Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-14
MANNERS AT WASHINGTON,

In London, the other day, it was announced
on the best pugilistic authority, that "the true
British pugilist is the soul of manliness and
honor" A similar claim is set up behalf of
the southern duelling DULLES, of whose ill
manners, in and out of Congress, we hear so
much. 1t is difficult to decide in which case
the claim has most warrant We think there
is a better chance of fair play among the pugi~
lists; and they appear to have the advantage
in other respects.
We are all likely TO get very accurate no.
ton oe the dueling bully in Congress. He is
always there, and always anxious to show his
quality. 1t is usually supposed that gentle
man abounds in civility, courtesy, forbearance,
and fair play. But the dueling chivalry hold
another view of the matter. Their gentleman
is coarse blackguard, who can sit in his seat
and wantonly insult gentlemen by calling
them GLARS" "scoundrels," and other vile
Names and who studies to provoke quarrels,
with men whose culture and character do not
allow til en- to initiate his brutal coarseness,
and whose social relationships make it impos-
81 Bile for them to meet him on equal terms, if
they chose to become duelists' We do not
bell eve the "code" of the most brutal pugi
lsm he's ever tolerated such unmanly and
co wardly meanness as this.
The bully of the duello is usually very shy
of any quarrel which really looks dangerous.
He knows very well how to behave with civil
ty in the presence of such a danger He
strikes only at those who, in his judgment, will
not strike back. His cowardly and rutfianly
meanness comes out distinctly in his attempt
to force his barbarons "code of honor" upon
men who cannot adopt it without involving
themselves in social and political ruin. He
could not do this if he were gentleman. He
would not do it if he were not bully, black
guard and a paltroon. The southern member
of congress gains popularity at home, by pro-
Tossing to be duelist, insulting his opponent
sending a challenge, and seeming eager
to kill somebody. And the art of the
duellist usually consists in contriving to
do all this, without getting hurt North
ern men in Congress can not adopt the same
line of conduct with any hope of a re election.
Their constituents would not sanction it,
Hence the dueling DULLES deem it perfectly
safe to insult them on all occasions, and seek
reputation for bravery by challenging them
to fight duels. Southern chivalry indeed!
Faugh take it away
How to meet properly this annoying inso.
lence has been a serious question among
northern men. Some long to chastse it, with
its own weapons and, if the sentiments of
i
SO, they would give their challengers, not mock
duels but hostile encounters of the bloodiest
kind. But those who feel in this way have
hot blood and swift anger. There is nothing
to be gained by sinking to the level of
insoent blackguardism. A little reflection
will convince any reasonable man that it
is not worth while for him to become savage
and barbarian, because some bully's "code of
honor" requires it. These attacks have seldom
been met SO nobly and successfully as by Sen
ator Wilson, who has raised himself so far
above the men who make them, that they
cannot now touch him. He has set an exam.
pie which others might follow with advan
tage. And, during the present session of
it has given us pleasure to see Mr.. Hickman
silence such assailants by brave and dignifed
declaration of scorn and contempt for their
"code." That effective declaration took him
out of their reach and made their bullying ut
terly powerless.
Southern men should see the propriety of
keeping all their peculiar institutions at home
especially those which are disgraceful to civil
lied men, and therefore unfit for national USE
But, ifthey will not do so, if they will insist on
making their own customs and manners the
rule for all other men, their arrogant preten-
sions should be treated as they deserve,-as
selfrespecting manhood will know how to
treat them,-and when this is done faithfully,
we shall hear much less of bad manners in
Congress, and much more of that dignity and
courtesy of behavior which ought to prevail
there.