Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-12
CONGRESSMAN PHELAN.
He Furnishes "a Statement Of His Diiicuiiy
with Colonel F1eming-What He says
LEY telecra oh 20 the Dispatch.l

WAsHIvGToN. April 11.-Congressman
Phean has furnished for publication
statement of his difficulty with Colonel
Fleming of Knoxville. in which he says
Every man IL willing 10 bear the burden OF bus
own folies. but tho most patient are rcstNe
under the weight OF those which are ncltlous'
could possibly bear having II said that MAJ
In the prime Of life 10 whom ] had sent hosuIe
message was septuagenariaD. But 70 nave IL
gravely said by papers Of tho widest circuialloh
that had challenged man for harshly cilli-
cisiug n book had written II indeed 100 Much
even for the most forbeerug. To show no"
utterly groundless this statement f., Mr. Phelan
describes tho origin OF tho quarrel substantially
az has been published. aud thon says ih@tit
struck him when ho read Colonel fleinlnRe
letter Writt9n after his Phelan'sj letter OF re-
traction and apology that Fleming haf ono "
two ideas in his mind, either that my scrupulots
politeness was founded upon Tear o, MN OF ti,1t
no was determined TO force dlulcuIlF. Ao
spoke 81 my apology "a having all me ohl"aIu
seeming OF a mGuiy apology. lie sbys, hOHcHei,
THAI, oad according to its true inwardnes-' u -
quite as insulting snd dishonest Us tho one Tor
which 10 Is offered in apology. lie says: - / GU
must pardon ne for saying mat Ie
gard this latter note "a tut Crazy
device eic.n lie says: d" am not go stupid a. 10
DO led by so shallow sn arlitce INTO inc accept
anre Of auy such pretended occurrence rs
soon as read this letter sent him tho message
which II seemed 20 me his letter was lnien1el 70
provoke. ] addressed this personally 10 him.
expected a reply which WOull DC "A tuhiltHSf W
meet or enable me 10 send him challenge. for
my message wes not a challenge. Fleming,
however held my message Tor Two Gays ana
then published ~. From one who hed seclneu
go m xlous ~ force me did not expect the plea
that he ignored 1.-The CODE Now, DO not
undertake 20 defend the so-called code. lts
barbarity is still Gu Issue between England ana
the entire continent " Europe. frankly con-
teas can flnd no more excuse for &" the code
than for ANYTHING else which leads 70 violence or
personal injury. But have never been able to
sec a moral distinction between DOING another n
malicious mischief forbidden by the laws Of God
and Offering an explanation forbidden also by
the laws OF man. DO REGARD Us laws u purely
conventional. and only binding ON thOso VINO
voluntarily assume them.
Ihave the Highest admiration FOR the moral
courage Of man whose whole life OF Justice t.
others and upright intercourse with his fellow
men Justify him In repudiGtng resort TO No-
lence. But when reputation OF the cOue 10
used as a shield 70 protect ono VINO IS anything
but iust to others, and when Oyerbearing. mali
cious, and dominecrine, UNEXPECTEDLY checked
in the rolo OF the bully, he cries out against H.
/ naturally imagine that fcnr OF injury 10 Tue
person nub an impulse Of cOwardice invest the
socaiIcd "coden with degree Of barbarity
which il convenient IL not admirable. mat
acted hastily I'm sending message dosl2hcd 70
elicit a CHALLENGE TO a man who ignores Inc cOde
| readily admit But having been warned 10
"bandle him carefully | assume that tho
bullvine tone Of his refusal 10 accept nearly
apology was tue result among otner cohuhgeh-
cics OF Overweening personal courage. Inc re-
fusal 10 accept my apology on the part OF q mah
,,hom supposed O. 10 bravo filed mo win IN
expressiblo humiliation, at which now smilc.
Colonel Fleming IN his answer Gays nave
made myself ridiculous. Inns - true. out theh
ana not know Colonel Fleming as DO now.
he refers 20 the fact that dcnunciaton follows
The refusal 70 accept challenge. din NOT
challenge MIN. II had and no hal entered his
rIes of contempt for the code should certainly
10 as now do-hsye accepted his estimate Of
the code In the pending issue. AZ Tor - post
ma him. thiuk that even desire 10 press
mis- ridiculous affair would not have JUSTIFIED
this. lie has posted himself. am ready to &C
cent the verdict OF those who reject the code that
I acted I'm a manner that was unJustihaDle. but
in view of The bullying 10 which was subjected,
and In Wow OF the scoFnful and insulting refusal
IN accent an unoQuiyocal and frank apology,
thtnE can safely leave 20 that portion OF the
world which Is brave, just, and generous 10 say
whether what did was without palliauon. Ger
tnInlv. Colonel Fleming plea that he would not
Tght a duel put an end 10 all controversy DO
tween US.