Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-08

MACON, Ga. May 8, 1909
Editor Journal:
have read with great surprise the re-
port of Mr.. Terrelrs speech at Forsyth
Saturday.
The bitterness and recklessness attrib-
uted to Mr.. Terrell in this speech are so
unlike him that l assumed at once that
the report in these particulars was either
entirely Incorrect or grossly exaggerated,
but have regretfully learned that in
these particulars the report Of the speech
is true.
1 had received information Saturday
morning from a friend in Atlanta
through a letter, that the Southern Rail-
way company was having "a conference
Friday in that city for some purpose, with
some of Mr.. TerrelTs other political
friends, and / must presume that this
great change in Mr.. Terrell must be the
result of directions as 70 his future
course received from this conference.
OF course know that many newspa-
peTs unfriendly TO me have been accusing
me OF making personal attacks on Mr..
Terrell in my speeches, but l also know
that Mr.. Terrell knows that these accu-
sations are untrue and that have not
done so in a single instance.
/ now challenge every newspaper In
Georgia to quote correctly any word of
personal abuse or attack in which have
INDUCED in any of my speeches. do not
ask LOT their VI MAdl 4 nave
said; but 1 ask for what have said so
that the people may construe my language
for themselves.
Mr. Terrell claims that he has pitched
his campaign upon a higher plane than
one of personalities. and he even makes
this same claim in this particular speech.
And yet without any abuse or epithets
or personalities to resent, in his Forsyth
speech he repeatedly INDUCES in abuse,
epithets and personalities himself.
He has refused repeatedly to meet me
face to face in open, honorable public de-
bate putting his refusal on the ground that
in personalities between him and me. an
injury to the party would be the result.
And yet we have him now indulging In
those personalities towards me In my abb
sence after having refused me the priv
ilege of being present, although strange to
say one of his insinuations is that / am
a coward.
Is it true that this change of demanor
and of speech is the result of the con-
ference above referred to, or has II been
the program all the while that after the
newspapers had impressed the people with
the false idea that I was abusing Mr.. Ter
rell. he should be finally dashed into fury
and belabor me in my absence?
OF what else besides cowardice does Mr..
Terrell accuse me in his Forsyth speech?
Malicious falsehood, and this he does
repeatedly. I
OF instrumentation and SANDER
OF possessing the leading Characters
tics of the cuttle-fsh.
OF falsehood out of whole cloth.
OF dirty politics.
OF blackguardism and abuse.
OF hypocrisy.
OF revenge.
All of these accusations are repeated or
restated in different language. And yet
Mr.. Terrell says in the midst of all this:
at have no words OF abuse for those who
seek 10 wrong me-" / am happy thus to
find that his vocabulary Is deficient.
am afraid that. after all the wise
course pursued by Mr.. Terrell from such
patriotic motives and under such disinter-
ested advice from HIS friends in declining
a Joint debate, We will still have some per-
sonanties; but 1 assure my friends and
the public, that they shall not emanate
from any of my friends with my approval.
Facts and conditions plainly and fearless
ly stated are to my taste and more in
the interest Of the people.
1 must say, however, that I think Mr.
Terrell and his friends, after this failure
of their plan to avoid personalities, ought
to be willing now to try my plan Of public
joint debate.
In order to secure perfect decorum of
speech, Mr. Terrell can select one of the
best men in Georgia and I another. and
these two best men can select another, so
that we can have a tribunal of three of
the best men in Georgia to preside and on
their own motion TO rule out of order any
thing said by either speaker that is ad-
judged to be improper for any reason
whatever.
So far as the danger of any personal