Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-03-17
The Pigmy and the Giant

the great debates on the acquisition VI
California and New Mexico as United
States territories, and for having taken,
against the wishes Of majority oil the
Southern members, 4 most prominent
part in opposition to such acquisition lie
was met with much adverse criticism.
Judge Cone. who was at the time one OF
the leading politicians of Georgia, was par
ticularly severe in his comments upon
Mr.. stephens action, and was reported
as having publicly denounced him as a
traitor TO the South.
Hardly had Mr.. Stephens reached MS
home when these and similar reports were
conveyed to him. At first he did not
credit them, but as one kind friend after
another informed him that Cone had
called him traitor, and advised, In the
true Southern spirit, that he owed it to
himself to demand what is called "satis-
faction" the fires Of pugnacity in his
nature, which are always smouldering,
Missed up, and he declared that II Judge
Cone would admit having called him
traitor to the South he ''would slap his
face" Not long after this he met the
Judge at ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS wing
gathering, and going up to him quietly
said:
Judge Cone, have been told thatyou,
for reasons Of your own, haye denounced
me as a traitor to the South, and l take
this opportunity Of asking you If such re-
ports are true"
mo, SIR" was Cones reply, "they are
not true"
81 am very glad to hear you say So"
said Mr.. Stephens cordially; and in the
same friendly tone continued: "Of course
do not desire to be in any way offensive
to you, Judge Cone, but in order that we
may have no further misunderstanding
through the Misrepresentation of others,
think it right to tell you that have said
would slap your face if you admitted
having used the language attributed to
you"
Upon this the Judge again disowned
having spoken unexpectedly Of Mr.. Ste
phens, and so for the time the affair end
ed. 1t was the subject of discussion all
over the State, however, and the general
verdict was that Judge Cone, n very pow
erful man by the way, had shown the
white feather to "Little Aleck Stephens"
In such community no public man rest
ing under such charge could hope either
for political preferment or popular re-
spect. Cone, Of course, knew this, and,
very much heated and annoyed by the
comments which were being made upon
him, wrote to Mr.. Stephens demanding
an immediate and public retraction Of the
threat. In reply Mr.. Stephens wrote
that the threat of slapping the Judges
face had been made contingent upon the
truth of reports regarding which he tMr.
Gomez had pronounced to be untrue, and
that such being the case there could be no
cause for offence or angry feeling on
either side. Unfortunately this letter
was never received by Juge Cone. Three
or four days after it was written, however,
he met Mr.. Ste phens on the piazza OF
hotel in Atlanta, and, disregarding that
gentleman's friendly greeting, said in
very offensive tone:
"Mr. Stephens, | demand that you make
an immediate retraction of your threats
regarding me-"
Sick and weak though he was, Alex
ander II. Stephens could allow no one to
speak to him in the fashion described.
Judge Cone was a very giant in size and
muscular development, yet the frail man
whom he addressed, with aggravating
roliteness and without hesitating mo-
ment, replied: pardon me, sir, have
already written you on that subject.
must decline to discuss it further"
cam to take this for your answer"
asked Cone, eXcitedly.
at is the only answer l have to give
YOU" was the calm reply.
"Then denounce you rs a miserable
little traitor" cried Cone, mad with ex-
element. The last words had hardly left
his lips when light cane, welded by the
quick hand of the man he had insulted,
left its red scar across his cheek.
Wild with pain and passion, without
uttering word, he drew keen-pointed
dirk knife and made one furious thrust at
his weak little adversary's heart. In
stantly as he did so, however, Stephens
seized stout umbrella which he held in
his left hand and interposed it as de-
fence and was able for a moment to hold
him at arms length. The knife fell short
of its mark. Once more it was thrust at
Stephens, cutting deep cash in his arm,
but reaching no vital point; eighteen
times it cut deep into his arms, breast and
body, but still he did not fall. Cone was
determined to finish his work. He threw
all his great weight against the umbrella,
which broke, and Stephens, half fainting,
fell upon his back. The giant Cone was
at his throat in moment; his head, by 3
grip of iron, was held against the floor;
the keen and bood-dripping knife was
held aloft before him, ready for the last,
fatal thrust; but still the poor, pale face
of the little hero was set and defiant-his
black eyes still flashed undauntedly.
"Retract, or l will cut your cursed
throatn Kissed Cone.
"Cut! I'll never retract!" gasped the
almost lifeless Stephens.
Like flash the knife came down. With
an almost superhuman effort the PROSTATE
man caught it in his right hand. Clean