Duelling in Germany.

Hastings Standard, Issue 217, 11 January 1897, Page 4

Duelling in Germany.

The Times comments as follows on the debate on duelling in the Reichstag. It is, however, only too clear from the speeches of the Imperial Chancellor and the Prussian Minister of War that no serious efforts to eradicate this disgraceful feature of German life are to be expected for the present on the part of the Government. This result may be deplored, and we doubt not that it will be widely deplored by enlightened and religious men both inside and outside Germany, but it cannot be described as unexpected. Ever since the debate on the interpellation of the Roman Catholic Centre last spring, it has been plain that the Imperial authorities either dared not or would not take effective measures to eradicate the evil. The speeches recently demonstrate that this is the case. All that Prince Hohenlohe could tell the Reichstag was that military regulations had been drawn up " with the view of reducing the number of duels to a minimum, if not with the object of entirely abolishing the custom," and that it is proposed to modify the constitution of the Courts of Honor in a way which " might be expected to exercise a wholesome influence" upon those who are not under the jurisdiction of military tribunals. These palliatives, such as they are, still await, it would seem, the judgment of a Commission of six officers and the Imperial sanction. If the expectations of the Government are not fulfilled they will " consider the question whether it may be advisable to render more stringent the existing laws for the punishment of duellists." If the Government really believe that a habit deeply ingrained in the minds of the military caste, and supported by the full force of its traditions, can be extirpated by measures such as these, they are singularly ignorant of the character of such bodies. If they are in earnest in their desire to put down the system, and are not afraid to carry out their purpose, the means to be employed are simple enough. Duelling is practised in defence of a fictitious honor. If a degrading punishment were attached to it, it would soon cease to be the first duty of an officer and a gentleman. When juries began to convict military duellists as felons in this country, and their convictions ruined their careers in the service, the custom speedily died out. There is nothing honorable in being hanged for murder, even

when it is a private murder regulated by professional etiquette, or in being imprisoned for manslaughter with vulgar thieves ami pickpockets. If such an innovation l oeins too drastic for a class which, after all, has been educated to regard'• private war" as a duty, a measure suggested by Ilerr Richter might bo adopted with good results. Lot the duellists be excluded from Court, and a palpable proof be thus given to them that the offence against the laws which they have committed is resented in the highest quarters.