The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-07-18
The Brutal Prize Ring.


ing relic Of barbarism and it should be
effaced from the enlightened civiliza-
tion OF this evening Of the nineteenth
century. 1t is unmixed brutality and
its influences are wholly debasing and
demoralizing. 1t appeals to the worst
passions of young men and insensibly
brntalizes all who become interested in
it. In short, it is high time to stop
temporizing with this barbaric and
brutal system and tear it up by the
roots.
1t is easy for Northern journals to
criticise the South because the great
battle of the prize-ring brutes was
fought on Southern soil but when it
is remembered that the contract was
publicly signed in d Northern State
for this battle; that the stakes were
openly deposited in a Northern State |;
that one of the pugilists was trained in
New York without any attempt at
concealment; that the other was
trained in like manner in Maryland ;
that the purpose OF the contract, the
stakes and the training were avowed
as the preliminaries to a prize light
that is forbidden in every State and
Territory OF the Union, and that every
thing relating to the brutal violation
OF every law, but the fight itself, was
done in the North, we submit that it
ill becomes the North to look upon the
South and hypocritically give thanks
that it is not as the South in this blot
upon our civilization.
There is only one way to stop this
prize fighting, and we hope to see
Pennsylvania come to the front boldly
and strike at the roots of this unmin'
gled barbarism. 1t can be done, and
easily done, by stringent penal en-,
actment forbidding the execution oI
articles for prize-fght in the State
and the training of any person fol
such contest, and confiscating to the
State or the proper county any stakes
deposited or wagers. 1t is known that
the present statutes forbidding prize
fighting in all the States were intended
to be evaded, and they are not only
evaded, but insolently violated in mos
OF the States every month Of the year
There is hardly Il fortnight that does
not furnish some sort of a prize-hght
in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or New
York, and no punishment is attempted
unless murder is added to lawless bru
tality. These facts conclusively prove
that our present laws against prize
fights are mere mockeriee, and they
call for such positive legislation as viii
never allow prize-fght to get starteC
in any of the States.
The time has come when the States
must move practically against prize
fighting, and Pennsylvania woult
doubtless take the lead but for the fac
that the Legislature will not meet un
til 1891, while New York, New jersey
and most of the Eastern States have
annual sessions. The first Legislature
that meets should be the first to i'm
pose severe and practical penalties up
on any who sign articles for prize
fight, whether principals or agents
upon all parties who shall deposi
stakes or wagers on any prize-fght
including the shareholders, and confs
cate all such deposits to the State o.
proper county, and upon all who shal
engage in training for prize-fight
including trainers and fighters. Thes,
laws should be so framed as to affor(
every facility for their prompt anC
complete execution, and the day tina
dates such laws in the several State
will date the death OF the prize-fight
er's ring in this country.
1t is blistering reproach upon
people that bully, whose victorie
are due to brute force and the cultiva
tion of brutal powers, should be her
and greeted with ovations in ever
section of the country. 1t is not s.
now for the first time. 1t has been s
since prize.fighting began in the land
and it will continue to be so until th
law shall make prize-fghting peris
from our history. Let the States who's
Legislatures meet annually prompt
strike at the roots Of this barbarisn
and Pennsylvania will gladly folloV
as soon as her law-making power sha
have opportunity to act. Let the brr
tai prize-ring be abolished. -PhiladeI
phia Times.