New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-17
LAW and PIGILISD.

puIlic attention has been invited, AFTER
short interval OF peace, to another prze-hSht
an Southern soil RulllanS OF al degrees nom
all parts OF the country gathered III New
orl,,ns 70 see the sport, and every lawcSS
lI,cl,ruard i'm Christcndom whom fate kept
elsewhere sichs 10 think of what he has lost.
Uorcoycr. the brutal instinct has undo ubtedIy
declared itself in many exceedingly lcpu'a'lc
Lo.oms. Not every man who SAW or lOnEed to
500 : fclIov-crcatulc battered into inscn>lbIllty
,ould eyer dream of conicSSing that he Is
ronroha,c. and there isn't a doubt that the story
or fine hcht ha, been eagerly read by at least
, million citizens in preference to the news
from Pine Ridge and Washington. 1t Is Just
* well to acknowledge the fact that single
combat with Natures weapons still has great
drawing power
I'm Ncw-OrlcauS the excitement was Inien>l-
fed At the last moment by the announcement
tina; the State aud municipal authorities were
IN consultation n, 10 their obligation under the
law 10 prevent the fight, or 10 stop 1t N some
mint short of "fnish.' But, IN reliance on
the statute. tho arrangements were C'Ii''"
through without conccalmcnt or diihcul'N bE
tho OLYMPIC Club. one of numerous organ
iz1tionS which exist largely for the pur-
nose Of promoting prlzc-iightS, and without
whose GOOD Office, the ring would scarcely
know how 10 prolong it, existence. These clubs
hayo not always been particular to keep on the
safe side Of the letter of the law, and they have
generally taken pains TO violate IT'S SWr't RUIN
lo>.ly. I'm this instance, the statute Of LouINi-
ana not being technically dchcd, 1t was lmpo'-
.;hlo ~ hold the club responsible Tor aiding
and abctting It's practical violation though
dispo>i,ion - take that course appeared to exist
among the officials Letting a; the rinG>lde
WIS prohibited, the gloves were caIeiuIIF
WEIGHED and the police were prepared 10 stop
the Geht if the chance offered. ~ least 50 II
i said. though a doubt on that point j. par
douaI 10. There is no prt"ncc that The gloves
worn diminished the brutality OF the ilghi' MI
,nports agree that the last few rounds were
D." simple butchcly." and that the defeated
purjG.t wa, a horrible ohicc, n the end u
the battle.
If the movement 10 prevent the fight or bring
:. f., . u,cmatmc conclusion had succeeded. the
n,iucipalS would nevertheless have found an
nuportuni,y before long to give themselves and
| their hackers satisfaction under Sccurcr coaoi-
tions. But thi, certainty ought not To make
the officers of the law less Jealous ia doipS
their whole duty under similar circumstances
| prilc-Gghtng will never be cNtcrnnaicd by
. single blow. bu, it may be clcctual-
" knocked OUT some day by an accumua-
ton Of Obstacles rendering il Improbable. Inc
energy and persistence Of the Governor Of Mis-
si,,ippi were developed too late to prevent the
FIGHT between sullivan and kllrain IN 1882
and their subsequent punishment was not al
together satisfactory. Undoubtedly, however,
they were subjected to no small expense ana
inconvenience. and the result Of their proSccu-
tlon was practically valuable. The Louisiana
statute needs to be amended, and is likely to
be- in consequence Of its failure in this IN
stance But existing laws are almost every
where competent, if vigorously enforced to
make prize fighting at least shabby, unproh +
able and dangerous vocation, and after 1t has
reached that stage it will not long survive.