Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-19
FRAUD AND FISTICUFFS.

FRAUD AND FISTICUFFS.
 There is an old proverb to the effect that when men of undesirable moral reputa- tion fall out other men not tainted with like attributes come to their own. We do not like to be more direct or distinct by | use of the particular characteristic phrases of the original, but our paraphrase Is pointed enough for the purpose in view. l We have not made any secret of our est1- mate of the Prize Ring, no matter how 1t be viewed-whether from the utility claimed for it as promotive of the manly | art of self defense or the degradation at tending the training of the human frame l to its highest point of development, in order that for paltry money prize or the paltrier possession of belt of champion ship it should be beaten and battered out of all likeness of humanity. And then the accompaniments-th broken down bullies and blacklegs who, no longer able to fight, are still strong on beer and blas- phemy the betting men who would not hesitate to gain their point by pistol shot or perjury the scum of the lowest slums admiring abettors and then the patron age of most honorable dishonorables of the old nobility; and even the gracious countenance of prince of the blood royal that man of high station but low tastes, | now regarded as heir apparent to a king ship which may never become an apparent fulfilment. The people of England are far seeing and of keen judgment, and it is moot point for the future whether Albert Edward shall ever grace the throne of the Guelphs. Byron may be regarded as pro- phetic when he wrote:
 ---(od save the king or kings,
 For if He don't doubt if men will longer Methinks hear little bird that sings
 The people by-and-by will be the stronger
 We have digressed, but the Aggression is allowable. The transition from the sub ject of the Prize Ring to that of Royal Highness who favors it, was tempting one. Our object was to show that with all the asserted pluck of the pugilists there is still the pettiness of the card-sharper in ways that are dark and tricks that are vain.' That great international fight over the water the other day-upon which ex-
 
 tention-was, it appears, if we are to credit the revelations now made, not only fizzle, but fraud; and names that stood in the honor of the arena are implicated as par ties to the deception. And thus it hap pened that the falling out of the rogues has led to the enlightenment of honest men. The exposure was given briefly in oul tele- graph dispatches yesterday Archibald Gordon, editor-in chief of the ;esthetically immoral paper-the Police Gazette of New YOrk-and other members of the staff lit erary and artistic, have severed connection With the establishment. R. K. Fox, the proprietor, manager, stake holder and patron ill particular of the fistic fraternity, says that he discharged them; but they, one and all, aver that they resigned their positions mainly on account of the little irregularities marking the Smith-Kilrain fight. Gordon says he has reason to believe Fox knew the fight was ''fake' and other members of the seeding staff endorse the opinion. MT Fox, who, notwithstanding his proclivities for the Prize Ring, stands
 
 nalistic and social circles in New York, gives the statements vigorous and indig- nant denial There is large space given to his explanation in the New York papers of yesterday. We shall not infict these ol any of them on our uninitiated readers but the facts can be read between the lines that whether MT Fox was @ party to the foul play or not, the foul play existed that the fight was a sham and intended tc be so from the beginning that added to the brutality of the thing itself there was the dishonest deception of patrons who verbal philosophy to which we referred at the opening of these observations has beer amply verifed-when these prize fighters fell out the unsuspecting public came to true knowledge of the 'inner conscious ness" of the class. There is another ole saw which, unhappily for many, has no found fulflment. "Honor among thieves has ceased to be an extenuating ingredi ent ill their dishonor as regards the public The Turf-sustained as it is by the nobilit, of England on the special and specions pie, of improving the breed of horses-has record of old creation, but having painful illustrations of late not much if anything better than the prize ring Indeed, noble men have unnobled themselves by thicker les at which we are sure John l.. Sullivan would blush. At any rate there is no much to choose between the two descrip tions of dishonest speculation-save, in deed, that the Race Course gives harmles enjoyment and may be often preserved from frauds, while the Prize Ring has eve within and around it and influencing al it's doings the attributes of an enduring infamy.
 BREAKERS AHEAD.
 Ireland stands in peculiar position jus T,, of