The Nome nugget., 1928-07-28
OLDEST EDITOR IN AMERICA
 PASSES TO HIS REWARD

Ndptaiu "HildH AuIc, TUT ulOTc than fifty years editor of the Knox vile Journal, believed to be the oldest active editor in the country, died here yesterday following an operation for appendicitis.
 Captain Rule was born May 1O, 1899 and died July 26th. 1928.
 He was Republican and former officer in the Union Army. who for more than half century edited a newspaper in the Democratic South, and first attracted nationwide at tention in 1873, when he refused to fight a duel. characterizing such a method of settling disputes as 'heathenish' and "cowardly"
 Shortly after his newspaper had published a criticism of two insti- tutions of which Major Moses j.. Wicks, of Memphis. Tennessee, was the head, Captain Rule received an order to retract his statements. This he refused to do. but advised the major that the columns of his paper were open to any statement Wick might care to make.
 Whereupon Major Wick wrote Captain Rule to meet him at Dal- ton, Georgia. Instead of doing this. the captain on the date named in the note for the meeting pub lished in his paper letter he had sent to the major. This step gen. erallv is believed to have had a great influence on discrediting du- cling in the South.
 With such an affair I refuse to have any connection" he wrote "I recognize no heathenish so-call- ed code of honor. am opposed to duelling for the reason that it is contrary to the spirit of the en- frightened age in which we live, I am opposed to it because it is con trary to the laws of my country. the laws of humanity and the law of God.
 You might take my life or might take yours, and yet not sim gle feature of the publication com plained of would be changed by the results. If that publication were false, it would be false still; if it were true, it would remain true, hence nothing could be gained by either of us losing his life in the manner proposed.
 ''I do not propose to leave the country, but will continue to pur- sue my legitimate business going wherever and whenever that busi- ness calls me. While I do not rec ognize the so-called code of honor, I wish you to distinctly understand that I recognize the right of self defense. do not court. but on the contrary avoid, personal difficulties with my fellows, but when attacked I shall not hesitate to defend my self promptly and efficiently as nee essity may seem to require.
 You ask me to fight a duel for what? Because I made statements about you concerning the truth of which I can prove and the falsity of which you do not offer to show. I do not propose to pander the bar barous pretudices of depraved minds by setting myself up as a target to give you the opportunity of so-caled vindfcation in accordance with your ideas of honor and cou- rage. Words cannot express my contempt for such folly. It is not proof of courage. but of cowardice. It is not evidence of manliness. but of weak conception of hea- thenish and brutal customs. It is not the way to d fend a gentle mans honor. but 2 practice con- fession of his inability to defend it in the manner prescribed by an Christian public senti- msnt and the laws of civilized peo- p1e.'
 Wicks issued statement in which he said he left the editor to such a place in the public es- tenn or contempt as just and en- frightened people may consign him."
 The result was Captain Rule re- ceived letters from all sections O. the country commenting him. edi- tors of the nation upheld him. the