The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-26

generate enperors contend in the arena, eni
with the last Western infamy at Fosters
Island. In the worlds past there was indeed
a manhood in the muscular duel-a manhood
of courage, Skill and endurance. But the
conditions of society have changed; humanity
has ceased to be mainly anatomical, and has
become intellectual and moral.
Yet even at a recent period men claiming
recognition for sense and culture-very many
in England-were outspoken apologists of the
prize ring We remember how literally peers
and wealthy commoners opened their purses
to provide a pension for Tom Sayers, and
how they accompanied the largess with the
heartiest encomiums. There is a magic in
that word ''Pluck" for the Anglo-Saxon ear
which sets at naught the teachings of mo-
rality and the dictates of reason. 1t matters
little whether it be Gladstone in the Com
mons, the cavalry charge at Balaklava, or a
contention of vulgar bruisers within the cir
cult of twenty-four feet of ringed ropes, there
are plaudits for every phase, and muse
to sing the occasion, either in the lyrical mea-
sure of the laureate, the stately, ink-built
periods of the editor, or the profane, gin
wetted adjectives of the st. Giles Chicken and
the Upton Slasher. And when to this ad-
miration of animal courage-of ''going in to
wins added that instructive sense of JUS
tice which is the foundation of all magnani-
nifty, and which is compacted into the nerv-
GUS English phrase of fair play" we have
served up the strongest defense which can be
advanced in behalf of the modern prize-ring.
This line of vindication was not altogether
misapplied to the better days of prize-fght-
ing, when Cribb and Caunt contended for the
belt, though it is completely one-sidel, and
leaves out of view baneful counteractng ten
denotes.
But how stands the case now? The ''clear
stage, and no favor, has ended in an indis-
criminate ruffianism that is only fit to be
cassed with the practices of Indian thugs
There is not even remaining to the prize-ring
the traditional honor among thieves; for it is
obvious that in the recent Devils carnivals
there has been no pretense to fairness in the
encounters, and that so, the security of the
better is destroyed. And it is just here that
a stronger discussion from this brutality than
the denunciation of moralists, OF the repres-
sion of police, is likely to arise; for the most
inveterate 'sport" will refrain from risl1ing
his money on savage whose superiority of
muscle and training shall avail nothing
against cut ropes, presented pistols, and
brandished knives
1t is one of the worst courses of American
politics that this wicked and disgusting bust
ness is not only winked at, but protected by
partisans in place. Of such connivance a
signal instance is fresh in our recollection,
where one Western Governor telegraphed
another to pardon and release from the prison
to which he had been consigned for much too
short period, a pugilistic thug. The senti-
ment of the lowest bar-rooms was to be con-
ciliated at every expense of virtue and order;
the votes of the habitues of the gambling
dens, rat-pits, and brothels were needed.
For ruffianism is at least wise enough
to combine in our politics, while
decency is content to lift corrugated brow
from its ledger, and utter momentary and
fruitless protest.