Ralph Zimmerman, David Starner, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team.
"When kings make war,
No law betwixt two sovereigns can decide,
But that of arms, where Fortune is the judge,
Soldiers the lawyers, and the Bar the field."
DEYDEN, Love Triumphant, Act I. Sc. 1.
MR. PRESIDENT,—I am to speak of the Duel between France andGermany, with its Lesson to Civilization. In calling the terriblewar now waging a Duel, I might content myself with classicalauthority, Duellum being a well-known Latin word for War.The historian Livy makes a Roman declare that affairs are to besettled "by a pure and pious duel"; [Footnote: "Puro pioqneduello."—Historie, Lib. I. cap. 32.] the dramatist Plautushas a character in one of his plays who obtains great riches "bythe duelling art," [Footnote: "Arte duellica."—Epidicus,Act. III. Sc. iv. 14.] meaning the art of war; and Horace, theexquisite master of language, hails the age of Augustus with theTemple of Janus closed and "free from duels," [Footnote: "Vacuumduellis."—Carmina, Lib, IV. xv. 8.] meaning at peace,—forthen only was that famous temple shut.
But no classical authority is needed for this designation. War, asconducted under International Law, between two organized nations,is in all respects a duel, according to the just signification ofthis word,—differing from that between two individuals only inthe number of combatants. The variance is of proportion merely,each nation being an individual who appeals to the sword asArbiter; and in each case the combat is subject to rulesconstituting a code by which the two parties are bound. For longyears before civilization prevailed, the code governing the duelbetween individuals was as fixed and minute as that which governsthe larger duel between nations, and the duel itself was simply amode of deciding questions between individuals. In presenting thiscomparison I expose myself to criticism only from those who havenot considered this interesting subject in the light of historyand of reason. The parallel is complete. Modern war is the duel ofthe Dark Ages, magnified, amplified, extended so as to embracenations; nor is it any less a duel because the combat is quickenedand sustained by the energies of self-defence, or because, when achampion falls and lies on the ground, he is brutally treated. Anauthentic instance illustrates such a duel; and I bring before youthe very pink of chivalry, the Chevalier Bayard, "the knightwithout fear and without reproach," who, after combat in a chosenfield, succeeded by a feint in driving his weapon four fingersdeep into the throat of his adversary, and then, rolling with him,gasping and struggling, on the ground, thrust his dagger into thenostrils of the fallen victim, exclaiming, "Surrender, or you area dead man!"—a speech which seemed superfluous; for the secondcried out, "He is dead already; you have conquered." Then didBayard, brightest among the Sons of War, drag his dead enemy fromthe field, crying, "Have I done enough?" [Footnote: La tresjoyeuse,plaisante et recreative Hystoire, composee par le Loyal Servite