The Washington times., 1905-11-08
Honor at the Academy.


The death of Aidshipman James
r. Branch. at the Naval Academy,
yesterday. as the result of a fist duel
with a fellow-cadet, directs public
attention to a vicious system-a "code
of honor" based upon a faulty and
drawing injustice. unhappiness, and.
as in this case, even death in its
train.
The poor lad who dealt the blow
that caused young Branch's death is
not altogether responsible. He was
but a link in the chain of necessity,
forged of false conception, which now
presents this evil coil. Already he
has begun the payment of the penalty
for his share in the unfortunate hap
pening-a carking remorse that even
time. the gentlest comforter of them
all, shall scarce serve to assuage.
AS yet facts are few and meager. 1t
is known Branch and Merriwether,
the one a member of the second class
at the Academy, and the other of the
/ third, stood in an attitude toward
each other which, under the code,
/ demanded an adjustment by fistiC
/ combat. Which was TO blame does
not appear. It is quite possible one
of them had nothing to do with the
original trouble, but was selected by
his class to supply an antagonist foI
the other, Of appropriate physica
prowess. The boys met and fought
and in the twenty-third round Brancf
was feIled to the floor, receiving al
injury which resulted in death.
The Times protests against the
whole foolish theory That an in
jury done a man can be healed b.
that persons submitting himself L
chances of physical hurt at the hand
Of the Insulter-that his violated
honor can be made whole in any sucl
futile fashion-has long been an ex
ploded notion in this country. Tha
the process of healing can be effect
ed by proxy-by substituting a thir
= / person for one of the principals il
the original difference-is an absurd
, ity so patent it would provok
laughter, If it did not sometimes in
cite to tears.
: This is not to argue a policy c
. non-resistance. The man who !
wronged should avenge the wrong
and quickly. Neither law nor moral
? ity requires tame submission to in
: suit. The plan may avail in Utopi;
= but in this age and cline it rears
I race of bullies and bravoes on tn
- one hand and towards and ine1
- clients on the other. Certainly il wi
= not suffice in the training Of yOun
= officers for the trade of war. Le
e them right their wrongs when the
S are inflicted.
e It is the system-the foolish, child
{ ish. wicked code-that should /
: crushed. A prize fight, under tn
i rules of the ring, is not the way I
v settle differences between gentle
l. men. The man who has been firl
e insulted and then thrashed will n,
e find the situation pleasant Yet tn;
is the outcome, in five cases of ten
And that is the condition born
the code, to which the unhappy deaf
Of Midshipman Branch has directe
y the eyes Of the nation. It is fortuna
d a man like Secretary Bonaparte. WI
l. holds his own honor dear and
4 whom an inviOlate self-respect is
d the breath OF his nosuils, is the pc
: sonality by whom the inevitable il
l. vestigatiOn must be made. It is NJ
e too much to hope this tragedy wi
eventuate in cleaner and saner COZ
It ceptious, at the Naval Academy.
l. what manly honor is and what
Il really requires