The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-10-02
nnYANs Anusn oF mNIarEns
PHILADELPHIA Times

| w iNi anu RfhAlf Nv W ~ ht"h Nfllt
realized. after consultation with The
leaders at his national headquarters
that hls cause was utterly hopeless II
the Enst, and that both the West and
South were deserting his standard one
who accompanied him largely through.
out his journey reports him as having
left Washington looking ten years Older
than he did when he entered II, and
that since then he has exhibited n de.
gree Of bitterness and violence In hi,
hhrnngues that could cmanate only
from despair.
This was clearly developed at VII.
mingtOn on Monday last, when he
launched out In one Of the yilest TRADES
against the ministers OF the country In
discriminatory. because they have had
the courage. In many instances. to de-
clare for public and private honesty
and the maintenance Of public and pri-
vate credit. The Wilmington News thus
reports Mr.. Bryan's brutal assault upon
the ministers as n class delivered In
that city:
I'm his speech In the Auditorium last
evening. william J. Bryan. candidate
" OF the Populistic party for president.
made n brutal. oowardly and unwar-
'ranted attack upon the ministers OF
the United States as n class, His de-
"nunclation OF ministers Of the Gospel
was far more bitter and far more con-
"tcmptible than the most savage utter
"ances Of Robert G. Ingersoll. Mr.
Bryan said In effect hat more bitter
ness had been shown by ministers OF
the Gospel. as n class. against the ad-
"vOcates Of free silver than had been
shown by the politicians on the plat
form. and that II was not that they
had 40 much attacked free silver as
that they had shown their general dis
regard for the interests of the people.
He said the ministers were in league
with the monopollsts. that they lived
I'm ease. opulence and luxury. that
they were u~nacquainted with and had
mo regard for the condition and well
fare Of their flocks: that such a condi-
'tion was not one which ministers OF
the Gospel ought to occupy; that they
should be ready and anxious TO give
their fellow men a helping hand that
ministers should be made TO feel that
1T IA n part OF their duty TO share
the burdens OF the needy ones OF the
Congregation: hat they had. however.
mo regard for the condition OF their
people. thinking more and solely Of
their own comfort and condition; that
they were In their work for what they
get out Of Il. and that the ministers
made up a selfish class. and more
along that line too contemplate TO be
printed"
There were several ministers In the
audience who heard this vulgar TRADE
against the ministers OF. the country.
and among them was Rev. Francis b.
Short. pastor OF the Harrison Street
Episcopal Church OF Wilmington. who.
In a letter TO the Press, speaking Of
Bryan's speech, says:
His denunciation OF clergymen was
equally as uncalled for. uncharitable,
"%censorious and malicious as were the
most h|eathenish u~tterances OF Robert
"lngersoll. whom | heard speak in your
city on May %, in Walnut Street The
"ater.
MANY auditors have since expressed
their profound Indignation for this un-
''dignined attack upon the cloth. and
being an humble member OF that hon
''ored body OF men myself. | desire not
only TO enter a protest through your
local papers. but also TO ask my breth-
''ren from North TO South and from
East to West TO register their protest
in November next by voting for a man
who Is too high In thought and moral
''piety TO thus denouhce the greatest
aNANl III lANoNAN nus AAt fN1SN Ri CIV
the moral standard OF the
Such a speech, made by one who is a
candidate for the highest civil trust Of
the world, could not have been deliv-
cred by any other than one who is dis
tempered In mind and felt that his own
was Inevitable, 1t was mid
madness. even II he believed II,
thus to attack the great organized
OF our religion and our civiliza-
lion, for the pulpit confessedly gives
the highest standard OF effort in the
promotion. not only OF religion, but Of
he best civilization, and for the main
OF public and private integrity
and law and order.
II is not surprising that Rev. Mr.,
short, who heard the u~tterances of Mr.,
at Wilmington. appeals to his
brethren of every persuasion ito reg
their protest in November next,
~ voting for q man who is too high in
thought and moral piety to thus de
lounce the greatest factor in preserv-
ng the peace and elevating the moral
,tandard of the country"