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102 PROBLEMS CONFRONTING RUSSIA
landowners had to prove their courage in order to maintain
themselves on their estates, it was rather strange to see that
notorious duellists, who were always ready to make a show of
their alleged courage, were the first to desert their estates
and to seek safety in flight. It can hardly be considered as a
fair test of courage to fight under moral compulsion exercised
by perverted public opinion on the combatants.
But the surest sign that the duel is a relic of the past can be
traced in the anti-democratic spirit which underlies it. A
democracy like Great Britain or the United States could not
tolerate it. Democracy means that every honest man has
the same sense of honour irrespective of his walk in life.
The English meaning of the world " gentleman " is an
honourable man commanding respect in all classes of society.
The term can apply whether he be a duke or a small merchant.
Following this train of thought, " honour " means nothing
else than the esteem assured to any man who has descent
manners, is honourable in his business dealings, and is a
useful member of society. According, therefore, to the
democratic ideal, the conception of honour applies to all
classes alike. Duelling stands in open contradiction to this
conception. Amongst the lower classes there has never
been a question of duelling, owing to the fact that this
practice has its origin in the feudal idea of chivalry. In the
year 501, Gondebald, King of the Burgundians, passed a law
authorising trial by judicial combat, and from there this
custom spread to every country of Europe. The judicial
duel is the direct parent of the modern duel.
Of course only freeman could fight. The underlying idea
was that he who was in the right had special help from God,
and must therefore be the victor. The right to fight out
quairels by arms was also derived from the idea of the
feudal State, where the central Government had a
comparatively small part in regulating the affairs of the State.
The settling of differences was thus left in the hands of the
individual, owing to the weakness of the central power and
prevailing superstition.
Fighting duels has been, as already said, the privilege of
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