The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-02
The True Field and Court Of Honor

Tie True Elol0 ana court OF nOuors
Duelllng ls defended. where It is defended
at all. on the ground that some OF the
gravest and most intolersble offences
against the rights, the dignity. and the
seli-respect OF the individual. are not legally
punishable; or that. at least, the remedy
provided by the law Of the State is utterly
dlsproportionate to the sentimental injury
inflicted. and wholly inadequate for Its rep.
aratton. The class Of offences which are
described simply as conduct unbecoming
gentleman arc not dealt with AZ such by
the civil code. yet they may strike at the
very foundation Of the principles essential
to tho maintenance Of civilized society.
Even II this deficiency in the law Of the
State exists. recent occurrences have proved.
however. that 1t does not render necessary
any resort to private violence as means Of
reparation. and does not impose any duty
justifying the individual In making and ex-
eouting law for himself. II he takes the
law into his own hands. no appeals to
public opinion to vindicate his legal
crime as an honorable obligation. He
refers his act to the Judgment Of
public sentiment and publishes his griev-
ance to the whole world by the most
sensational Of methods and in the way
which least Of all guards the delicacy Of
mans reserve. touching matters usually
held sacred in their privacy. He pushes
himself, his personality. and his private
affairs into publicity.
II. however. anybody thinks himself forced
tosummon the public as Judges between him
and man whom he accusee Of assailing his
honor. II he thinks that he cannot other
wise preserve his self-respect. why should
he not make the appeal directly to this court
of honor, instead Of committing crime by
fights duel with his enemy. the decision
as to the Justice OF his quarrel will be
rendered by public opinion and not by the
result Of the combat between the two. So
ciety will organize itself as court Of honor
In any event. 1t will take into considera-
ton the merits Of the case. and 1t will not
be Influenced in It's decision by the issue
OF the combat at arms.
In recent controversy Of this sort one Of
the parties made up statement Of the
relations between him and his sccuser. and
referred the matter to two outside indi-
viduals to determine whether his OPP
ponent had any standing in honor which
justified him in demanding satisfaction
under the duelling code. The challenged
individual acknowledged the offence charged
against him. but he contended that the
other had 30 conducted himself In the affair
as to forfeit oil his rights to honorable
reparation. On the case as presented. the
referees decided against the challenger.
Thus the Issue was determined by two men
only and on the testimony Of one only Of
the parties to the controversy: and that
decision was published to the world as ex-
oulpating the offender and inculpating the
offended.
Thus the case was unwittlngly appealed
to all men. Society as q whole was u.s.
sembled as court Of honor: and. 30 sitting.
1t has reversed the decision Of the original
referees. It condemns to dlshonor the man
who proclaimed his dishonor In undertaking
to defend himself.
First or last. the resort to which an hon
orable man must 60 for the vindication OF
his honor Is the court Of public opinion.
As In any event he must look to that
tribunal for reparation. II he demands rep
aration. the only sensible course for him is
to refer his case to 1t directly and imme-
diately. II the formal enactments of the
stste he inadequate for the vindicatlon of
his honor. 1t will supply the deficiency fully.
and its punIshments will be far more terri
Bile than any that can be inflicted by the
sword or the pistol In his own hands.
II. as often happens. such publication Of
his wrongs would bring suffering to him
and injury to those he Is bound to protect.
so that In furnishing another he would
punish himself and the innocent perhaps
even more bitterly. he must endure his
wrongs in silence. He cannot then appeal
to public opinion. either directly or by
means Of an effort to right himself by taking
the law into his own hands.
A scandalous Appropriation.
The chief Of tho Bureau OF Animal Indus
try in the Department Of Agriculture at