothered
imprecation have never seen any display OF
resentment. The Italian is naturally quick
tempered and We are not apt to postulate
| self control as a praeminent characteristic
OF the Latin race. but fancy any one who is
curious enough to watch their conduct under
very trying circumstances in any OF our large
cities will conclude that self-control is not one
OF their least evident qualities
A week ago an Italian banker was MUIR
dered IN this city At once the daily news
papers began to shrek Malta. A a matter
of fact, there was no reason whatever TOT
supposing that the Sciian Malta had any
connection with the tragedy. whenever
crime is committed in Little Italy" the Malta
Is held responsible for 1t. 1t would be absurd
were it not cruel injustice to naturally
law abiding and gentle people 1t is cruel
injustice because it keeps alive in many Amer
lean breasts the prejudice against the Italian
as q dirty cut-throat and a dangerous citizen.
Some years ago was accidentally thrown
into intimate contact with one or two Italians
Of the so-called lower class. l became inter-
ested in them and ever since have made 1t an
object to know and see a. much OF these IN,
In the Little Italics" Of Philadelphia and New
York. with the result that have many trienas
yender. shoemaker. tailor even DAY
laborer on a rail way, are among those whom
know. and know well. have eaten al their
and ohrlstenings. in short. have seen them i1
pleasures Italians q the North and q the
migrants i from these different provinces differ
IN many ways. stu they have many character
''. As body, then, I have found these Italo-
Americans frugal and thrifty and unsom-
panng indusToqs dasrs than ana 10 Pa b.
n eHd the innate refinement Of the Latin
a5taSs tor" sSoRs se a
e Says aosn S sn acute. the Of
IN T'p pow mqre Of ob
servation and deduction which would aston
ish our doetrnaTe -educat tor ,, hayins
an in6orn love OF Beauty bs anq ITALIAN dteb
dhfsger. spendins bis hard earned dollar for 9
sen In The top gallery q an oPerGa ho fsd T
p S,t9M m or 's MasoasnI or even Wagner
opera than the bediamonded Americans in
boxes or stalls
Of wonderment what essential element OF
character q nclnathon Of civilization snnts s
bounced as dangerous addition to our
butt upon the family we need have no fear Of
seen more family devotion and stricter Oh.
among these maiisned dwellers Of the "sl !,,s
family !' as ttaaS which have come across II
my wanderings among them Was caused oy
some. of those presumably well-meanlne out
evil-doing people who think themselves per-
forming a mertorous act when they per.
suade person to flop from one form OF the
Christian religion TO another:
time will gradually cure the native AMER.
can" OF his prejudice against his Italian
brother, but meanwhile one WHO really knows ys
cam only iy join Prot Marchsio in his Indignant
and eloquent defence.
4 NATIVE AMERICAN or PURITAN DESCENT.
PHILADELPHIA. Sept. I.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: have
had large experience in the employment OF
labor for period well on to half century,
during which have employed thousands OF
laborers, mainly Irish. German and Holland
ers. These nationalities are not so much
III evidence as they were generation ago.
In their stead have come great numbers OF the
sons Of Italy. and never was the arrival OF an
army of workers more opportune. -
What should we do without them? The
fear that we shall be swamped with chem is
narrow and unworthy. Equally 80 lie the pre-
tence that their coming will endanger the
republic.
swarming along the line Of any public works
Good-looklng? Right you are. You will see
as bright, open-faced and cheerful men, as
the world can prod luce. And they are Idea!
laborers, too-good workers. tractable and
viii they become good citizens? Why. they
are such already, and perhaps they could
give some of lis lessons, in patriotism even
now--in keeping at work and minding our
own business. They will love America and
they can be safely trusted. for they are Of
good stock. {. b. CARTER.
BROOKLYN. Sept. 0.
Mr., Pearys Arctic Explorations.