New-York tribune., 1874-12-28
TIE NEV-ORLEANS HOMICIDE.

| it were of q political nature, seems to nave
| had its immediate prOvOcatiOn in purely per-
sonal quarrel. 1t did not enter into the merits
| of the political question which the editor OF
, The Bulletin raised and WarmOth discussed
whether either of the disputants was honest
| or dishonest. The editor undertook to present
| tho reasons why the old color distinction
should be revived by the street railroad COM
panies in putting on special cars for the use
of cOlored people, and excluding them from
| all the rest. Mr.. WarmOth replied to the
editar's argument in q letter which was pub
lishGd in the city papers, and which, so far rs we
can learn, did not exceed the bounds of cour-
teous discussion. We do not understand that
he reflected at all upon the personal character
of The Bulletin writer or the motives by which
he was actuatcd. Warmoth's motives in taking
grounds against thc position assumed by the
editor were no part of the controversy. There
can be no justification for the attack upon
his motives and his personal character which
Immediately appeared in The Bulletin. The
attack was made, however, and was sweeping
and severe. Warmoth replied in kind; re-
tort;ng upon the editor tho charge Of dishon-
esty while defending himself from the spc-
ci6c accusations brought against him.
The dispute here ceased to be political
ceased indeed to be anything but an exhibit
ton of anger and passion. And SO while the
editor Mr. Jewell, sits down and challenges
WarmOth to submit the question OF personal
honor and honesty to the test of accuracy Of
aim and deadlincss of purpose, his partner,
Mr.. Byerly, proposing q spcedier and less
formal settlement, sallics forth with club
and meeting WarmOth in the street. assaults
him. They clinch, and WalnOth, who, so far
as appears, acted in sclf-defcnsc, kills his as
saant. In this state of facts there can be no
manner of doubt as to where the blame lies.
The offender has paid the penalty of his otfensc
with his life, and for that reason alone
public opinion will be lenicnt in its judgment
of him. But that there WAS any excuse for his
brutal rs ;ault will not be pretended. WarmOth
had accepted a challenge from Byerly's part
ncr, and pending that meeting was entitled
to the utmost courtesy. He was attacked
without notice, and beaten without mercy.
In the present state of public opinion no
impartial jury can say other than that he
acted in sclf-dcfcnsc, or can do ausht but
justify him.
The fact that the atfray grew originally out
Of political controversy, although the
difficulty speedily became u personal quar-
rel, having no relations with the original dis
putc, will bo made use of at once by inter-
| estcd partsans. WarmOth appears in it as the
| advocate of equal rights, and the supporter OF
the Constitutional Amendments by which the
| rights of the blacks are secured. Whatever
he may he otherwise, he was at least consist
| cnt in this for he had acted with the Repub-
| hn INN tyhn
| Democratic party prOfessed to accept all the
results of the war, and with them the
Amendments giving the blacks the bal
lot and equal rights. Since 1872 nc
seems to have affiliated with the DEM
| Ocrats or Conservatives. That his ad-
| mnistration rs Governor was corrupt and bad
is unfortunately true. But whatever it was,
the editor of The Bulletin knew all about it in
1872, when Warmoth says he had his support
| for the nomination for Governor. 1t did not
become the editor then to lug into the con-
| troycrsy an attack upon Warmoth's character
| at this late day. In such course there was
neither rhyme nor reason. 1t was not strange
| that WarmOth struck back; not unnatural
pr,baps that he should call the man liar who
had called him thief. Then came the chal-
| lcncc. then the assault, then the death Of the
| assailant.
AT all points Warmoth seems to an impair
| t;ol mind to have been in the right; at all
points his opponents equally in the wrong.
| How far public opinion in Nrw-Orleans will
| side with Warmoth or with his asSailantS we
cannot vet Judge. 1t is not unlikely, in the
nresent excited state of the public mind upon
political questions, that the current of SYM
Dathy will run against Warmoth and with the
| attacking party. 1t requires but little
| foresight to discover tho consequences of
such q mistake. The impression which
the Administration party tried so hard
during the late campaign to convey,
that the Southern people hope to overturn the
results of the war, and that the old spirit of
intolerance is still alive, would at once gain
ground. Here was Warmoth, for simply de-
| Tending the rights Of the negro, first attacked
in n newspaper, then challenged, then as
soulted and when he killed his assaiant in
self defense, public sentiment sympathized
not with him but with his opponents. Louisi-
| ana. and indeed all the South, have too much
| at stake to risk the consequences of such an
impression getting abroad. There is q good
deal of wholesome love of fair play III this
country, and there is ittlo disposition to
restore the reign Of the knife, pistol and
bludgeon. The period of bullying has passed,
and any attempt to revive 1t will be found an
unsatisfactory experiment.
|