The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1891. THE NEW ORLEANS LYNCHERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2191, 21 April 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1891. THE NEW ORLEANS LYNCHERS.

If Italy takes upon herself the task of avenging the lynching of a few Sicilians in Now Orleans she will find the undertaking a responsible one. We do really think Italy’s attitude is ridiculous. Her subjects are discovered by peaceable citizens in New Orleans to be combined together for the perpetration of the most terrible outrages. They are known to have committed an outrageous murder, and when placed on their trial they took means to evade justice. It is said the

jury were bribed, but we would far rather believe that they were afraid to bring the members of the Mafia society in guilty, knowing the character of the men they had to deal with. If the jury accepted bribes, they it was who ought to have been lynched; if they were afraid of giving offence to the Mafia Society, it only proves the necessity for the action taken by the populace to stamp out an organisation so dangerous. It would never do to allow such people to go unpunished. It would encourage them to commit greater crimes in future, This is no doubt the way the people of New Orleans looked upon the matter. They saw in their midst a dangerous society making use of its machinery to protect murderers from the consequences of their crimes, and they determined to crush it. It is plain the Mafia is bad, else so gross an outrage as the lynching of the prisoners would net be universally upheld throughout America. We may, of course, accuse Americans of being loose in their morals, but after all, we do not believe that they are really much worse, than other people. Human nature is pretty much the same all over the world, and there is no reason why it should be much worse in the United States than anywhere else. Looking at matters from that point of view, we must come to the conclusion that the people of New Orleans would not have lynched the Sicilians only that they felt it necessary to do

so for the protection of society. It is hard to move men in any part of the world to adopt means of this kind, and we may be sure that the people of New Orleans would not have acted as they did only that they felt their lives and liberties menaced by the development of the Mafia m their midst. There was nothing else for it. The men were placed on their trial, and acquitted through the agency of the Mafia, and it probably meant death to those who in any way assisted in the prosecution.

Instead of Italy taking the part of such ruffians, it appears to us that she ought to have been ashamed to own them, but probably the secret of it is this : Italy is honeycombed with secret societies, and the American Mafia is only a branch of the parent society of the same name which exercises great influence in Italy. It is alleged that the Italian Mafia and kindred societies rule both King and Government, and no doubt this is the reason so much has been made of the affair. The idea of Italy going to war with America is so ridiculous that we do not think there is the slightest possibility of it. Italy is extremely weak financially. She insists on maintaining a large army and navy, but the people have a settled objection to taxation, and consequently her national debt is growing larger and larger every year, until now it has reached the enormous sum of nearly £873,000,000. There is therefore no danger of war between the two countries, and Italy is only making herself ridiculous by assuming a bellicose attitude. The whole thing will fizzle out in a short time. Ihe New Orleans lynchers will be placed on trial and acquitted, as no jury will be found to couvict them, and that will be the end of the whole thing.

PRICE OF WHEAT.

A cablegram informs us that it is understood Germany and France will suspend the duties on cereals. This is good news for the farmers of this colony because it means a rise in the price of wheat. Germany and France are taking off the duty on cereals because they find they have not enough food in the country, and they desire to let it in as cheaply as possible, Add to this the discovery made the other day that Victoria was 5,000,000 bushels shorter of wheat than was expected, and had none to spare for export, also the fact that America has not so much to spare as in former years, and that there is no great surplus of grain anywhere, and we have sufficient evidence to conclude that at least our farmers will get good prices this year. There has been, we believe, a good deal of grain already sold. Farmers were somewhat chary of holding to it because of the disappointment when American wheat was brought into Sydney, thus lowering the price. The circumstances this year are altogether different. Jhen New Seuth Wales only ran short of wheat now the supply of the great Continent of Europe is insufficient, and that cannot be so easily satisfied. We feel confident also that good prices will be obtained next year. If the supply is insufficient this year, as it appears to be, stocks in band will be greatly reduced, and there will be an eagerness on the part of merchants to replenish their granaries. The prospects of grain-growers are therefore bright, and we would advise farmers to take advantage of the times and be ready with a large supply next year.

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. An epidemic of immorality appears to have broken out amongst English members of Parliament. First there was Sir Charles Dilke, then Colonel Hughes-Mallet, then Mr Parnell, and now Captain Yerney and Mr Cobain, Captain Yerney seems determined to fight it out, but Mr Cobain appears to let judgment go by default. Mr Cobain’s fall from grace will solace the feelings of Parnellitea, He is 3-rand Master of the Orangemen, and the most violent opponent of Home Eule :n the United Kingdom. The opponents of Home Eule have, therefore, not been allowed to enjoy their triumph over Mr Parnell for any great length of time. '1 hey have discovered their own idol made of clay, and consequently must bend their heads as low as others. On the whole it would appear that members of Parliament are no better than other people, if they are not a great deal worse.