New-York tribune., 1895-12-16
Az mlFF1IR or HONOR"


lion M, sneciollv momentous in itself. IS likely
70 he settled at the Democratic State Convention
which meets on Wednesday. But in the course
of tbc discussion which has been going on for
some time in the newspapers Of the State as TO
tho qualifications of rival candidates differ
ence Of opinion has developed between Major
Uearsey. who. as Editor of the "New-orieahs
Daily States" acts as counsellor and guide Of
the Democratic party of louisiana, and the Hon
Charles J. Boatner. who represents 'nat parry Ill
the United States Congress. Precisely now IL De-
gan we do not know. nor are we informed rs 10
the several stages of its progress before 1t De-
came SO acute that nothing but manSIaushler
can heal It. Suffice ii 10 say that on Friday
Major Hearsey in that days issue OF ms news
noper. concluded simply what he called a
bref homily on the most contemptloie poh'l'ai
..scoundrel In louisiana" meaning thereby Con-
gresham Boatner, "by saying That he Is har'
q coward and n scoundrel" This, we may say
in passing. sounds like surplusagc. but 1t Is we
believe the usual form in which anmated ue'
bates approach a conclusion among tie ruling
classes in warm climates The next step III Inc
discussion. according 10 strict parliamentary
usage. is TO call the previous question with gun
that he did not intend to evade the issue by par
lamentary tactics or breaking the quorum, 'he
Major added with an exhibition Of magnanmiy
Of the sort which in warm climates never lails 10
excite admiration "Of course, this denuncihtion
"nn,s Charles j. Boatner outside Tie pale OF
"gentlemen. and would fully justify us in rcflls-
"jng 10 recognize him, or any messenger from
"bin. but we waive all that, and will accord INN
xyh0
chooses to demand it,"
The language used in political discussion i'll
warm climates is always liable TO be more or less
misleading but what we understand from 'he
Majors earnest and almost imprisoned worus
IS that Notwithstanding Congressman Boa'hcr
is "a liar. a coward and a scoundrel, he-lhe
Mai0r-is willing to waive his own rights as Il
gentleman. and kill him with Just as much for
mality as he would social and moral eq'ili WHO
vos truthful brave and honest. Without know
Ing ANYTHING about the merits Of the controversy
we should say that in making this sacrifice the
Major was doing quite the handsome 'hlhS.
Boatner may not have another opportunity 10 De
killed in polite and genllemanly manner par
ticnlary if he continues 10 engage III poll'lcai
controversies in the warm climate OF Louisiana.
Confusion may arse in his mind however, from
the circumstance that the question 10 be decidcu
IS whether he is actually Il liar, coward ana
scoundrel and if the Major kills him, M matter
in how gentlemanly Il manner that Will be con-
sldered proved by the event, for. if we under
stand This method Of debate, the burden of proof
IS on the Major. who. having asserted positively
that Roalner is n liar. a coward and a scoun-
drel," expects to prove II 10y killing him. To the
m A
,r,de irrelevant and unsatisfactory. Nor is the
difficulty much relieved by The consideration that
possibly Boatncr may XIII the Major. which
would doubtless he taken rs Il complete rcfn'a-
ton Of the charge that he is "A liar n coward ana
a scoundre" And, then. where would that
leave the Major: But the truth Is. we presume,
that to people who live in cooler climates and dis-
cnss differences by word of mouth, all These
things are and must necessarily be. ineXplicabie.
AT last accounts the various questions as 10
how the killing should be done, and where. were
under discussion and in process Of settlement by
gentlemen of the highest character who Will see
10 ii that each Of the dispuianis shall nave iair
and equal chance to Kill The other. n close
friend" Of Congressman Boatner Is reported in
a late Ncw-Orlclns dispatch rs saying that.
though Mr. Boatncr is opposed 10 drelllng as a
matter Of principle. he Is no coward. and as
gentleman must defend his honCr The "ciose
friend" adds: IF he does not resent the insult
and pnnish-perhaps kill-hls traducer his rep
'.u,ation In this section cannot he sustained No
gentleman in the South. yon know, can allow
such IN aifront 10 60 unayengtd. II Is stated
as an Interesting circumstance that Boatner is IA
large stout man which. If pistols should he used,
would be 10 his disadvantage. rs he would pre-
sent twice rs large 4 target as his adversary.
But the Major, who has already shown such
magnanimity in waving his claim rs a gentle
man TO refuse to meet Il liar. coward and scour-
drel. will doubtless contrve some way TO waive
as we'll the advantage he has on accoun, Of his
adyersary's obesity. This lie Nigh, do by pad
ding his own spare proportions, or by agreeing
that such Of his shots that take effect outside
tain well-deincd limits. marked on his adversary
to correspond 10 his own physical proportions.
shall not count.
The Tribune does not venture 10 inierpose any
suggestion OF disapproyal or criticism OF this
manifestation Of chivarous courage Oh the part
of these two Louisiana statesmen. II 1t is ap-
proved by the public opinion OF the ruling
classes. as Il appears to he, or II ii is generally
believed that political or social conditions in the
State will be improved by the elimination of one
or both Of these political leaders from their field
OF activity. nothing that we could say would pre-
vent its occurrence But after il is al over, and
one or the other. or both have been killed or have
escaped unharmed. and all the survivors who
have had anything 10 DO with the affair rs prn
cipals or accessories are fucitiyes from The State
whose laws they have deliberately violated with
malice aforeth0ught would really Ike to
know rs n matter OF curiosity precisely what