Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-23
FLEMING ANNOUNCES
HIMSELF FOR
REELECTION

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2O--COngressman
w. H. Fleming has announced his candi-
dacy for the 5Sth congress from the Tenth
district of Georgia. In his announcement
he takes occasion to reply in a warm vein
to the statements of Hon. T. w. Hard
wick, who announced as a candidate
against Mr.. Fleming last week.
He pays particular attention to Mr..
Hardwick's platform, wherein that candi-
date declares his intention. If elected, to
have the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments to the United States constitution
repealed, a proposition which Mr.. Flem-
ing characterizes as absurd
1T is true Mr.. Hardwick speaks with
much confidence of his ability to work
this political miracle he says, but we
must remember that there are two kinds
of condolences. One kind springs from
knowledge, the other from a lack Of
knowledge.
Now we see him running from a bat
tie field chosen by himself is another ex-
preston the congressman hands out to
his opponent. His announcement is filled
With interesting comparisons. 1t is in part
as follows. After declaring himself a can
didate subject to the white primary, he
says:
1t is a matter Of some qualification to
me that after a service of nearly five
years in congress, during which time /
nave taken an active part IN the ulSCuS-
sion of most of the public questions that
have arisen, my opponent, Hon. T. w.
Hardwick, so far as appears from his
address" has found no political fault in
me- and has raised no issue on my record
which has been open to. all my constitu-
ents. os.o.
In the course Of his address, he de-
clares himself openly on various and sun
dry matters, but he observes a strange ST.
Il, of
ly. the money question. Upon that he
seems to have no opinions that he is will
ing to avow. sae s
The substance OF Mr.. Hardwick's, adj
Dress when boiled down to a practical
working basis IS that he asks you to
withdraw your support from me and give
it to him on two grounds; first, rotation
in Office. and second, his promise to I'M
dertake the task of repeating the four
tenth and fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution of the United States.
1. His contention that frequent rotation
of Congressman is necessary to properly
| safeguard the best interests of the people
is a crude misapplieation of a half-truths
Does anyone believe that Mr.. Stephens
| twenty-four years service-sixteen before
| the war and eight after-endangered the
best interests of the people? Have the in
terests of the people been injured by the
| long terms of service of Blount and Crisp
and Lester and Livingston and Maddox
q Mr. Hardwick says If elected he ex-
poets to devote every energy of his nature
to the repeal of the fourteenth and If
| teenth amendments to the constitution,
and on that promise he asks your votes.
AS the result of the civil war. three
| amendments-the thirteenth. the four
teenth and the fifteenth-were engrafted
on the constitution. Briefly stated the
| thirteenth amendment prohibited slavery,
and the fifteenth amendment probit-
ed the denial of the right of the
ballot to our former slaves. The four
teenth amendment was more comprehen-
| sive. 1t comprised five seperate articles,
only two of which are pertinent to this
] discussion, namely, the first and second.
| The first article conferred federal, as well
as state citizenship upon all persons born
or naturalized in the United States, thus
embra cling the negroes, and also guar
anteed to all such citizens, liberty and
property, and the equal protection of the
| laws. The seconu article provided for
| reduction in congressional representation
in case of denial of the right to vote
to any male persons over twenty-one years
of age, etc.
Now, Mr. Hardwick proposes to repeal
| the fourteenth as we'll as the fifteenth
| amendment and thus to take away from
! the negroes not only the guaranty of the
| right to vote but of the right to even be
citizens, Of the right of life, liberty and
| property, and of the right to the equal
protection of the laws.
Surely there are out few men in the
tenth district who will lend themselves
to an endorsement of so absurd a propo-
/ stion.
Many men. myself among the number,
| believe that the enactment of the fifteenth
| amendment was a fearful mistake, and
| some believe that mistake might still be
| wisely corrected But l have yet to meet
| a man in public life who advocates the
| repeal of the fourteenth amendment, while
| all well-informed persons admit the prac-
| tical impossibility of repeating either the
| fourteenth or the fifteenth amendment.
The white people of our state believe
/ in white supremacy. We have IL now and
we will maintain IT,
| Nothing could be more unfortunate for
! the Democratic party of Georgia and the
south, and nothing more opportune for
| the Republican party, than for this wild
| scheme to repeal the fourteenth and fif-
4 teenth amendments to be tolerated by
| our people. Our party frienus. north and
/ west would not and could not uphold us
| in so re-actionary a course. Conservative
| men in our own state would leave us and
seek political affiliations under leadership
| that possesses more of the wisdom OF
| common sense.