The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-13
THE PIGMy ASnss -,s'sss GI.sAg
Governor stephens Terrible Reneon-
tire with Judge Cone in 1s4s.
CINCINNATI Commercial Gazette }

During Mr. Stephcns's congressional
service, and pending the campaign of
1913, he returned from Washington to
Georgia He was fresh from the great
debates on the acquisition of California
and New Mexico MS United States Terri
tories, and for having taken, against the
wishes er a majority of the southern
members, most prominent part In oppo
sition to such acquisition, he was met
with much adverse criticism. Judge Cone,
who was at the time one of the leading
politicians of Georgia, was particularly
severe in his comments upon Mr..
Stephens action andwas reported as hav-
inc publicly denounced him as a traitor
to the south.
Hardly had Mr.. Stephens reached his
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 a traitor and advised, IN the
true southern spirit, that he owed 1T to
himself to demand what is called salts
faction" the fires of pugnacity in his
nature, which are always smouldering.
Kissed up. and he declared that if Judge
Cone would admit having called him 3
traitor to the south he would slap his
face" Not long after this he met the
Judge at a numerously attended Wing
gathering, and going up to him quietly
said:
Judge Conc, have been told that
you. for reasons of your own, have de-
nounced me as a traitor to the south, and
I take this opportunity of asking you if
such reports are true.
mo, sir, was Cones reply, they are
net true
Il am very glad to hear you say so,
said Mr.. Stephens, cordially; and in the
same friendly tone continued: fOf 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 0isowned
having spoken unexpectedly of Mr..
| Stephens, AMI so for the time the affair
ended. It was the subject of discussion
| all over the state, however, and the gen
eral verdict was that Judge Cone. a very
powerful man by the way. had shown the
white feather to Little Aleck Stephens. .
Tn such community no public mem rest
ing under such cllarasct Stiitt nope either
& for political pfctSFfiicbt VI pOptAssss =
& speet. Cone. Of course, knew this. and
very much heated and annoyed by the
comments which were being made upon
him. wrote 10 Mr.. Stephens demanding an
immediate and public retraction OF The
J threat. In reply Mr.. Stephens wrote that
The threat of sIapping the Judges face
had been male couiingentup upon the lfutI
of reports regarding which he Mr.. Gomez
! had pronounced To be untrue, and tha'
! such being the case there could ne ha
: cause for offcnse or angry 1eeiing ol
{ either side. Unfortunately this letter was
never received by Judge Cone Three OF
I four days after it was written, however
' he met MIR. Stephens on the piazza oil 9
I hotel in Atlanta, and eisregardlng thai
7 gentleman's friendly greeting. said IN q
5 very offensive tone:
o Mr. Stephens. Idemand that You make
: an immediate retraction Of your threats
i regarding me. 2"
Z. Sick and weak though he was. Alexan
q der Ii Stephens could allow no one tt
4 speak To him in the fashion described
r Judge Cone was q very giant in size ane
u .ARselllaE dove opement yet the frali man