Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
YEARS AGO
In Tub STAR

During the ante-beilum days the argu-
nents. for and against slavery often
struck the note of prophe
fess1mtstic cy. The aboiitionists sought
Prophecy. to set forth what would
happen IL the institution
were continued. On the other hand, the
pro-slavery prophets painted the effects of
emancipation In the Gloom,est colors. In
The Star of January a5. 1858. is reprinted
from the New York Herald an editorial OF
this character. which reads stra NICELY now
in the light of the abundant prosperity OF
the south: 4
If we emancipate and emigra ta'-it
will be noted that this assumed the diSap-
pearance of the blacks from the North
American continent-'the four millions Of
and tobacco In this country. we strike
deadly blow al our national prosperity,
and through that at cur political sisnin-
canee. Take away these three staples
from our industrial production and for
eign commerce and what do We become?
Nothing but wheat and iron producing
community. with the same character and
resources az the nations OF northern Eu-
rope, and fitted only to enter into competi-
ton with them for the trade of those
articles that We now bear the palm in.
The textile industry OF New England
must be abandoned or go abroad. COM
peting with other nations for its mate
rial: the vast shipping interest We now
possess must seek Its remuneration in
other ports than our own: the grain and
meat producing west. deprived of the mar
kets now afforded by the south. must de-
pend upon failure of the crops and a
famine in Europe to dispose of it's SUPER
q 1,y,6o hr.or Of fann indr CT
would participate largely in the ruin and
decay of the south. and we should be re-
duced to the condition Of third or fourth
rate power in the balance Of the world"
The code duello was dying hard In 1853,
II being somewhat under the ban in many
OF the American states Of
Out OF the border land between
tn. Tod. north and south. Such
challenges as that issued by
Editor Ridgway OF the Richmond Whis to
Mr.. o. j. Wise. son of Gov. Wise, as a re-
suit Of a personal encounter undoubtedly
had much to do with causing the public to
regard the duel with dsfavor. This il
what Mr.. Ridgway proposed, as set forth
in The Star of January %. 1865:
II propose that YOU and I selact only
one friend each. and with one pair OF pis-
tolls We shall all meet In either your Of
flee Or mine at an hour to be herea fter
designated; that after thus meeting and
the door being locked YOU and l shall be
securely blindfolded; that then the sec
Onds shall load one Of the pistols and leave
the other unlOaded: that thsy shall next
determine by lot the choice Of pistols; that
the pistois shall then be handed TO us, and
that yours shall be placed directly against
my breast and mine against yours: that.
next and finally. at the giving OF the word
we shall both pull trigger and let the con-
saouences take care OF themselves
Mr. Wise rejected this proposition az be-
place himself in the position of possibly
using a deadly weapon against an I'M
armed man. Thereupon Mr.. Ridgway re-
torted that Mr.. Wise had begun by plac-
ing himself outside Of the code and that
he was not entitled to any recognition UNI
der 1t. concluding: Il have therefore SUBJ
mitted to you a proposition outside of it,
which YOU are at liberty to accept or not,
as suits YOU.
A Hoosier American minister at the Ber-
lin court was providing both Europe and
America much amusement
Minister half a century ago. owing
w,;cb+ to the refusal Of our diplo-
matte representative to do
as the Romans do Being stout be-
lever in Temperance" Minister Wright
sorely offended by his insistence upon his
principles even in his official entertain
ments. He gave, according to an article
printed in The Star Of January %. 1855.
dinner attended by numerous Prussian
notables. "a handsome and costly en-
tertalnment so far az the eatables
roIo f,Nt
tie of wine On the ablea thing
unheard of previously in Europe In
diplomatic society. Whereupon," The
Stars account of the incident proceeds.
the press rated him severely for being a
boor. The truth is. the worthy governor
was educated in a school of manners quite
different from that which has prevailed
for centuries among well-bred people In
Europe-in the New England school. as
transplanted to our northwest. Accord
ing to that school it is every mans right
TO supervise and direct the manners and
morals OF everybody else In this matter
the governor is simply attending to Bun
the tastes and ideas Of
propristy of his people in Indiana, with
which it is of more Importance that he
Shall square the record OF his dinner par
ties in Europe than with the tastes and
manners and customs OF his guests on
such occasions.
The following paragraph printed in The
Star of January %. 1858. may serve to
illustrate the compare tive
Careless freedom with which the
rs. reckless roysterers Of that
period played with deadly
wea pons and the lack of means of coping
with the evil of dangerous pranking in
public:
Last evening a young buster of Bal
tmorean went to Browns Hotel and de-
manded room. and on being refused UNI
dertook 10 enforce his demand in true
Baltimore style by drawing a knife with
an eighteen-inch blade and threatening to
use It, He was promptly kicked out Of
the hotel and was seen no more on the
premises Today he has been seen on the
avenue displaying a revolver in addition