The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-07-16
1.-THE CODE.v
Foreign Duels Are Not So Harmless as
Usually Believed.
The Custom of Duelling Fostered by Pub
lie Opinion and the Approval
of SIonarchs.

y
Bauer, the Austrian minister Of war, de-
clared in parliament that the present con-
dition of society did not permit of the
abolition of dueling, although it is for
hidden by the laws of the land. Young
Emperor William has given public ex-
preston to his approval OF the so-called
code of honor, and we have quite recently
seen the ministers of justice in Italy and
France, as well as the governor OF Madrid,
challenging political adversaries to meet
them on the field, while some time ago,
The hungarian minister of war, Baron
teVerJary, fought a sanguinary duel with
sabers. his antagonist being radical pol
ltIclan, in the garrison church at Buda
Pesth, only half an hour after the con-
cluslon OF high mass on Sunday. The
French and Italian ministers of war were
July alive TO the responsibilities and Dig
mites of their lofty office. as well as TO
the necessity of their own strict observ-
ance of the laws which they are called
upon &c administer. They thoroughly
appreciate the unfortunate effect OF their
infractior of laws of which they were the
principal guardians. All four are men
of high honor, integrity, enlightment
and OF mature age and experience. And
yet they each felt constrained to assume
the role of principals in duels, in open
defiance of the laws of their respective
countries.
My object in drawing attention to the
above cases is to assist me in my endeaVor
to respond to the recent structures that
have appeared in the columns OF the
American press on the subject of duels.
As an Anglo-Saxon l thoroughly appre-
clate the sensible comment to The effect
that when a duel IS not criminal il is
ridiculous. But unfortunately, the peo-
pie belonging to the higher grades of So
clety on the continent of Europe are al
lowed no choice in the matter. They can
not help themselves, and the mau who
either declines to receive challenge or else
refrains from sending q cartel In case he mas
been subjected TO insult, incurs the same
social obloquy as a man who has been
caught cheating at cards. Sooner than
incur this osbracism, tins reduction to
the condition of pariah cut off from all
social intercourse with fellow creatures,
man prefers to run the risk of being
either ''ridicalous' or Sc criminal -
the latter merely in the eyes oil the law.
Society is very ienient in both of these
cases, but it is unforgiving and relentless
toward the man who is considered to have
shown the white feather.
No matter how much one would object
to the duello on principle, the fact re-
mains that it Is a recognized social instl-
tuition abroad, to which not only the
people Of the Old World, but every Amer
lean who sets his foot on the continent of
Europe is forced to submit under the pen
atty of being cut on from all social inter-
course with the forsigH people among
whom he sets up his tent, and of expos
ing himself to insult, indignity and pub
lie obloquy. Now, the American is very
social in his tastes. both at home and
abroad. He has faculty and a fondness
for making friends IN foreign lands and
by reason of his remarkable adaptability
to his surroundings for the time
being and 10 his readiness to submit to
the requirements of local usages, finds
ready welcome in continental Europe-a
welcome which, however, would be with
held were he to put into practice abroad
the sentiments with regard to the duello
which he is accustomed to profess at
home. On the continent you have no
choice, and no matter what your obiec-
ton 10 duelling, either on the score Of
principle or on that of ridioule, you have
TO submit to the social code in this par
ticular or else find yourself treated as
moral leper alike by the classes and the
masses.
Even the British government-so
stringent and severe with regard to duel
ling on British soil-has expressed its
readiness to admit the force of this argu-
ment: for year or two ago when the adj
ment over q duel in France in which a
member of the queens diplomatic SER
vice had taken part, the foreign minister
after consultation with his colleagues,
arose and defended the course OF the
young secretary of embassy on the
ground that the latter, beng called upon
by the nature of his duties to reside
abroad, and to maintain social inter-
course with the people of the capital in
which he was stationed, was forced to
conform himself to the social institutions
aud requirement of the locality, failing
which his position would become unten-
able and his career of usefulness in the
place terminated.
1t is not, therefore, the unwilling
principal in a duel who is deserving OF
the rioicple and censure of the American
press, but the duello itself as a social
institution.
Nor are encounters OF this kind. even
when they result bloodlessly, as ridicu-
lOus as they may appear to those who
have never been called upon to play par
therein. Whatever the uninitiaied NAV
choose to say about the affair it is very
far ON a laughing matter to live through
night with the knowledge that on The
morrow you are either to be hacked a
with sword, iunged at with rapier, OF
else popped at, not merely once, but otter
several times in succession. with pistol
and at relatively short distances. In th,
case of a duel with pistols there is O
course always large number of chances
that your adversary's aim may be un-
certain, his hand lacking in steadines
and that he may fail to hit you. But ther,
are also a number OF chances that his ain
may prove true, and as the appointeG
hour approaches, these chances OF being
hit appear infinitely greater than those o
escape. 1t must be borne in mind, how
ever, that the so-called ''hostile encoun
ter'' takes place not at the moment o
quarrel and of the challenge, but mum
Der of hours later, after all the excite
ment ana heat of the controversy hav
Gained down and one has had full til
for reflection both as to the causes as vel
as to the possible consequence
of the duel Especially unpleas-
ant and oninouS do the latter
appear when one hs-l Gems to know tina
the happiness and welfare of others bot
near and dear are certain to be ieopar
dizeo by a fatal issue of the conflict
Moreover, it is one thing to face the bull
let of a concealed and often ar-dis6an
enemy IN the heat and excitement O
battle, and when there are hundreds, ma,
thousands, beside you exposed to th
same danger as yourself. But it is quit
another thing to stand and be delber
ately aimed at by az adversary reputed t
be good pistol shot, on cold mornin
with no excitement to sastain one'
spirits save such as is afforded by tn
suggestive aspect of an open case of sur
gical instruments, and lint, already pre-
pared for use, lying close by. Howeye
ridiculous the meeting may appea
subsequently. especially to those wht
Lave not taken any active part therein
believe mel speak from experience-th
Irdfcrong features do NOT arreal nv a "a