Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-03-06
Aancaster .9ntelligrncrr.
A Converted Man.
Congressman Wise declines to call on


Congressman Wise declines to call out
one editor, who has insulted him, and
gives most excellent reasons for his de
cision. He does not want to be shot,
and does not want to shoot. 1t would
make him miserable to kill man, and
he enjoys life so much that he is unwil.
ling to dissolve his pleasant relations
with It. He has sweet home, filled with
merry children, with enough to live
comfortably by, and he is happy and
wants to live. II Is easy to understand
how, under the circumstances, he should
object to make target Of himself. Mr..
Wise exhibits eminent good sense. He
has not always manifested 1t, since he
has fought duel but probably 1t is
that experience which has taught
him. II Mr.. Wise had had a
soldier head, he would have
reached his deduction, without trial
of the duello. Its Objectionable features,
to man who enjoys life, are sufficiently
obvious to readily impress themselves.
But IL Mr.. Wise is taught late, he is
taught thoroughly. He may properly
sacrifice the consistency Of his views
upon the question of trial by single COM
bat to the strong logic upon which his
present position is founded. 1t is better
to be right late than never and we trust
that Mr.. Wise may fad his future path
way easy TO tread. He has certainly
cleared away one ugly obstacle to his
happiness. He need not now expect Ia
be challenged by the negro members oi
the Legislature, whom he declared that
he only met in his back yard, nor by
the other members whom he plainly
intimates that he would not think
OF asking into his front door
After declining to fight white editor
negro members Of the Legislature can
not expect satisfaction. Mr.. Wise, how
ever, may have some trouble maintain.
ing that social position for which he is
willing to risk his political standing, in
view of the fact that his social intimates
are not supposed to have reached his
elevation of mind in the matter of the
duello. Down in Virginia the idea
seems to be that an insult is only to be
wiped out In blood. In other parts Of
the country public sentiment seems tu
have advanced to the idea that an injury
though it is properly expiated by tn
pistol, does not call for the exposure Il
further injury Of the injured man. Con
gressman Phil. Thompson started thi
idea out in Kentucky by shooting a ma
whom he thought bad done him an in
Jury, while his victim was unarme
and was running away. Since the
young Mr.. Mutt, in Pennsylvania, an
some one in New York, and anothe
man in Connecticut, and other peopl
elsewhere, have practised on the idea
and the juries of the vicinage say it
correct ; SO 1t may be expected to sprea
and be generally accepted. 1t is tru
that 50 far the assigned cause of Ii
shooting has been an indirect injury
the shooter, and direct one to I'll
shooters female relatives. But the log
OF The thing will not permit the doctrir
to stop short of the justification of ma
for shooting when he is hurt in any cor
siderable way in his feelings or ply
sique; he may not be killed or called
liar, without privilege of shooting
Mr.. Wise may, If he is trul!
wise, try on this doctrine il
Virginia, and shoot his man with
out rlsking being shot. IL has alway
been thought by people of common
order, that there was mighty little sens
in asking another who has injured 20
to shoot at you. II seems ever so muc
more sensible to shoot him withou
making 30 absurd request. The goo
sense Of the amended Thompsonian ide
Is conspicuous. Mr.. Wise having ono
struck Mr.. Massey, an old man and
preacher, who could not call him ou
therefore, has shown himself eminent
qualified to appreciate and embrace I'll
modern practice; and we hope for Il
sake of his happy home and merry Chi
dren, to say nothing of the fond wi
Of whom he does not speak, if he b,
one, that Mr.. Wise will never let al
fellow who insults him get the drop {
him