National Republican., 1883-07-10
Dueling.

Just so long as the public sentiment IN any
state or section sustains dueling as an hon
orable mode of adjusting quarrels it will con-
tinue to be practiced 1t is the ambition to
be regarded man of both courage and honor
which impels many men, in spite of their
natural and better instincts, to meet their op-
ponents on the field.
The news comes from Baltimore that club
in that city, composed of men of the highest
social standing has shown its disapprobation
of dueling by refusing to extend to one of the
parties to the late Virginia duel the usual
courtesies shown to visiting strangers who
have proper standing at their own homes.
1t is we'll understood that the object in this
action was to show that the sentiment of the
members of the club was averse to dueling,
and that gentleman, who otherwise would
not fail to receive the usual club courtesies
forfeits this privilege for having engaged in
so reprehensibe q practice. Hero is amah,
the club may say, who visits our city fresh
from the field of attempted slaughter of a
fellow creature whom he acknowledged by
his act to be his equal-a man charged
with no crime against the laws of the
land-whom he has deliberately and
in cold blood shot down, and
perhaps mortally wounded. Is he entitled
to our hospitality? Shall we, by throwing
open to HIM the doors of our club room, in
dorse the acts of n man who from his calling
ought to be conservator of public morals,
but who in fact comes to us with his hands
dyed in the blood of human being, whom
he has severely wounded, and who, had his
purposes and wishes prevailed, would now be
in his grave? Shall we show liberation
for the acts of man who has
for weeks been fleeing from the
civil officers of his own state, who
were attempting to arrest him as violator of
law? 1t was wise and timely decision of
these questions made by the club, to disclaim
his fellowship and put the seal of its condem
nation on his act. If this is not the meaning
of the action of the club it means nothing.
All right thinking people will heartily ap-
prove of this action of the club, which is the
pioneer in a movement, which, If continued
and initiated by other like associations, will be
productive of good results.
The New York clubs are full of mon who
approve of the socalled code, and are proud
to bear the reputation of fighting men.
well-known and wealthy member Of one Of
the most aristocratic clubs Of New York car
ries the honorable (?) marks of an encounter
with gentleman from South Carolina. A
well-known newspaper man of that city and
club man sought reputation some time ago
at tho pistols mouth
This is country governed, in grea
measure, by public opinion. So powerful il
| its influence that 1t often, We regret to say
ovcrrides tho law. The larger volume o
public opinion in the whole country is de
cidedly against dueling, but there are partic
ular sections where the reverse is true. Ye
ber of the best and most highly respected
citizens who deprecate and condemn the prae
tice. Let these men make themselves hearC
and their influence felt. Let them show tn
immortality of this thing, and that it is
relic of barbarism and in direct opposition t,
tho enlightenment, civilization, and Chris
tianity of the age, and by all means do no
permit the brave and commendable action o
the Baltimore club to be lost sight OF. Wher
men learn that the dueling field is considere'
by the public not the field of honor, but o
dishonor, and that to kill man in duel
simply murder, and when the courts of tn
country will do their duty aud punish al
such offenders, we shall be rid of this bio
upon our civilization.