A History of Forgetting, and the “Awful Problem” of “Race”: A New Historical Note

Abstract

Always historicize! --Fredric Jameson On March 15, 1891, a New York Times reporter described, in vivid detail, a killing in New Orleans: The doors were flung open and one of avengers, taking aim, shot him through body. He was killed outright and in order satisfy people on outside who were crazy know what was going on within, he was dragged down stairs and through door way by which crowd had entered. A rope was provided and tied around his neck and people pulled him up crossbars. Not satisfied that he was dead, a score of men took aim and poured a volley of shot into him, and for several hours body was left dangling in air. (Chief Hennessy 1) Knowing as we may think we do history of lynching in South during post Civil War period, we would expect know race of man being killed; we would expect victim be black. Instead victim's name was Pollize, and he was one of eleven Italian citizens summarily executed by what Times headline characterized as AN UPRISING OF INDIGNANT CITIZENS (Chief Hennessy 1). The cause of this outbreak of violence was verdict in a sensational trial. The chief of police of New Orleans had been assassinated on doorstep of his own house, and eleven Italians had been arrested and charged with his murder. They were acquitted in a trial that was rife with charges of jury tampering. When not guilty verdict was handed down, notices were placed in every paper in New Orleans to take steps remedy failure of justice in this case, and a mass meeting was announced (Chief Hennessy 1). The Times claimed that those who responded this call action consisted of the best element of city, and this crowd of extra-legal executioners included a prominent lawyer and a politician whose names were given in report (1). More interesting, though, for my purposes in this essay, are reactions these killings. On day of Italians' murders, Cotton Exchange in New Orleans passed following resolution: Resolved, That, while we deplore at all times resort [sic] violence, we consider actions taken by citizens this morning be proper and justifiable (Chief Hennessy 2). Two days after killing, John P. Richardson, whom Times characterized as owner of biggest dry good house in New Orleans, besides thousands of dollars' worth of other property there, and who is famous as largest cotton planter in world was quoted as saying, 'The lynching in New-Orleans Saturday is just thing that should have occurred. It looks bad on its face those away from there, but people who are acquainted with status of affairs can do nothing but commend action taken. The Italian colony in New-Orleans ... is a menace American citizenship and good government. Why, I had rather have a thousand than one Italian. They are treacherous, revengeful, and seek their revenge in most foul and cowardly manners. They have no regard for truth, and Mafia is all powerful with them. The lynching, as terrible as was, is a blessing for New-Orleans.' (Lynchings Justifiable 1) A New York Times editorial echoed these sentiments: These sneaking and cowardly Sicilians ... who have transplanted this country lawless passions, cutthroat practices, and oathbound societies of their native country, are us a pest without mitigation. Our own rattlesnakes are as good citizens as they (qtd in Jacobson 56). Another editorial, while deploring killings, claimed that violence was incited by any prejudice against Italians as such. Nationality had nothing do with it (Editorial 4). Rattlesnakes and Chinamen. The implications of first metaphor are obvious--rattlesnakes are be killed on sight--but implications of term Chinamen (2) is less obvious a hundred years later because we have forgotten complicated history of process in late nineteenth century by which America came be increasingly (ideologically and legally) a white man's country. …