New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-24
A BRUTAL SUBJECT.


A BRUTAL SUBJECT.
That two well-made, able-bodicd men should
stand up, in the middle Of the nineteenth cen.
itury. to try which can first knock the other
down, smash his nose, put out his eyes, break
his ribs. and practically murder him, is pitiiul
spectacle, and dcgradcs man to the level of the
brute. That the two most highly educated and
civilized nations on the earth should be excited
to their uttermost corners BY such q contest;
tha, one of them, engaged in war Of une-
qualed extent and Importance, should forget il
armies in the field and suspend for the time oil
care for its political existence, TO watch the re-
suit OF this gladitorial infamy. Is matter to ex-
cite apprehensions the most grave. Yet 1t is
not to be denied that the recent ptize-fght be-
tween Tom. King and John c. IIeenan hiss thus
ovcrhadowcd 1.-THE mighty events OF the
age, and placed itself lin imagined
Importance far ahead Of any occur.
renee Oh the face of the broad earth for the last
two years, or at least since q similar contest
took place between Hccnan and Saver. IL
wa natural that the herd of gamblers and
rufaus in large cities LIQUID take deep interest
it is their business; but Thousands of men who
would consider the acquaintance Of either OF
these wrctchcs a moral faint, have been led "a
the same low level. For three days the grand
inquiry oyershadowing all Others was mol
whether our gigantic Rebellion was coming to d
close, or our great armies winning victories, oi
our Congress unfolding the hand of the Prcsi
den, in putting down murdo.ous treason; but
whether one backguarl had beaten the head OF
another BLACKBOARD. The event was deemed
20 important that tens Of thousands %
dollas were ready 10 reward eNclu
sye intelligence; the hotels and places o
public resort heard no other conversation; th'
rambling-houscs suspended faro and poker
Wall street paused on gold aud Ere, th'
rrAyest of our solid men grew eloquent IL
the slang Of the ring, hundreds of Thousands
Of dollars were given and taken, the theatel
gags were full of illusions, aud the world
waited opcn-mouthcd for the glorious news
II has come and disappointment in TIM
country IL overwhelming. With Characteristic
national fcoling-wc cannot call it pride
immense stakcs at heavy odds have beer
laid upon lIecnan; it would DO guess worn
to say how much but perhaps a million o
dollars in this city alone would be- n low
figure. Dragging did its best, aud bullying
and insult marked the occasion. Bad blood wa
stimulated, ieuds were engcndered, friends wer'
aliena,ed and enemies made yet the war %
slang and betting went on. And fol
what For II contest lower than the leye
OF dog-hght; for couple of bullie'
whose brawny arms should have beer
doing the State service in the peni,entiary, bu
! vino had been trained and groomcd for month
to this beastly iisht-whosc daily progress IN,
been the theme OF public discussion over tw'
continents, and whose bones and muscles haC
been all the while cbcapcned in the betting mar
kei as though they were the thows and sinewi
Of pet wolves
Now. it is matter of no consequence which
of the two brutcS won-thc los OF both wOult
be felt BY good men only ms public blessing
but the fact that their llsicuiI engagement shoul,
thus disturb the equanimity Of the world rs i'm
porant. 1t becomes all right-mnded men Il
reflect upon the tendency Of such sayogcism
Here, in our model Republic, just such men
Just such przc-tightcrs (and their hackers wh'
are equally dcprayed) have II tremendous
political power; they dictate nominations, IN,
control elections; reckless aspirants for public
places stand, hat in hand, in the halls OF thci
gambling houses to beg or buy their influence
and many man now in high judicial or Other
important station owes his elevation to the fare
table and tho prize ring, which are now and for
ever one and inseparable So it was years age
in Vicksburg, until even that community be
came outraged beyond endurance and hung ol
expatratcd its malign enemies; it was in san
Francisco until the last ounce broke the camel
back, aud the Vigilance Committee purified The
city with rope and revolver. So it may DO il
New.York at some day not FAR distant, if sucl
influences arc still to put McCunns and Fernan
do Woods into the high seats of authority
81 shsogcle.s VI the current eyeats Of tl'