The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-27

''Iur women and brave men OF the resur-
rected city, and the burned district particu-
larry, will be present. will conclude the fes-
tivities. Verify. that little kick of Mrs.
O'Learys cow has been the means of creating
o huge commotion among the Chicagoans.
There is every prospect the affair will be
complete success. and we trust it will proveso.
The Code OF Honor-How Murder ny
Duelling Can he Abolished.
When Foster killed Putnam for daring to
resent an insult to a young girl an indignant
public proclaimed him murderer, and law,
goaded into justice by . persistentpres at last
sent him before the Supreme Judge of all
Though New York brsathed more freely upon
being told that Fisk had been stealthily shot
in the back, the dead mans greatest enemy
did not lose sight of the crime. and stays of
proceedings are not likely to absolve Stokes
from the penalty of his dastardly action
When the illiterate, thoughtless Nixon shot
Phyfer, no clergymen interfered to save him
from the scaffold Society does not hesitate
to brand Foster. Stokes and Nixon
as murderers but circumstances alter
calls murder at another time society tolerates
and not unfrequently applauds under the
more euphonious name Of '.honor" It is
criminal for Simmons to kill Durysa, notwith-
standing that each thirsted for the others
blood, and both fought desperately for su-
premaoy. It is honorable for two gentle
men, engaged in a dispute about woman's
eyebrows to settle the color by making targets
of one another and coolly firing until one
drops dead or wounded. The survivor is
hero, whom many men regard with envy and
upon whom many women shower their most
jewel the Kohinoor would have dangerous
rival We denounce the hari-kari of Japan as
barbarous, and, being civilized, we allow the
code duello to exist. Evidently Christianity
has deeply impressed the average mind.
Virginia is the home of first families. On
her sacred soil once stood cavaliers and now
blooms chivalry. Two of its fairest flowers
have recently been engaged in an affair Of
honor, though the written laws of their State
makes the survivor of duel q murderer
and the seconds accessories before the
fact. But what of this? Is not
honor honor2 and will any jury be abject
enough to hang q duellist? Certainly not
and Mccarthy, lying as an interesting invalid
in cell elegantly carpeted, surrounded by
friends, sworn in as officers of the law in
order to preserve flower of chivalry from
contact with regular practitioners, has every
reason to congratulate himself upon being
noble example to hot-blooded youth. Why2
The story deserves repetition. Mccarthy
writes somewhat questionable verses con-
corning reigning BELLE which are in due
time published. Mordecai excoriates them
and their author, whereupon all Little Ped
lington bubbles with gossip started by clubs
and ornamented by women. Through the
kindness of good natured friends Mccarthy
hears of the criticism. He is assured that his
honor is in danger, that nothing less than
blood will atone for the insult A challenge
is sent truce succeeds it quarrel ensues,
during which the following dramatic dialogue
takes place:-
'Do you intend those remarks for me- sir ?"
Sand pray, who are you, sir?" asks Mccarthy,
with whitening contempt.
II am gentleman" retorts the passionate
Mordecai.
"Ah!" drawls Mccarthy, scornfully. Where
upon Mordecai knocks Mccarthy down and,
because of q lacerated nose, o swollen face and
blackened eyes. Mccarthy feels that he will be
branded as coward unless his ''honor'' be
avenged. A duel follows close upon the fight
II demand another fire." says Mccarthy,
when Mordecais seconds suggest settlement,
after the first FIRE leaves both uninjured. He
carries his point and kills his man, after which
little pastime his honor is intact What is the
killing of man compared with the approba-
ton Of Richmond clubs and Richmond
women2 As in most duels the less offender
is launched into eternity, SO of course the JUS
tice Of duello becomes apparent to the most
illogical mind.
Already this manly encounter in Virginia
has borne deadly fruit, and we ask whether
there is enough healthy sentiment in America
to put down the wretched superstition that a
man can make wrong right by exhibiting
certain amount of physical courage2 Moral
courage we leave entirely out of the question
for to refuse to fight duel is, in the present
age Of stupidity, to possess an amount of back
bone Of which the duellist is utterly incapable
Mccarthy proved his cowardice by his chal-
lenge. He dared not face public opinion. He
preferred disobeying the laws of God and man
he preferred running the risk Of taking life
and rendering at least one family miserable
to Drawing the verdict Of tattlers and scandal
nongers. Yet we pity rather than blame him.
The real murderer of Mordecai is PUBLIC
opinion. Streams cannot rise higher than
their source. It can hardly be expected that
Mordecai should disbelieve in the utility Of
duelling when his own venerable mother is
raid 70, houo =lx<l L.