New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-26
st7pppFSSTNG THE RIZE-FTGHI'ER.

The commendable action of Governor Mer-
riam, of Minnesota, in preventing the proposed
prize-Gght between two briserS named Hail
and Fitzsimmons is a welcome sign of progress
II is the most recent, most important ana most
convincing evidence that this country VIII sooD
become place where neither pleasure nor proht
can be obtained by the fellows whose only
reputation is gained by the hardness OF their
fists and the brutality of their lives. 1t is not
likely that Sullivan, Slavin or any other noto-
rious blackguard who possesses uncommon skill
and strength in battering his fellow-creatures
will be permitted hereafter to carry out any
contest in the prize-ring. Prze-hghtnS
whether with the fists or with gloves, belongs
properly to such conditions of barbar1sm as toll
crate bear-baitng bull-fghting, and like ex-
hibitions of cruelty. The suppression OF the
proposed nuisance in Minnesota will discourage
and dishearten all the friends and followers OF
such creatures as Sullivan, Slavin and the like.
The District-Attorney of this county should
be more wideawake and alert to prevent VIOLA
lions of the law which prohibits not only prize
fighting itself, but also challenges to such con-
tests. Some blatant admirers of Sullivan are
posting money and issuing letters of defiance to
Slavin. These people ought promptly to be
arrested, and should receive the punishment
which the statutes provide for their impudent
affront to decency and public ORDER There Is
not one of the notorious prize-fghters of the
day whose habits, associations tastes and ten
denotes do not make him disgrace to the COM
munigy. Sullivan is a drunken ruflan, whose
frequent debauches degrade him TO the lowest
levels of bestiality. Mitchell and Slavin, in
famed by rum and wrath, have just had dis
graceful rough-and- tumble fight in public hall
| in Liverpool. The prominence which urscrpu-
lous men and INSCRIPTIONS newspapers are con-
tinually giving these detestabe and con-
temptible fellows is an insult to the reason, in
telligence and responsibility of civilization. Not
only do the fighters themselves defy the laws
and sink to the degradation of the brutes that
| they initiate, but their associates hackers and
friends are of a similarly deSpicable class. Take
the scoundrel Baird, who has recently added
to his unenviable reputation in England by
kicking well-known actress in the face. This
is the treacherous wretch who hired band OF
the worst heelers and bruisers in London to
90 over to prize-fght in Belgium and disable
a man against whom he had bet some money.
The Bairds, the Sullivans, the Slayins, the
Halls, the Fitzsimmonses, the JacllsOns, and the
whole villanous gang Of unspealabc rufflans
should be consigned to obscurity. 1t is really
the sensationalism of the press which has given
so much attention to the dOings and sayings Of
rascals of this type Of lawbreakers and carl
catmes Of humanity and has caused the evil
and damage to public decency and order which
have been noted in the past 1t is indeed
gratifying to observe such signs of better
order of things as the recent action Of Governor
Merriam.