The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-24
south CaroIins Anti.Dueiing Associ

Baltimore sun.
As has been stated heretofore, an anti
dueling association has been formed in South
Carolina, with eI.Judge Kershaw as presi-
dent. 1t appears probable that this associa'
ton, which seems to have originated in
purpose to proven, the recent very brutal and
wretched Cash-Shannon ARRAY, has derived a
very decided impetus from the development
Of public opinion in consequence of that
horrible affair. "We intend the resolution
Of the association says, ITO train, educate
and organize the public opinion and moral
sense of the people to true perception Of
the crimipsity of this wicked and pernicious
practice; to take proper measures to procure
an adjustment of all personal difficulties
which might tend to involve any of our fell
low-citizens In duel; to use and enforce all
legal means of preventing any OF our fellow
citizens from engaging in DUEL to enforce
the laws against dueling in every case of
their violation hereafter occurring, whether
the same shall consist of sending. accepting
or bearing challenge, of the fighting Of q
duel, or the counseling, aiding or abetting
any OF these offenses."
The example thus get by General Ksrshaw
and his associates deserves the commenda-
ton OF all right.thinking people. Dueling is
semi.barbarous practice, and hal it's
origin il semi.barbarous times. Trial by
battle, as it existed thousand years ago, and
Of which dueling is the gradually decaying
relic like the medieval orders of testing in
nocence by water or fire, grew out of the
superstition that Providence would take care
TO see that, in every case, innocence was
indicated and Justice observed. The duel
originally established by law became, in
later days practice dependent on fashion
or certain conventional rules of honor. In
these times, wherever it still holds its ground,
il s but too often resorted to for the purp SO
of wreskiug vengeance, or of gaining a
Fictitious reputation by display of so-called
courage, which, having none Of the moral
elements in it, is hardly the genuine article.
Laws against dueling have been enacted in
several parts of Europe and in many OF our
own states, but, unfortunately, they have
rarely been enforced. The law of England
is, perhaps, the most stringent of ALL It
makes no distinction between the killing of q
man in duel and any other species Of MUIR
der. The British articles Of war issued
in 1874, with view to abate dueling in
the army, makes every officer, whether he
acts as principal or second, subject to be
tried before general court.martial, and, if
convicted, to be cashiered, or suffer such
other punishment as the court may award
The German articles of war contain very
=. NU,th -,
of the country, false sentiment of honor
has kept up the practice of dueling, espe
cially at the south, long after it has become
obsolete at the north; and so long as this
sentiment prevails the laws enacted for its
repression must retain, for all practical pur-
poses, a dead letter. The recent Smith ELAN
duel, in Virginia, is case in point, for
although the courts were ready to act, and
the fact that the duel had taken place was
notorious, no witnesses could be found to bear
testimony to this bold and fragrant violation
of the law of the state. True courage, how.
ever, 1t seems to us, would induce the parties
to take and meet the responsibility of their
acts rather than shirk it. The only way to
deal With the evil effectually is through n
change in public sentiment, and by rigorous
enforcement of the laws against duelling.
There seems to be general revolt of South
Carolinians against the idea that the dueling
code or the social relations between gentle
men tolerate any such state of affairs as Col
onel Cash and his son seem desirous to bring
about, Senator M. G. Butler has written a
letter to the editors of the Charleston News
and Courier, in which he very thinly dis.
guises his opinion that Mr.. Shannon was
bounded TO HE death by professional assas-
sin. He says in that letter, which he wrote
in approval of the course OF the Charleston
paper, the editors Of which have been
''warned" by the Cashes, that ut is no refec-
ton upon the memory of the gallant gentle.
men of the past who resorted to the duello to
settle their personal differences to ask. that
the law be indicated in this case. In former
days the most punctilous decorum and chiy-
alric courtesy distinguished the conduct of
gentlemen in affairs Of honor and coarse
ribaldry and gssconade in correspondence
was as odious as the brand of cowardce 4; but
now the swashbuckler Style appears to be
fashionable" The issue has been very
sharply made he says, between those who dc
not respect the law and those who seek it,
execution, and the present is an auspicious
opportunity TO test whether the outlaws are
IN tue mhJority. ne huus, with an empnalss
which viii be appreciated, and with sense
of responsibility which his eminent public
position both calls for and jutities, that az
will be o sad day for South Carolina when
gentleman, who feels 1t to be his personal o.
professional duty TO vindicAte private right
In our courts, Is first to be insulted, pursued
|; vilifed and goaded to depreciation, and thel
shot. II that 10 TO be the plane which ou
civilization is to occupy, We shall all be sleep
ing on our arms. And there mus
be something radically wrong in pub
lie sentiment which can force man ofShan
mons high character and acknowledged cour
age to fight duel under the circumstance
which surrounded him. 1t is about time w
were finding out where we are, and ascertain
a whether border rufiisnism' is to govern thi
). country or whether civilized institutions shall
be maintained" 1t is probable that Colone
Cash and his son will have the sense to recog
T nize after while that they have misinter
: preted the true meaning Of South Caroln
q ''chivalry." Meantime, as General Butte
|. suggests, they should be taught that Their
n are laws against murder in that state whicl
Q need to be enforced.