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Show The American Italian. The murder of the priest in Denver on Sunday last is a reminder of the multitude of incongruous elements that are gathering in our country. A writer in a current magazine defines in- graphic language the coming of Italians to this country. It Is an endless procession, and the most striking feature of it is a picture of three old men to illustrate that in some of the regions of Italy only the old and garrulous and feeble are left, all the youth and strength of the place having gone away to the land beyond tho sea, the land of opportunity opportu-nity and hope. The inurder in Denver should not prejudice anyqne againsjt the race. The murderer was but a product of generations of suffering, and sorrow sor-row and ignorance resulting In a disordered and depraved mind. He was doubtless brought up In the church. and turned upon the priest as when In the course of life a man from accident or disease dis-ease becomes insane, the first act of violence he perpetrates is liable to be upon his nearest relative rela-tive or closest friend. We have not much hope of the first generation of poor Italian Immigrants that come to our country. But we have an immense im-mense hope of the second and third generation of them. Cultured Italians are the full peers of the men of ancient Italy, and our belief is that the hopes which this country will Inspire in the hearts that have so long been bowed down, will shine out in a great race before half a century rolls by. And in the east, especially in New York City, a groat work is being performed in teaching Ital- i ian children our tongue and Initiating them in the methods of our country. We have not so much hope of the Greeks because so many of :.tjhe Qluyroyal race of. Greeks were killed, that: the iffadeh" Greek is generally a descendant of a slaye. mother. But the Italians are Romans sure enough. The Arabian horse is a good- deal degenerated de-generated in his native country. All that has saved him has been tho love bestowed upon him. , He has borne many hardships, but he has shared with his master's children the little food they have sometimes had and the horse has understood under-stood all the time that he was one of the family and that has kept his heart strong and his blood has been kept pure. But bring him to this country coun-try and after three generations take his children back to the desert and they will distance all their cousins. In tho same way we anticipate that when two or three generations of Italians grow up on this soil; they will bo a race of men which will be an honor both to this country, and to the great land from which their parents came. And when by Intermarriage with Americans they help to produce the American race as it will bo a century hence, that race will be a very glory of this earth. But in the meantime a closer watch . must be kept upon those who come to us, and there must be some changes in the instruction given in our schools. More patriotism must bo taught and children must be given a clearer Idea f of why our" country fn opening all its doors and ' hopes to tho world, is the most blessed of conn- , tries. Then we all need some lessons. The most important one is more reverence for law and a more just execution of it. Lastly a more equal taxation should be the rule until the rich pay the same proportion of tax on all their wealth that the poor pay. A transition is going on now, when It crystalizes into form, ours will be the land of lands. |