Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-25
Amodern "Bob Acres.

From the Chicago Tribune, August I'll
Senator Abbott, of North Carolina,
has a hard time of it in undertaking to
play the part of bully, without the
nluck 10 stand up and take the oonse-
ouences. Last winter Senator Sprague,
in one of his incoherent assaults upon
the Senate and everybody else, referred
N "the Senator from North Carolina "
narticulsrly. When the speech was
prinied, Abbott fiercely sought an oppor-
unity TO resent the outrage, and IN open
Senate described Spragne as puppy,
This brought things to that cgisls which
at the South is only passed by a
fight or eating dirt sprague had been
South, and was prospectiveiy Southern
man. Neither of the men wanted TO light,
vet neither wanted to make a public ex-
b;bition of the white feather. For three
DAYS each ysited for the other to take
some step, Abbott stating that something
must be done or he could not expect to
live in North Carolina. Neither wanted
IA fight, neither intended to fight, and
neither intended to give a challenge
Which might by accident be accepted.
Finally. !, vii be remembered that
Snrao1e wrote & lstteE IN Vhich be said
that by the term Senator iron Nofth
Carolina" he did not mean Abbott, snd
Abbott declared that when he reie...' 10
q puppy" he did not mean Sprague.
Senator Abbott now figures in even a
more inglorious affair A rebel Msjo
edits the Wilmington Journal and he
criticised Abbott's speeches. Abbott
then wrote an article, which appeared as
editorial in the other Wilmington paper,
denounoing the rebel Major as public
liar. No notice wGs taken Of it for seve-
raj days, when Abbott, suppoainG he had
another Sprague to deal with, wrote a
letter avowing himself the author of the
offensive epithet, and that he was re-
snonsible therefor. he soon discovered
his Elistaka. The rebel Major was
heard from through an avowal of
his purpose to shoot Abbott on
sight. This was more than was expected.
Abbott kept shady, and he gave assur-
ances that he would hold himself, if the
authorities would only hold the other
fellow, Finally the Major was hunted
down and put under arrest, and next day
crossed the border into Sonth Carolina,
whence he sent an invitation to Abbott to
follow and fight the matter out. Abbott
did not 90. He had intended nothing of
the kind. He intended to get cheap
reputation Is bully. not expecting the
other man was OF fighting nature. He
did not go tn South Carolina, but sent a
note in which be reiracted" the article
he had written and apologized for pub
fishing it Whereupon the Major re-
turned to Wilmington satisfied, as he well
might be at the atject disgrace Of his
asssslsHL.
We think Abbott, If be proposes to live
10 North Carolina, might as well abandon
all further effort TO make people believe
he will fight duels. His note svowing
himself the autho- of the editorial, and
his personal responsibility for it, was q
piece Of hravadp Of the cheapest quality,
and which nearly cost him his life. IL
amounts to ssying, Fight me il you
dare" and be no more expected TO be
answered as he was than be expected TO
be struck with lightning. His experience
in this case ought 10 teach him the lesson
that no brave man ever seeks fight, and
that TO seek a fight and then ignomin-
iop,ly retreat upon the FIRST evidence Of
resistance ia not calculated TO elevate him
10 the estimation either Of those who APP
prove or Of those vho disApproVe the
practice Of duelling. OF all other men,
let him avoid editors. Let him practice
on the fears Of Senators. il be will, but lei
him avoid writing editorials or provoking
those who do write them.