Daily Republican., 1883-07-02

ing meteors, came together on Saturday
morning, just as the sun was rising, but
whether the sun stopped in its course
to gaze upon the sight we have not
been informed. The larger body me
the smaller body and as is generally the
case the smaller, in such conclusions,
came near being annihila ed. Bierne,
the representative of the Bourbons,
was but twenty-seven years OF age and
weighed 225 pounds, and Elan, the
representative of the Readjusters, is
forty-seven years of age and weighs
only l49 pounds. Contrary to the dstic
prize ring the little man had the advan-
tage for he had more to shoot at than
the large one, but as in the prize ring
the little man sometimes comes out first
best, so in this affair of so-callsd honor
in the Shenandoah valley ON Saturday
morning, the large man who had a
smaller mark to hit with bullet came
out first best. The result of the duel is
that Elan will rusticate through the
summer with ball in his hip and
Bierne can 60 around to the summer
resorts and exhibit the hole in the
skirt Of his coat that Elam's bullet
made.
At any rate the duel has been fought
and Virginia is safe. Bierne has the
glory Of drawing blood, while Elan,
equally brave but more unfortunate,
we are informed, is to be the next Gov.
ernor of Virginia. The R-adjusters, it
is now said, are sure to succeed, and
though Bierne has little personal
glory all to himself, has it a. the ex.
pense Of the Bourbons he represents.
Thus mighty things turn upon a
small pivot: If this duel had not taken
place the result Of the next election in
between Readjuster and Bour.
bon, would have been doubtful, with
the chances in favor of the latter, but
now it is all changed.
The man with the bullet in his hip is
the savior of the Readjusterr, and who
knows that he may not be the means of
defeating the next Democratic candi-
date for the Presidency.
In the interests of civilization the
luel will be looked upon in quite anoth-
Or aspect Both of the principals and
Ill who aided and abetted in any man.
ler the conflict are guilty of violating
State law which prescribes severe
penalties. This law will be weakened
md turned into farce by the Legisla-
'ure when it meets by the passage of
special act covering the case, as has al
ready been done in other cases. 1t is
doubtful if the results of the duel will
lave any good effect upon public opin-
on in the South, where the code is
ooked upon with the most favor. The
'rutsl murder Of Shannon by Cash in a
[uel in South Carolina, came near send
ng Cash to the penitentiary for life.
even IN that State, where the code il
ooked upon as the very acme of honor,
jury was found that went so far in
lisapproving the duello as to disagree
n finding a verdict. Had the duel on
morning ended in the killing (
# both Bierne and Elan, the results
Il favor of civilization would have been
more marked. Such result would
lave set Nirginians to thinking whetL-
# such murderous method of vindica-
ing honor is worth so costly a sacrifice,
,ut we fear that such little pop affair
IS that between Bierne and Elan will
nly encourage others to engage in the
Already it is reported that
'ierne has been challenged by a lead {
ng Readjuster to fight again at an early
Iay, ;