New Orleans Republican., 1871-09-17
PLAIN DEALING.

Plain dealing has been truthfully de-
nominated virtue, and it becomes the
public press to deal plainly with all sub
jects-but more especially with the sub
ject of crime. Crime is violation Of
human law and moral duty. 1t is an
ofense against God and man; a public
ofense that seriously affects society where
it is not promptly punished. True, there
are degrees Of crime, but the most serious
is that of murder; the killing of human
being with premeditated malice. This is
q capital offense-one Of the highest
known to the laws Of God or man. In
most civilized countries the man who
kills another in a duel is deemed mur-
derer, and if justice prevails, is punished
as such.
Dueling is barbarous practice, and
its origin may be traced to the dark ages,
when men of unsullied regulations stood
ready to defend their honor even unto
death. 1t is the relic Of feudal custom
that is totally unsuited to American
civilization and government. Among
feudal lords, who were supposed to be
the pink of honor, this barbarous custom
served to keep up their importance with
the peasants and serfs over whom they
lorded it. 1t gave them an exalted idea
of the men who set themselves up as their
rulers, and made them the hewers Of
wood and drawers Of water, while it
enabled their rulers and masters to live
in idleness and practice the art of arms.
The man who engaged in the ordinary
pursuits of the working people was
not permitted to practice the custom
of dueing in feudal society. That
was privilege that was strictly confined
to the chivalry of the dark ages, who
were the sole embodiment of honor. This
was the condition Of society where duel
ing first took root. 1t is true the practice
has prevailed, to some considerable extent,
among the privileged classes of European
society; but as civilization and repub-
icanism spread, this savage custom is
gradually becoming to be regarded as
crime, instead Of noble conduct. It has,
also, been practiced to some extent in this
republican country, but the people are op-
posed to it, and the barbarous custom has
but few followers here, and they are not
Of the class that gave it force in feudal
times. Fortunately this country has no
privileged class that monopolizes its
honor. The most honorable men here are
the most useful and law-abiding. They
are men who delight in being considered
Q part of the ''bone and sinew" of the
land, part Of the great army Of work
ingmen who add to the wealth and
strength Of country. Such men are
not apt to think it honorable to kill
D fellow-man, nor can they be made
to believe that one crime can
be wiped out with another. If the
system Of dueling really possessed any
serviceable acting power among those who
originated it, it is devoid of that virtue
here, where the criminal, bravado and
plebian are as free to appeal to the ''code
Of honor" as the gentleman who really
has a nice sense Of honor. There is
nothing in our government OF people that
should wed them to this barbarous GUS
tom. In all the States Of this Union laws
have been enacted, We believe, against
lueling. 1t is the duty of the public
press to sustain the laws. Plain dealing
With those who are disposed to break them
S the best course for our journals, and for
society. The press, then, should not
peak lightly Of any attempt that
S made to violate the law against
lueling in this State. The Times
,ad an article On Friday, treating a
yrave ofense in the most frivolous man
,er; and another paper on Thursday ac-
ually contained an article in which it
'ays:
The age of progress is upon us, and we
,ave no doubt the latter part of the nine |
eenth century will witness the general
Idoption of the "code Of honor" and one.
'anction Of nothing less than positive lesis.
ative enactment
This is the sentiment Of paper that
Processes to be the advocate of "a rigid !
Of the constitutional and |
tatQte provisions regarding equal rights
o all men before the law
Can it be possible that the Customhouse
'rgan is prepared to advocate the pas
age Of law that will give all men the
quail right to murder?
Governor Warmoth has had the moral
ourage to deal plainly with the subject,
nd it is the duty of an enlightened
'ress, by plain dealing, to second his
forts to put down that remnant of pub
ic feeling in this community that would
ender it lawful, and even respectable, to
axe the life of fellow-being The in
ination among bad men to take life is
lready too strong.
The law against murder has not been
igidly enforced. Let the public press
nd the men whose duty it becomes to as
ist in enforcing the laws turn over
ew Leaf. When the laws are rigidly en-
orced then may our people hope to over
ONE that kind of bravery that makes
aen murderers.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT.