New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19
TIE FOOL DUELLISTS.


which neil deliberately commit the highest crime
known to the law? Is there any dishonor IN
obcvinC the letter OF the statute law! Any nis-
honor in refusing to violate 1t, no matter wnat
NAV be the provocation! Indeed. what can ne
more dishonorable from every point OF vicw'
than for the citizen-who, ms n member OF inc
body polite. has had his part In the enactment
of laws upon which he is himself dependent Tor
the protection OF his own lfe-to rcpudiate MS
obligation to the community and set about. NOT
In tbc momcntary madness Of infamed passions
but with debcration and careful preparation
to take the life Of n fcllowcitizen!
What IS il to be a "gentleman"? Is II TO be
of the euucstron rank or the chivalry. and 10
enjoy. as the words imply. the distinction OF
riding horse over common pedestrians: Is II
to y, tr,cnlent. passionate, selfassertlvc and
sclf-worshipful sensitive TO Sights ana eager 10
resent them. greedy Of hattery ana infolcraht
OF crltic IN. reader 10 shed blood ana take IKE
in anger. than 10 exercise patience ana wait
for passion TO cool. Insistcnt upon rights ana
oblivio,s of duties? Is Il this To be gentle
man? or Is II TO bc. what 10 the simplest ntclll-
gence the name implics-nay. what. without r.
sort 10 implication. II absolutely means upon
It's face and can mem no oiher-a gen'i" man
Does not the poet set out his full proportions
when he speaks Of the best of men who Ger
wore earth about him" as "a soft meek. pa
tent humble. tranquil spirit. and the hrs'
true gentleman that ever brcaihc'! How FAR
away from this characterization the poor fools
who ostcnfatlonsly defend their honor by dis
honorable violation If law. and undertake with
public demonstration 70 vlndlcatc by ungenil"-
mes. and b,oodihIrstness ihelr claim 10 The
grand old name OF gentleman.
What can be said then. of these German
duellsis. who are killing each other OF with 50
much zeal under Imperial favor. but that they
arc feather headed fools ouiragnc all law and
committing deliberate murder with the cncour.
agenent Of a half!mbccie and half mad En-
p.rorf These things are taking place and rX
citing worldwide comment In In" closing years
Of the nineteenth century and In n country call
ing itself Christian calling Itself by the name
OF that soft. meek. patient. tranquil spirit the
first true gentleman that ever breathcd." Was
there ever such bald fravcsty ever sIch per
version OF human reason aud common sens.
such nnunilng lawlcssrcss such bedecking and
bcdzcnirg Of the hcartlcss crime 81 cold -bloodol
murder, Le' Tx be understood II l. not the
circumstance that the generation ~ feather
headed fools in whose thin Intelligence nothing
Of fcudallsm has survived but It's self-asscrton
and brutality are killing each other OF tha'
shocks or dis,urbs anybody. The civilized world
cannot afford 10 waste time or sympathy over
the sclf-destrucion OF an absolutely useless
class Of feeders and breeders and fighters. The
sooner they eliminate themselves the better foT
the promotion Of higher civilization ana the
genera: good OF the race. But that the ruler
~ a eiyi11ed rattop In this century OF cullgnten
mcnt and progress should lend his coun,enancs
and favor to code and practice which subver'
reason and common-sensc and turn back the
nineteenth century to the Middle Ages Is al
once shameful and shocking