The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-05-06

AN IRRATIONAL SOCIAL CODE
Dr.. Spain, Of Darlington. 8. C., recently
shot down in cold blood an unarmed and
defenseless negro servant because the
negro called him "a liar" The only sx-
euss offered by this doctor for . cold
blooded, cowardiy murder was that II
could not let the niger call me liar. /"
The other day Walter L. Bragg and DR..
Jesse Mattel. both Of Mobile. Ala. had .
fight In . private room. in which Bragg
was killed and Mattel dangerously
wounded. The provocation to this deadly
fight was most trivial. At . political
meeting Mr.. Bragg and DR.. Mattel. who
were strangers to each other. had nd.
joining seats. DR.. Mattel complained
that Bragg obssructed his view OF
the stage and speaker. and finally said. "a
gentleman would not act that way"
Upon which Bragg gave his name and re-
ceivsd Naftel's In return. The next morn
ing about 0 o'clock Bragg went to the
drug store In which DR.. Mattel had his
Office, and the two retired to an apartment
in the rear. from whence came presently
the sound Of rapid firing. A little later
Bragg was found with . bullet wound in
the abdomen. from which he died in an
hour, while Mattel Was wounded in two or
three places. one pistol ball having struck
him between the eyes and entered the
skull. and his recovery 10 doubtful.
These two gentlemen, who "ssood high
and had wide circles of friends" pro-
ceeded to murder each other in order to
determine whether Bragg had acted like .
gentleman. OF course this important
question 10 not settled, for Bragg 10 dead
and the doctor In likely 20 die; but sup
pose both had survived their wounds, what
have settled the question whether Bragg
had behaved like a gentleman than IL both
had been shot to death or both had walked
away unhurt, disguised TO think that .
petty war Of words over . trivial matter
had forced two intelligent. educated men
TO agree to try and murder each other.
Whether Bragg killed the doctor or the
doctor killed Bragg. how does IL affect the
question whether the doctor waa right
when no called Bragg mo gentleman p
II Bragg had behaved rudely no deserved
to be told OF IL, and IL he had killed the
doctor instead Of being killed by him il
would not have relieved him from the
charge OF rude behavior; IL would have
only proved that he was a iuekier il not q
better shot than the man he had offended.
IL Is occurrences of this sort at the South
that disgust . rational man with its ssnti-
civilized" coun'ry In the world except
South Carolina where an educated man. q
doctor. would murder in cold blood an un-
armed servant on the ground. II could
not allow the Niger to cali me liar" IL
there any other civilized community In the
world save Mobile. Ala. where an eiu.
Gated man would be treated as sane who
asked court 10 remember that in trying
to Kill somebody else he was simply main.
tanning his character as a Eentlemanf'
The New York Tribune recites these
terrible facts and says: at would save q
great deal Of foolishness aud some crime
If IL could be established once for all over
the whole country that the first instinct
OF true gentleman Is 90 obey the Law.
and that the most ungentlemaniy thing
anybody can do Is TO kill or try TO kill
somebody else."
OF course, IL is absolute nonsense to de-
fend this lasleSs arbitration OF every
trivial dispute By the pistol on the ground
thai cit makes men more courteous and
careful what they say" This 10 about as
absard q method Of making men "eoar-
teous and ehiyalrous" as IL would he To in.
siss that the proper way 10 keep . wife
ehasse IL to stand guard over her all her
married life with eeuhle-harrelled shot.
gan. A man who 10 only kept from eoor.
ish treatment of his fellows by fear of
being shot ~ 10 certainly not "a gentle
man." ''ehivslrle" creature or q heroic
person Of any kind. Surely q virsuos,
woman would feel grossly insaltsd IL
che wss tod thar the chief security
sgains, her going wrong vas the
fact that she or her psranoar or
hosa woula undoubtedly be shot IL de-
tesied. What kind of virtue anon :
women and ''ehivalry and courtesy
among men Is this which IL enforced at the
point OF pissols Verify some man OF the
Csrvantss quality Of humor ought 10 arise
~ sa,ir.se this absurd, inans southern
social code" an,il the whole rational weird
rirrlsa with laughter.
social code" that requires . man 10
commit murder is worthy Of . provincial.
school eey sort Of civilization. The Tn.
eHas Is just risat vixen il says;
II Is not necessary for .Ssnslsnaa an to
kat any sseay 10 rveys that he 10 . gentle
man. rhere 10 nasAiar samirah,e in
basiv temper Il IS nos .seatseEaa ANY, TO
violate aass aad ty1s courage do<s Eos