The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-12-14
False Public Sentiment.


There has been good deal said about
duels and threatened duels within the past
twelve months. and especially during the re-
cent politica lcontest in this State. 1t is false
ly assumed that public sentiment demands
the recognition ofthe code-.that blood atone
ment is required for an aginary or real of>
fence, and that not to confCusn to this widssd
and savage ntiment is to expose the one
SO protesting to public Reproduction, il not
to scorn and contempt. There never was
more mistaken or unfounded assumption.
The Club-hOuses. and those who frequent
them and simil places-the Bohem ians
OF society, the idlers and loungers, who do
not reflect the higher type OF civilization,
the healthy moral tone OF community, may
announce that public sentiment Is offended
when a man deliberately denOunces the
duello as cowardly, vicious and brutal, and
calmly refuses to recognize the code. But
this is not public sentiment-it is not
the tribunal 20 which the men who
direct the business and move the en-
terprise OF the country appeal. The
farmer, the mechanic, the mercbsnt,
the bone and sinew Of the Sfate-rhe warp
and wool Of good society. have no sympa-
thy with that false pride, which just ifies a
resort to deadly weapons. or the placing OF
men lin position to be shot at, for trivial
or imaginary Otienses. There is no honor
or courage in it. The moral courage that
dares to denounce ito appeal 10 the
courts for vindication when wrong has
been inf icted-touches deeper the public
consciousness. than the braggart display OF
mock courage, frequently stimulated by
mean whisky, exhibited ON the field. when
Misguided men confront each other with
leveled pistols. Mere brute courage-for
this it is when boiled down-the steady
! nerve that takes che chances of life and
death, in defiance of the laws of God and
man, is not all essential ingredient ola chris
tian civilization. nor calculated 10 improve
and elevate society. What qualification
would it be for a real gent leman-cnt
| whose moral nature is attuned to the h Ugh
er ambitions of the sOul-to shoot dOwr
his neighbor, or be shot down, in resent
ment Of a ribald epithet or vulgar ins in
uation? An ever present bloody shadow
haunting him by day and night. would bs
| the only recOmpense, with a conscience
| tortured by never ceasing -emorse, Hnt
spirit saddened through life by The
guilty knowledge he could ,ast throw off.
1t is time that real public sentiment on
| this subject were asserting itself in brand
| ing the duellist as murderer at heart-ahe
code as an invention Of moral towards
who have greater respect for Lighthouses
than they have for the Creator, and who
esteem higher the ia sp irsIion of the whs.
| key bottle than the teachings OF the Bible,
of conscience, Of civilization. 1t is no tes
OF true courage to accept q challenge tC
| fight duel. The evidences of the man AFT
shown when such an invitation Is scornet
and condemned. What right has a man Il
| ieopa rdize the welfare OF those dependent
| upon him for the sake OF conforming to
debased sentiment, having its source IL
none of the better aims of life and sus
| tanned by none of the nobler duties ant
| higher ambitions of our being? He has thu
right in law and in morals to defend him
self against assault-to protect his OWL
| fife when threatened-but this does no
carry with it the right to deliberately plaI
and practice to take the life of fellow
man, to crafty the pernicious teachings
OF those who recognize the code as higher
! than law, human and divine.
When public opinion, emanating from
the true manhood OF community, finds
proper and full express ion, the duellist will
be classed with the highwayman and thu
assassin. and be dealt with as an enemy Of
sociesy and civilization,