New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-19
DEFENDER OF THE PRIZEFIGHTER.

lie THINKS CORBETT SHOULD HAVE CREDIT FOR
ELEVATING THE GENTLE PAsTIME OF BRUTEs.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: notice in the editorial columns OF one OF the
back numbers of yoIr paper dated January q, 1894
article headed "Corbett n Vicious Brute" in
which the great pugilst, In connection with his re-
cent fight with Mitchell. is commented upon. in the
severest language | am, myself, no friend to pro-
fesSonal pugsm and consider a general thing
It's influence is demoralizng. yet ! must say in strict
candor that YOU haven't criticized Mr.. Corbett with
much fairness justice. He is a gentleman OF
education. and those educational advantages have
placed him. independent of any other reason. far
above the ordinary class of his profession He
writes and speaks with equal nuency and is thor
oughly temperate and abstemious in his habits
According to my humble opinion. he has done more
to elevate this brutal pastime' than any who
ever entered the ring. The outburst Of temper dis
played by him at jacksonville was perfectly just-
fable under the circumstances. He had a peculiar
man to deal with. who deliberately insued him in
the most open and unprovoked manner. Had
Mitchell been killed outright then and there no one
could have conscientiousy condemned Mr.. Corbett
But. after all. this vicious brutality" Is not
limited TO the pugilistc arena. Our refined Con-
gressmen have given some nice. pointed illustra-
tons that savageness and revenge do not eXcu-
svely belong to the gentlemen of muscle" In the
old ante-belum days Texas Congressman as
saulted the founder of The Tribune Horace Greeley.
with a loaded cane on Pennsylvania-ave. simply
for crltcisinG the course OF the Southern members
in the Kansas imbroglio BULLY Brooks murder
ouSly attacked Charles Sumner on the Senate floor.
which thrilled the North with horror. and Is now a
matter OF history. Several years ago Congressman
George :. Wise pursued an editor of portsmouth.
Va. through the streets, with the avowed purpose
OF cutting off his ears the press generally through
out the country commented upon II in humorous
strain. yet Mr.. Wise rushed upon his antagonist
Mitchell at jacksonville; but then | presume Con
cr"ssmen are priviIegcd characters, Mr Corbett. I
may add. has gracefully apologzed Tor ms error
and the public has accepted his explanation as sat
1t seems very strange that The Tribune. which
has always been careful in criucisng the snort
cOmings of the eX-champi)n-John should De
scend from its high pedestal and attack MI Cor
bett with such extreme bitterness. and sti stranger
To devote a half column-in the very paper de-
nouncing him-tO an interesting report OF MI. Cor
belts version Of the fight
The truth 10 professional puglism In THIS country
respondents. IS by no means "a dead cock IN the
pit" |, an evil which has been suffered To exist
too long 20 be eradcated in day or year; CeI-
tanly not while the entire press give those eNhlp'-
tions the largest measure OF encouragement hho"
ing well that it Increases the circulation OF th ,
papers, and not at all Indifferent t. IN" prontib"
results which accrue thcrefrom When these Jour
nails denounce prlZeiighting in one brcath anu IN
next moment run out any quantity Oh 'M.'Hs,
hausive account OF all that was said ana done anu
supplement IL with most eXecrahie w00icuts Il
discerning and discriminating public WI be Nsty
apt to read their after adverse ctltclShs ." t'r
morality OF the thing as having something "l =
Pickwickian construction and savoring strongly oil
Instead Of condemning Mr.. Corbett rather would
hold him up. with all due respect TO J ne Irl9uhe'
as a character worthy OF our admiration ana ~
plaud his tact ability and invncibe courage which
hui has PLACED him conspicuous before the public
as unquestionabiy the most famous or n1I'rh
rladiators GEORGE &. BLANCHARD.
Danbury, Conn. March 8, 1894