St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-12
PHELAN is FOOLISH.
The Tennessee Congressman Elk.
plains Ais Bad Break.

The Tennessee Congressman Elk.
plains Ais Bad Break.
WASHINGTON, April 11.-Representa-
tive Phelan has written card for pub
lication, in which. after history of the
origin of the trouble between himself
and Col. Fleming, he says: 1t struck
me when read Col. Fleming's letter to
the Memphis paper that he had one of
two ideas in his mind. Either that my
scrupulous poiteness was founded upon
fear of him, OF that he was determined
to force a 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 insult
ing and dishonest as the one for which
it is offered in apology" He says:
"You must pardon me for saying
that regard this latter note as but a
crafty DEVICE" etc. He says: II am
not so stupid as to be led by so shallow
an artifice into the acceptance of any
such pretended occurrence" AS soon
as l read this letter [ sent him a mes
sage, which, it seemed to me, his letter
was intended to provoke. | addressed
this personally to him. l expected q
reply which would be challenge to me
or enable me to send him challege, for
my message
Was Not Challenge,
Col. Fleming, however, held my mes
sage for two days and then published
it. From one who had seemed so anx-
ious to force ME to the wall did not ex-
pect the plea that heignored ''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 excuse for "the
code" than for anything else which
leads to violence OF personal injury.
But have never been able to see the
moral distinction between doing am
other malicious mischief forbidden by
the laws OF God and offering an eXpia-
ton forbidden also by the laws of man.
But l do regard its laws as purely con-
ventional and only binding on those
who voluntarily assume them. | have
the highest admiration for the moral
courage of the man whose whole life of
justice to others and. upright intercourse
with his fellow men juStifies him
in repudiating resort to viO-
lence. But when reputation of
the code is used as shield to
protect one who is anything but just to
others, and when the overbearing, the
malicious and the domineering, unex-
pectedly checked in the role of bully,
cry out against it, naturally imagine
that the fear of injury to the person and
the impulse of cowardice invest the So
called "code'' with degree of barbar-
ity which is convenient il not admira-
BILE. That | acted hastily in seading a
message designed to elicit challenge
to man
Who Ignores the Code
1 readily admit. But having been
warned to ''handle him carefully" l as
sumed that the bullying tone of his re-
fusal to accept hearty apology was the
result among other contingencies of
overweening personal courage. The
refusal to accept my apology on the
part of man whom l supposed to be
brave filled ME with ineXpreSsible hu-
initiation, at which | 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. He refers to the fact that de-
nunciatlon follows the refusal to accept
a challenge. l did not challenge him..
If had, and he had entered bis plea Of
contempt for the code, should certainly
do as do now. have accepted his esti-
mate of the code in the pending issue.
AS for posting" him, think that even
a desire TO press this ridiculous affair
would now not have justified this.
He has posted himself. am ready to
accept the verdict of those who reject
the ''code"that acted in manner that
was unjustifiable. But in view of the
bullying to which l was subjected, and
in view of the Scornful and insulting
refusal to accept an unequivocal and
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 palliation.