Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-20
AN ANTI-DUEL LEAGUE.
Interna tional Association Formed for
the Suppression Of Affairs Of Honor.

Ichurch and by the laws of the land,
but sanctioned in spite thereof 10y
usage, and regarded as indispensable
to the maintenance Of courtesy and
discipline in the relations of the upper
Glasses Of Continental Europe. appears
at length to be on the eve OF disip-
Ipearance from the code OF social
ethics. For within the last few weeks
there has sprung into existence an in
ternatiOnal league. which. cordially
endOrsed by the clergy of all denom-
nations, counts among its organizers
and promoters some of the grandest
mobiles and the most distinguished
officers of the countries where single
combat with swords. rapiers or pistols
has been regarded until NOW as rhe
only method of the settlement Of
differences between men of gentle
birth.
| In France. for instance. the moving
spirits of the league are Prince Louis
de Eroglie of the old ducal house ot
that name. who is an officer of the
amy; General de La Racque and the
Count du Bourg. while in Germany
and Austria the Catholic parties
which comprise in their ranks the
| fiHISt anu lliuStI
of the aristocracy. have taken up the
league With enthusiasm. In Belgium
members of the ducal houses Of croy
and Of Arenberg have joined the as
sociation. rs have also Il number Of
patricianS Of Rome. and Of other zig
| Italian cities.
Indeed, it is precisely those who by
| reason OF their rank and birth are in
| a position to WELD the greatest
| amount OF social influence who are
most active in the promotion of the
work of the league; and ii is this more
than anything else that seems destined
| to crown its efforts with success. ana
| to bring about the realization of the
object which ii has in view.
There are even several princes of
blood royal in it's ranks, prominent
among the number being the Infant
AlphonSo of Spain. one of the most
conspicuous figures and successful
generals of the last two Cariist wars.
and who is brother-in-law of :he
ArchduchcsS Marie Therese of Aus
tria. of Duke Charles Theodorc Of
Bavaria. of the hereditary Grand
Duke of Luxembourg and of the Duke
of Parma tBourbonD. Indeed Don
Alphonso has gone SO far as To write
4 letter TO the Prince de Broglie. in
which he congratulates the latter on
having assumed share in the direc-
ton Of the league in France. and in
the course of which he says:
1T is quite certain that the number
of those who in their hearts regard
the duel as absurd and inhuman. and
Oh, .,,,,1 l,.,l,
greater than that of those who think
that it possesses advantages. II is
only the lack of union among the for
-ner that has until now prevented
them from making their opinion felt
There are many young men who re-
gard dueling as a barbarous and sense
lass custom. and if they would only
I'll unite and stand up for their
opinions they would certainly in the
and prevail. Though I think that the
war which is being waged by England
n South Africa is unjust there is no
denying the fact that the English
stand i'll the van of civilization and
progress. In what war have officers
aver borne themselves more valiantly
than the English officers have done in
the war in the Transvaal? Yet these
same officers. who have faced death
with such wonderful coolness. scorn
the duel as unworthy Of the humanity
Of these days.
1t is no secret that these views Of
Don AlphonSo are shared by many
royal personages and mobiles who have
not as yet seen fit To join the league
Thus at the last meeting Of the an
nual congress of the German nobility.
or "Adelstag." ii was resolved after
an exhaustive discussion that ii should
no longer be considered as Il stigma ~
dishonor or as n cause of social ostra-
cism for a nobleman To refuse to fight
duel. if the grounds of his refusal
were honorable. and it was resolved to
organize courts Of honor. to which the
mobiles belonging to the "AdelStag"
might refer for regulation and settle
ment those differences ana lis
putes which until that time had bc.u
decided by means of the pistol or of
the sword
Both the Minister Of War at ST.
Petersburg. General Kuropotkin md
General Dragomiroff. the most popular
and influential commander of the
Russian army. who is entrusted With
the guardianship of the western from
tier of the NuScoVite Empire. have
lately presented to the car very
strongly Worded petition. urging him
tn abolish the system Of ducling among
| officers Of the Russian army as totally
upsuited to Russian conditions of life.
land 10 MuScoVitc uSageS Shortly
afterward General Dragomiroff in
remarkable letter published in the
military organ entitled the st. Peters
burg Raswedtchik did not hesitate to
declare that he infinitely preferred 10
see young officers settling their differ
cuces by means II their fists. When
the differences are trivial. than by
fighting full-fiedged duels which are
only saved from ridicule by verv
serious or fatal results.
This is an assertion which. coming from
the bravcst officer of III" Russian army
the Order of St George conferred solely
for exceptional feats of Valor in the field
will certainly commend itself 10 peoul. in
his country as sensible and sil"rtsman-
like The ideas of tn" minister Of war
and OF old General Dragomroff are likely
IT, prevail upon Emperor Nicholas. who
like his father. is strongly ;tvers. to thu,
entire system of duelinS, and who has
repeatedlN d."Iored alike in bubble and
private the frenut ncv of fatal tllleis