Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-07
BRUTALIzrNg MANHOOD.


There will occur tomorrow in one OF
succeed in preventing 1t, q prize fight
between two muscular rufiians who for
several years have pursued the calling
OF bruisers for livelihood. There are
now collected at New Orleans several
thousands Of the friends and support
ers" of these sluggers. For several
days these admirers OF the brutalizing
sport have been keeping the police of
the city busy quelling the quar-
rels and rows incident to
discussion OF the relative merits
OF the two brawny bullies. The govern
ors Of Louisiana, Mississippi and Ala
bama have issued proclamations forbid
ding the men to fight in the territory
OF their states, but Notwithstanding this
the hackers and managers of the pugi-
lists are going on with their prepara-
tions and intend to defy the law. They
are a class that have little respect for
law under any circumstances, and hav-
ing completed the arrangements for
this contest, staked their money on
their favorites, and travelled hun
dreds OF miles to witness the
brutal exhibition, thoy will
take almost any hazard to
have the fight come off.
For two months past all tho prelimi-
naries to this battle of brutality have
been thrust upon the attention of the
public, and for days the subject has oc-
cupied generous share of tho space in
the newspa pers. 1t is at present alb.
sorbing more of the public attention
than almost any other matter, people OF
nearly all classes and conditions mani
Testing as great interest regarding it as
il it possessed some feature OF real
merit, instead of being simply an ar
rangement of couple Of burly ruff
fans to go out to pound each
other for mercenary reasons and an un-
worthy notoricty. Physical strength
and prowess have always commanded
popular admiration, and probably al
ways will, but it is. late in the nine
teenth century for an enlightened peo-
pie to make heroes OF two such mus
cular rufiians as John l.. Sullivan and
Jake Kilrain.
The projected fight has nothing
whatever TO commend it to popular in
terest. 1t will not be q trial of strength
or skill or endurance between two
gladiators, but simply brutal battle
for money. The contestants are to be
pitted against one another by certain
hackers, so-called sporting men, who
have wagered large sums upon which
of the two bruisers will pound the other
to disability. Nothing to the benefit of
athletic Improvement or promotive OF
physical development can come from
this degrading encounter. It's only
tendency and effect must be demoraliz-
ing, and most largely upon the youth of
the land. Every such contest is fol-
lowed by crop of would-be pugilists,
and the tour of the country which Sulii-
van and Kilrain are sure to make after
their encounter will stimulate the
growth of this crop. 1t Is time
that public sentiment should undergo a
radical changes with regard to this form
OF muscular brutality. Prize fighting
is criminal offense in almost if not
every state of the union, and pub
lie sentiment should everywhere sus-
tain and enforce the laws against it..
1t is to be hoped the authorities of the
three states, in one OF which the Sulli-
vanKilrain battle is expected to take
place, will be able to prevent the en-
counter and arrest and punish the prin-
cipals, their hackers and all others in
any respect connected with the ar
rangements for the fight.