The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-01-06
The Great Prize Fight

Tee papers, all over the country sre discussing
the merits and the results Of the great fight be
tween Heenan and King. While We are graiih
ed at the general condemnation of this disgusting
and brutal exhibition, We fail 10 find any evil
dence Of extra-rdinary depravity among those
Interested in L. We see therein only the natur-
al outgrowth OF feelings common TO all human
beings, exhibited in all ages, and iH ali parts OF
the world
All animals that fight, whether they be bees,
ants, elephants or men, have a mind, aud dis
play in their contests enterprise courage, resola-
ZION, frmne.s. and a strong will; and mau is so
constituted that be must admire these qualities
wherever he sees them displayed. Thus, boy
sho has a dog tha; viii Sight all other dogs il
the neighbOrhood, and whip those that are big
er than himself values his dog highly on &C
count OF these very traits. All savage nations
admire those heroic qualities which are brought
into exercise in fighting; and as civilization 40
vances, this admiration is continued, but il is
oesiowe by the higher classes Of society Oh
persons exhibiting not these qualities osLT, but
also higher order Of mind and heart.
The eminent qualities necessary for fighting
we're developed oy the ancient Grecian Canes ;
AID the candidates were sometimes az badly bat
tered u as our modem pusilists. The Romans
! had their Gadiatorial Shows, in which were
exhibited the highest possible results " pugiisl
strength and skill, and involving Immense
I fee OF life. The Spaniards have their Bull
Fights nd the more degenerate SpaniaEjs Of the
I West Iudes are deeply interested in the fight
ng of cocks These various national inStiiu
lions have grown out Of the character Of east
nation, and are strongly Indicative Of that char
acter.
The regular, premeditated, stand up fist fight
commenced by formal challenge, and regulated
BY rules mutual y agreed upon. comes down to
L. from our Ango-SixOn ancestors, and ];
4 sirOHg indication Of the noble aud manly trait:
OF The race. The contests Of The ring take place
IN tie presence of witnesses, and admit Of nc
-t,allhy or underhandei proceedings. They re-
quiie ambition, long, patient, aud often pain
tai preparation, a courage that can look a for
njuOle antagonist III the eye, strength OF vii
10 plant the heaviest possible blows, aud ism
uess Of spiri, which remains unconquered wher
the physical nature has given ont. Such quail
lies secure admiration among all mankind
Some, with onls their brutal nature developed
admire them in dog pirate, a rObbe:, Bee
an, Genghis Khan, OK a Napoleon. Another
class Of persons, who viii turn away in dsgus
IRON the exploits OF orules ana brutal heroes
ill discourse 10 you with great enthusiasm o
he very same heroic traiis Of character as ex
hibited by Socrates, Luther. Washington, o.
John Brown.
The traits displayed by Heensn and King If
shis fght, are characteristic Of the AngIo-Saxor
race, aud will ultimately enable that race 10 over
come all others. Look at Engand-a little is
land about ;wice the sze Of the State Of Mich.
gan, and get she controls more than hundred
aud twenty millions Of human beings. How
mas she attained this superiority By the obsti
cate. iIfexi5le, peTsevering will that she ha:
displayed il her contests with other nations
Other nations are brave; bat The English per
asvere. They can ENDURE bo7-s as well as Civ.
them; and this endurance has given them supe
iO'ity among the white nations, and has mad,
them ultimate victors in every contest with the
red, yellcr, brown aud blaC K races. Their vic
,ories have been won. not indeed by fist fight.
At home. but By the Qualities, so strongl,
inherent in the Anglo Saxon character, from
which these fist fights originated.
IL Is idle TO attempt 10 repress a respect and
admiration which every one feels for courageous
and manly trats- All that IS necessary o. de
.irable is 10 give 10 these feelings d right direc
lion. II the admirers Of the ring heroes wOulo
urn their egss to our armies in the field, how
many thousand men could they fud, who have
ltft nome and all its re6nements, and, for IN,
sake q their county, have endured, without a
muriEeF, cold and heat and hunger aud thirst anc
naEeauess and suffering and sickness ano
wounds and death. Yet this Was their volunta
Try choice They might have staid at home il
ease aud comfort, but they hoped endured, and
suffered all things, that their country might b.
united and free. Here We nave all the mani,
traits that prize fighter can possibly display.
aad all are put in motion BY the uoblest motives
II We may be allowed TO have any admiration fol
nm who aspires dafes l4l---- G-L.- -
ass Tor sum OF money, and the glory Of win
ing it, how much greater reverence should We
feel Tor him who has counted all things but loss
% that be might achieve something for the glo
~ and welfare Ct his country uow poor ard
Paltry does mere brute courage seem, wher
placed side by side with that which da.es al
hngs, lot for self, bat for the good Of manI inc