Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-09

LANCASTER, PA, July 9, 1889.
The Prize Fight.

The telegraph tells us that there has
heen great excitement everywhere over
the Sullivan kilrain fight, and maybe
there has been. The weather has been
hot enough to make a little excitement
20 great way. But was it not little
fight to make such fuss over? II prize
fights can proceed with such high re-
gard for the physical feeling and well
being of the fighters, we should say that
the law Is unduly exercised In forbiding
such harmless exhibitions. If the people
who paid their money and undertook
an. all night ride and an all day
broil to see this fight, had not been
doing an unlawful thing, probably
they would not have gone to so
much trouble and endured so much
suffering to see It and the justice
of the states Of Louisiana and Missis-
sippi would not have been made mock
cry. II the people Of this country unan-
imously enjoy the accounts and the
sights Of prize fights, as all the newsra-
pers think and If prize fights are such
harmless things as this one between the
biggest professors of the art has been,
should not the law forbidding them he
repealed /? Certainly it is not cdifying TO
see palace trains rushing over the coun-
try loaded with prize fighters, going
out to do that what the laws
of all the states they traverse
forbid them to do Certainly IL
Is not decent to see the newspapers ae-
companying these people on their law
less mission, with their reporters and
printing columns about the law-for-
hidden project as it goes on to its com
pietion. Certainly it is not right that
the whole country should be made to
seem to be applauding the efforts of law
defyers to evade the law to be bending
in the excitement of pleasure over their
deeds, and to be clapping their hands at
the victor. Surely il these things are TO
be, the law should not stand in the way
of the prize fight.
That Mississippi sheriff stood upon the
battle ground between the parties and
proclaimed the law. They amiably
heard him and proceeded to business.
In the presence Of the multitude of law
breakers he was powerless just as the
law is nerveless before the public opin-
ion that seems TO demand the prize
fight. That Mississippi sheriff cut
small figure beside the pugilist but no
smaller than the law cuts. He repre-
sented and proclaimed il. Its moral
force should have sufficed for the occa-
sion. II did not, because punishment
was not expected to await its rape. No
more humiliating position could he occu-
pied by the officers of the law than that
which they assumed on this occasion
and which covers them with contempt,
from the sheriff up TO the governor. 1t
Is, however, a position which they often
occupy In this country where mob law
and lynch law is prevailing force. II
seems to he possible for sufficient
mob at any time and anywhere to give
the law to any state. II has been
tried in them all and 1t has prevailed in
all. II IL lamentable commentary on our
civilization that the respect for the law
is thus low punishment for disobe-
disnce to IL is reserved for the ordinary
occasion for the chicken thief and
the ordinary malefactor but IL
not To I've feared by those
who are mighty by their numbers or
position. The corporation thieves,
the neighborhood lynchers, and the
prize fighters are safe from punishment
In their lawless doiugs. 1t is public
sentiment and efieminate rulers that
are at fault the one permitting and the
other fearing. A vigorous execution of
the law, which would put all these prize
fighters and their friends to JAIL would
command the public approval for
even those who readily violate the law
Know they do wrong and respect the
hand that smites them. such vigorous
hands are rare in executive place gov
ernors who find the public quiescent are
not eager themselves to stir fray.
We hope that the prize fighting pub
lie had the lots Of fun out of this fight
that they needed to have, to repay them
for the disrespect they showed their
country's laws. We however do not
zee where their particular joy can Toe.
After seventy-fiye rounds together,
the respective champions retired with
q few bruises and cuts received in their
several tusselings and the vanquished
says that the sun beat him which is
likely enough. Yesterdays sun would
have beaten anybody indulging in vio-
lent exercise. A great fight, indeed ,
nobody hurt save by the sun, which
makes one vomit and the other faint.
4 Railroad Threat,