New-York tribune., 1901-04-07

resident of the Reading.
duelling declaring that he fully shared the views
Of the deputation on the subject. and that he
was determined TO do everything in his power to
bring about the suppression of the practice
GERMANY'S EMPEROR VEERS.
Emperor William. who in the early part of his
reign not only encouraged the custom. but actu-
ally went 10 the length OF writing and publish
ing under an assumed name pamphlet in which
he endeavorcd to show by ingenious quotations
from the Bible that duellng was an institution
that had received divine sanction has veered
round 10 the other extreme in more recent years
Not only has he issued most peremptory edct
against duelling in the army. but he has taken
good care TO have II obeyed with the result that
during the last year only four duels all told
have taken place in the German army, only one
OF which resulted in bloodshed. When il was
brought 10 his notice the other day that the
military authorities at Cologne had rejected the
application for commissions of three young no
blemen because in reply 10 inquiries put 10
them they had expressed their objection TO the
practice of duellng. he at once cancelled the
decision of the board. inflicted a startlingly
we're reprimand upon its members and then him
self presented commissions to the three young
men who in answer TO searching inquisitons on
Catholics they could not express their approval
OF a practice so strictly forbidden by their
Church
1t Will doubtless excite surprise when l say
that there are few people in France who
more strongly opposed to duelling than Paul de
Cassagnac universally regarded as a past mas
ter in the art and one Of the few men who can
boast that the encounters IN which he has fig
ured have never become a cause for ridicule
either at home or abroad, having been almost
invariably attended with serious results. In
deed, 1t because of the tragic ending of
several OF these hostile meetings that he ulti-
mately retired from the field for good and ALL
declaring that he would never fight again. and
taking the ground that with the number of
dues which he had to his record could
ever attribute his refusing to accept cartel to
lack of courage. To-day there is no more ardent
advocate than he in the Chamber of Deputies of
legislative action tending to increase the pen
alties prescribed for duelling, and providing for
the strict enforcement of the laws that al
ready in existence on the subject. In this he is
supported by his political antagonist and former
adversary on the field of honor Henri Rochefort
PRESENT LAWS NOT ENFORCED.
are laws against duelling in France.
yney are inefficient and inadequate and it
cannot be said that they are ever enforced.
While it is perfectly true that the survivor in a
rested, as are also the seconds who have
ranged the encounter, yet there is no record of
their ever having been punished, the criminal
court invariably acquitting them of all guilt as
soon as ii Is shown that the entire proceedings
had been conducted in correct and honorable
manner" 1t may possibly be remembered that
the late Marquis de MOres. who spent so much
time in this country cattle ranching in the West.
and who married to the daughter of we'll
known New York banker. killed a Captain
Meyer of the French army, in duel fought
near Paris. The Marquis was arrested, but was
soon afterward released and acquitted by the
tribunals of all wrongdoing, and suffered no
kind of punishment.
There has been until now only one drawback
TO the system of duelling in France, and it is
necessary to draw attention to that since it
serves to explain why many duels in France
result either in the most trifiing injuries or in
no bloodshed at all. The fact of the matter ia
that the duellist who is unfortunate enough TO
Kill his adversary inflict a fatal injury is
liable to be mucted in heavy damages by the
family of the victim. Thus there is the case of
the duel between Nj. Assen and NJ. de Saint
Victor The latter was killed. Nine. de Saint
Victor thereupon instituted, criminal but
civil proceedings against NJ. Asselin and OBJ
tained from the courts a verdict of 100000
francs, which he was forced TO pay. Thanks to
this condition Of affairs the thing which the
French duellist breads next to getting killed
himself is the killing of his adversary. He even
fears to infiict any serious injury upon his foe
lest 1t should perchance have fatal result; and
pecuniary considerations more than any other
are the reason why the French duellist shoots
wide of the mark and stays his arm when he
feels the point of his sword against his adyer-
sarys BODY. 1t rs an expensive amusement to
Kill man whose family sets value upon him |
after death and insists upon being indemnif1ed |
Tor his loss EX-ATXACHE.