The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-12
PHELAN'S PARTING SHOT.
HE ADMITS THAT HE MADE HIM.
SELF RIDICULOUS.


Fleming Has Proven Himself a Cow
ard He Inferred That the Editor
Either Took Him For a Coward or
Wanted to Provoke Fight.
WASHINGTON, April 11.-Congressman
Phelan has furnished for publication a
statement of his difficulty with Col. Fleming
of Knoxville, in which he says: "Every
man is willing to bear the burden of his own
follies, but the most patient are restive
under the weight of those which are ficti-
tious. l could possibly bear having
it said that man in the
prime of life to whom had
sent hostile message was septuagenarian,
but to have it gravely said by papers of the
widest circulation that l had challenged a
man for harshly criticising book 1 had
written is indeed too much, even for the
most forbearing." To show how utterly
groundless this statement is Mr.. Phelan
describes the origin of the quarrel substan-
TALLY as has been published.
THOUGHT FLEMING WANTED TO FIGHT.
He then says that it struck him when he
read Editor Fleming's letter, written after
his, Mr.. Phelan's, letter of re,raction and
apology, that "Col. Fleming had one of two
IDEAS in his mind, either that my scrupulous
politeness was founded upon fear of him, or
that he was determined to force
difficulty. He spoke of my
apology as having all the Outward seeming
OF manly apology He says, however, that
read according to its true inwardness it is
quite as insulting and dishonest as the one
for which it is offered in apology. He
says, You must pardon me for say
lag that l regard this latter note
as but crafty device etc. He
says, 1 am rot so stupid as to be
led by so shallow an artifice into acceptance
OF any such pretended occurrence As soon
as read this letter | sent him the message
which, it seemed to me, his letter was in
ended to provoke. l addressed this per-
sonally to him. expected reply which
would be a challenge to me, or enable me to
send him a challenge, for my message was
not challenge. Col. Fleming, however,
held my message for two days and then
published it. From one who had seemed so
anxious to force me to the wall l did not
expect plea that he ignored the code
DON'T DEFEND THE CODE.
"Now, do not undertake TO defend the
so called code. Its barbarity is still an issue
between England and the entire continent of
Europe. frankly confess can find no more
exuse for the code than for anything
else which leads TO violence or personal in
jury. But l have never been able
to see the moral distinction be-
tween doing another malicious mischief
forbidden by the laws of God, and Offering
an explanation forbidden also by the laws
of man. Bat do regard its laws as purely
| conventional and only binding on those
who voluntarily assume them. I have the
highest admiration for the moral courage
| of a man whose whole life of Justice to
others aud upright intercourse with his
fellow men justify him in repudiating a
resort to violence.
CowARDICE IN REPUTATION.
"But when repudation of the code is
used as shield to protect one who is any.
thing but just to others, and when,
overbearing, malicious and domineering,
Unexpectedly checked in the role of bully,
cry out against it, | naturally imagine that
fear of injury to pers IN and the impulse of
cowardce invest the so-called code with
degree of barbarity which is convenient if
not admirable. That | acted hastily in
sending message designed to elicit chal-
lenge to a man who ignores the code readily
admit. But having been warned to handle
him carefully | assumed that the bully
ing tons of his refusal to accept hearty
apology, was the result, among other con-
tingencies, of overwhelming personal cour-
Nqge. The refusal to accept my apology on
the part of man whom | supposed to be
brave, mas filled me with an impressible
humiliation at which l now smile. Col.
Fleming in his answer says have made
myself ridiculous This is true, but then
did not know Col. Fleming as do now.
NOT A CHALLENGE.
"He refers to the fact that denunciation
follows q refusal to accept a challenge
did not challenge him. If had and he had
entered his plea of contempt for the code /
should certainly do as ] now do, anu have
accepted his estimate of the code in the
pending issue. AS for posting him, think
that even desire to press this ridiculous
affair ould not have justified this. He
has posted himself l am ready to
accept the verdict of those who reject the
code that | acted in a manner tnat was
unjustifsble. But in view of the bullying
to which | was subjected, and in view of
the scorpful and insulting refusal to accept
an unequivocal aud frank apology, think
| can safely leave to that portion of the
world which is brave, just and generous, to
say whether what did was without pallia-
tion. Certainly Col. Fleming's plea that he
would not fight duel put an end to all
controversy betWean us y