Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-05-01
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY l, 1860
The EntrrpnIionnl Prize Fight.

yet submitted Ia philosophical analysis. Re,
solved into its many elements by any foreign
acid, there is developed an intlammah!e essence
called national pridr belonging 10 the sub
stance, which in many instances Sayors Of sui
phur and satpelrc, threatening general flare
up. This sometimes dangerous volatile prin-
ciple properly generated, however, without the
aid OF his Satanic lnajesty, is wonderfully
adapted to the promotion Of noble md humane
purposes but it can be so rarely developed
without the assistance OF the oil gentleman
aforesaid, that it is ut best Il matter Of doubt
TIL and dangerous propriety 10 allow it tree in-
tercoursc with surrounding matter. lis rarer
and purer forms, properly Used. produce proud
triumpl:S and cnnobling results, but its other
phases develop brutal passions and loathsome
spectRces.
That it is the universal custom Of the uni.
rersal Yankee nation 10 vaunt itself, and boast
OF It's glorious triumphs is as notorious as it is
natural nor are We far behind any prosperous
rival Of the world in our habits Of displaying
this high pressure putting principle. If we
| Old England shows uS her roast beef, Palmer.
stOn and plum pudding. France her nilliners
and mous,acllcs, Italy her music and lnaccs.
roni, while Germany boldly breaches barrel
Of Book beer, and boasts her Sweitzer kase
and sour kraul through Il cloud Of tobacco
smoke. Now, there is no harm in all this; it
has nothing whatever III do with the ends OF
aims Of the gentleman in black, proceeds from
legitimate and praise worthy impulses, encour-
ages generous rivalry, and should be lostered
within proper limits.
Every nation of any wits, energy looks to
SURPRISING the rest of mankind in accomplish
ing noble purposes and lofty ailns and no ac-
tive, enlightened honest and credit.loying
people bear taIncly the launts Of successful
rivals, boasiing superiority in any Legitimate
contest, FROM cheese making mp to ciivalry.
1t was no rcproach, therefore, To the sub.otficer
ofone otour american ships, who, when taunted
by miSchieTou,s traveller with the remark that
Captain JudiinS Of the English steamship
Arabia was the best sailor anu had the fastest
SHIP Vi. the waters, rrliiicd, in his wrath, that
h. had big sister who could beat any English
craft afloat, sail around Billy Judkins, and
then whip him in the bargain. We say there
is 70 harm in nil tl.;s. Il springs from good
motives, and accnmplishcs good results. Angels
might lu0,, on and commend the contest But
let Us lool: moment at this other phase Of
this our lmerican humanity, this boasting privi-
legc Of the universal Yankee nation. Not content
with challenging theworld with our children and
churns. our hack hire and harness. Not content
with thinking that the Atlantic Telegraph
might have been successfully laid if We had
been left alone to tickle the merInaids and mon
sters Of the deep with cable OF our own man
uiacturc. and put down by American sailors
FROM American ships; that tho Great Eastern
might" have been long ago afoat if built by
our architects in our own waters; that the 'sick
man" might long ago haYe been cured BY our
lTellIutHl, llial SHila due oapoh iu'Shl H9fc
been more easily opened but for the tungins
diplomacy of Europe; not content with placing
all our goods against all :hcir goods, We must
fain go the other eStrcme, yaunt our bads against
all other bads, and s;raightway conjure up
our Devil; put him on two bran new sticks
curl his mighty tail, and, calling up spirits
from the vasty ,lecp to witness the lieNdish
bout, bet him against any other Devil in the
universe in loathsone and brutal contest
Strange indeed is human nature, and stralgest
Of all American Humanity!
We take i. That nnety-nine out Of every
hundred nc:, women and children. on this side
of the Atlantic, high and low. rich and poor,
would be disappointed ri the defeat Of the Be-
nicia hoy il, his fight with Sayers. However
much they may condemn tho habits of the
prize ring, however mnch they may despise the
practices Of the fancy" aud dcplorc the fact
that there exists in This Christian age such
lcvilisll tastes and satanic struggles, now that
the fight has been made up, that there is no
way to stop it, there isn secret sympathy with
IIccnan prrrading all classes, AMI universal
desire 10 see him bear off the Champion Belt.
Such is human nature.