National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-10
HON. EMORY spEER.
A Reply 90 the Recent Structures OF the
Atlanta "COnstItuiIOn."


The effort of Hon. Emory spcor, of Georgia, to
induce his colleague, Hon. Alex II. Stephens, to
become the candidate OF the Independents Of that
sato for governor caused the Atlanta Constitution
to print some structures on Mr.. Spoer, 10 which
that gentleman has replied in tho following
caustlc letter:
Editors Constitution.
hesitate to address you this letter. II would be
perhaps moro in accordance with the rules usual
among gentlemen TO Ignore publications which
you have Of late made with personal reference 70
inc. II is in some sort, however, proper that you
should be compelled to publish the reply 10 your
calumnies In the same medium through which
you gave them currency. Surely you dare not
supplement your defamation by cowardy refusing
TO publish this defonse Conyersant as ! nm with
the unspeakable littleness OF your conduct, am
fully prepared for even this last resource Of prost-
tuted Journalism. You say Of me, "and we are
perfectly willing to hear from him" Now, listen
to me. On May % you charged me with nisrep-
resenting Mr. Stephens and with using his name
without authority. In express terms you impute
to me an "lnsid!ous attempt to deceive and en-
trap" On the 18th OF May you say my words were
"MoRE THAN INsIDIous."
According to Mr.. stephens they were, you say,
" false In words and IN spirit" Ut is, you say
with well. fcigncd sincerity, "indoed difficult TO
The ndg1sop Sa.C Shch Is o barely vsca m
some Of them. They were all baseed on my open
telegram TO DR. Felton-on nothing else, for wrote
nothing else. Now. "mark how plain tale shall
put you down." Before me on my desk appended
10 an Associated Press dispatch, are few lines
over the well. known, historic signature of Alex
nndcr ii. Stephens. They read as follows: The
above is substantially true. Whnt Mr.. Speer telo-
grnphed TO Dr.. FELTON, was strictly true, though
nSSy n1 M 2 ss s rs mo EspS mind
this would seem conclusive. Tho evidence Is un-
doubted; tho signature Is genuine the witness is
your candidate for governor of Georgia, be II said
to your credit Where now nro the "insidious
words -" according to Mr.. Stephens y" fulse In
words and inspirit; and oh, where, " gentle shep.
restrained with diflculty" and Is barely veiled
In MT. stephens wordsT
YOUR EXPORTS TO PREJUDICE Mr.
in the minds Of the people whom represent Is
Deliberate Dnd most malicious, and yet your ex-
posurc here made is so complete, your nakedness,
as you now stand before tho eyes OF an amused
and contemptuous public, is 80 ludicrous that |
have not the heart to be mad with you. Let me
return, however, to Mr.. Stephens. What is IL that
he says substantially truo?" quote from the As:
told Mr.. Stephens TINT | would telegraph them TO
recommend him as the peoples candidate for
governor His secretary furnished me some = tele IL.
room, read 1t to him, and ut his suggestion altered
It in Two PARTICULARS" what's il that he says was
strictly truo2
THE RECITAL IN THE TELEGRAM
81 know positively he will not reject such recon-.
mendatiOn and that, If elected, he will be the
governor of all the people, without regard TO
party" The statement have now given Is suf.
iicient TO convince any condid mind that you have
grossly msrepresented what was patriotic and
honest action on my part. ] believed, and still
and most suitable candidate for governor OF
Georgia at this time Personally 1t did not concern
me more than any other citizen Of the State who
was to be tho governor. 1t did not affect my po.
litcal ASPIRATIONS l have been twice elected TO
Congress without assistance from the governor oi
Georgia.
BIT PATRIOTIC AND coMMESDADLB
that you should support Mr. Stephens, and insld-
iOus and trCacherous that should support him"
Is there patriotism in Georgia save in the dele.
gates to u convention" ! claim that have as
much interest in the State--in It's future, In Its
renOwn-as any other Georgian. have the same
right with others TO support candidate for gov
ernoT. My Independence leads me to advocate
the election Of him whom esteem the best Your
intolerance and spirit Of prescription impels you
10 mallgu mo because
DARE DE INDEPENDENT.
to support your candidate. Allow mo to admon-
ish you that paltry warfare on individuals, di-
rccted by ignoble motives, is never successful in
| those happy countries where the people are free
to act for themselves and for each other. Your OBJ.
| ject is to defeat my reelection You will inil
| You have not even discompOsed me, while you
| nre conioundcd. You have made many attempts
| in several ways, to injure me. You have failed In
ALL You will continue 10 fail us long as prejudice
and partisanship are your motives, and calumny
| your most potent weapon. EMORY SPEEk