Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-12

VOlVers
Writers on military science and art
tell us that the first personal offensive
and defensive weapons of man were fists,
then clubs, then cutting and thrusting
arms. and then pistols. Fists are ma
lures production, and are the fsvorites
of free peoples and Of the English particu-
larry, who have sssiduously cultivated
the manly art of self-defense, as box
ing is called; while knives, dsggers and
pistols are the resort of those nations
that have been ruled despoti-
cally. In a general expression, the
Germanic races, open -browed, open
eyed, manly fellows, cultivate fists
that punish OF. protect without endan-
gering Gods most precious gift, life I;
while the Latin blood, scowling and
secret, resorts to the stiletto and ''the
little pistol" In this country we started
with true Anglo-Saxon courage, but In
dian contests grated upon it cunning
and stealth, and the American character
became less English and more willy. The
invention of the bowie knife and the re-
volver degraded still lower our ciYiliza-
ton, until it often almost touches the
plane of medieval ruffianism. Our boys
are no longer boys, but imitators OF
vulgar manhood, with tiny revolvers in
their pistol pockets or in their little
kinckerbockers, or murderous knives in
their side pockets, while they shoot, cut
and perhaps kill with the sang frOsd of
Missouri or Kansas road agents. A good
honest fisticuff is now rarely heard Of,
and when one does come off more fuss
is made over it apparently than on the
opening of a bank in a Western town or
the plundering of railroad train.
We in no manner, be it understood,
uphold the brutal exhibitions of the prize
ring as a financial operation or for
championship, but we do stand
up for a good square fight
among schoolboys for their rights, and
no i'll will afterwards. What was our
surprise then to see paraded through the
public press as a heinous offense that
two boys at the United States Military
Academy at West Point had a fist fight,
in which one was knocked out of time,
and that they and their seconds and all
concerned were to be court martialed,
dismissed and so on. We know that in
all schools fighting is, properly, forbid
den. and SO also is dueling IN
many of the States. But there are
fights and duels nevertheless, and many
that cannot be avoided, as the world
judges of such matters Discipline must
be indicated, we grant; but it should be
done justly and with as little severity as
consistent with the obligations of duty.
Was there anything unfair in the West
Point fight that the United States have
to be put to the expense of calling
officers from a distance to convene
in solemn conclave over boys fisticuff?
Can't the Superintendent meet the emer-
gency under the regulations of the AGA
DENY, and settle it with few tours of
extra guard duty, or confinement
to quarters in recreation hours?
Or is there grave princi-
pie involved, as was farcically alleged
some months ago when negro cadet
slit his own ears. knotted himself a la
Davenport, of mediumistic fame, and
said the white cadets, or spirits, had
done it, thereby taxing the people some
thirty thousand dollars in courts of in
quiry and martial to demonstrate that he
was both fool and knave2
Let our boys be boys, and not bowie
knived, revolver carrying rufians, Illus
trating the frontier barbarism of vulgar
dime literature. That is what our lads will
come to if we cease to encourage the old
methods of self-protection.
Boys will have their quarrels, and good
square fist fight and a hand-shske after
wards is by far the most manly way of
settling their youthful difficulties.