Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-19
pnelllng In Aouislann.

/
forced to keep hospitable pistol for
his personal and political opponents.
1t was the boast Of politicians that
their pistols wers as hospitable as their
tables to any gentleman who sought
satisfaction. That day has happily
passed away in this country.
Congressman Boatner and Editor
Hearsey of Louisiana, who have been
calling one another ugly and ungentle-
manly names and who are now in the
hands Of their "friends' according to
the old customs of the code duello, will
be regarded by the people in general
as pair of braggarts on exhibition as
blooming idiots. Is it possible that |
the folks down in Louisiana are 80 far
behind the ethical progress OF the
country that they are able to see some
thing of the heroic in the single COM
bat for which these gentlemen are max
Ing such ostentatious preparations? 1t
must be SO; for it is not to be supposed
that prominent Congressman and the
editor of a leading daily paper, would
make such fools of themselves if popu
lar sentiment in their environment did
not push them in that direction.
We may be sure that neither of them
desires to be killed, and it is highly
improbable that either of them really
desires TO kill the other. Both of them
have been hot-headed enough to use
insulting language and now they feel
that they must back up words with
bullets in order TO maintain a reputa-
tion for fighting courage. More than
likely, if the truthswere known, they
are both at bottom sorry for the words;
and if they fight duel and either or
both are shot they will be more sorry
for the bullets.
There is but one thing TO be said for
the dueling method of committing
murder. 1t is better way of doing it
than the street corner method of shoot
ing on sight, which has of late years
taken its place in the South. Under
the code, to which Congressman Boatner
and Editor Hearsey have resorted,
friends OF the principals have an oppor-
tunity 10 confer and possibly 10 find
way of avoiding armed conflict; and
the combatants have chance to make
their wills and to kiss their wives and
babies good-by. Shooting on sight
gives no opportunity for explanations
or compromises; often partakes of the
nature of an ambush; and frequently
kills innocent bystanders who have no
means of knowing when the murder is
TO begin.
The whole notion of settling personal
differences by personal violence is
wrong in principle and silly in practice.
Justice can not. be obtained in that
way; neither can u gentleman's honor
be thus maintained. Mr.. Boatner has
said that Mr.. Hearsey' of the New
Orleans States secured the city CON
tracts for printing by corruption and
that he is "strutting braggartr and
liar, Mr.. Hearsey has said that Mr..
Boatner is ga liar, coward and d
snoundrel". How can they elucidate the
situation by testing each others pisto
practice? Even il they kill each other,
it will prove nothing as to what ha,
been said, since neither has called il
question the workmanship of tile other
Colonel du Points lawyers rest mucl
OF their argument against Goveruo
Watson's right to vote in the joint As
sembly on the ground that executiv,
and legislative functions can not b.
united in the same person. This Is ii
one aspect curious proposition Il
urge before United States Senators
WHO themselves exercise both func
tions. They are Legislators and ye
they have hand in the purely execu
tive work Of filling the offices. Whe
they take up Presidential nomination
to consider the question of confrma
tion, they call it going into executiv
session" Moreover the President {
the United States, in whom the exeeu
tive power Of the nation mainly rests
has more legislative power than an
Senator or Congressman. His right I
veto a bill makes him almost anotht
house of Congress, for it takes a tive
thirds vote in both Of the houses
pass Legislation against his will. I'll
Governor of Delaware has no vel
power Consequently il our Constitr
tion should give him seat and vote
both Senate aud House Of Represent
tives, he would have loss power oy
legislation than the Governors have
the States where they arc given vet
The Delawarean truly says: "Tl
Democratic party Of this State is Il
aterably opposed to Mr.. Addicks ri
his aspirations. We believe there A
enough anti-Addiris Republicans
defaHt tho Republican marty in eve
county in the State If they viii a
in the restoration NJ the Democrat
party to power in Delaware they q
avert the danger Of Mr., Addicks'eect
to the Senate and rrevent his domin
tion Of the affairs Ok this State" c,
tainly a Democratic Legislature won
not for an instant ENCOURAGE Mr.. A
dicks Senatorial aspirations 1t v
be remembered that his money elect
a Republican Legislature last wear.
was not expended III the interest Of n
Democratic candidates for the Gene,
Assembly. A Democratic Leeislaf,
will eliminate Mr., Addcks rrom De
ware politics for years to come, p,s
bly, forever.
No one has ever deriod that N
Addlcks poured out his money to eli,