Evening journal., 1896-09-23
PAsTOR sHoRT.s nuTY.

The letter OF Rev. Francis Burgette
Short, printed in another column, takes
mp considerable space, but says nothing
that is especially worthy OF editorial
comment. II is what it does not say
that shows his youthful eagerness for
cheap and unstable notoriety. There is
not word Of apology to Hon. William
J. Bryan for the gross misrepresenta-
tion to which he was subjected by a
partisan paper and a young man OF the
cloth; not a word of argument ad-
vanced to prove that Mr.. Bryan made
q brutal, outrageous and unwarranted
attack upon ministers of the gospel as
class; no word Of reiteration or con
tritition, but merely a verbose con-
fession that a minister Of the Methodist
Episcopal Conference, holding a salar-
led position as pastor OF Harrison
Street Church. in the city OF Whining
ton, has, because OF his personal
friendship for John H. Honecker and
Jonathan S. Willis, become part and
parcel OF the Addicks conspiracy to
corrupt the electorate Of Delaware and
buy the political control OF the state.
1t is a shameful confession, but we
have 1t from his own hand and in docu-
mentary form.
We do not wonder that Mr.. Short
does not desire to enter into news
paper controversy. We are glad that
he has the good taste to make his con-
fession and then let the matter drop
But the public is not so prone to lose
sight OF a young minister who so far
forgets his sacred calling and the du-
ties which he owes to those who hire
his services at so much a year. Does
he contend that he feels il his duty to
work for the advancement Of
the kingdom OF God on Sundays and
for the advancement of the political in
terests of John Edward Addicks on
weekdays? If so his parishioners had
better order a reconstruction OF his
salary schedule and hire him by the
day, for they would save money by so
doing.
Does Mr.. Short regard his work in
behalf OF the most gigantic system OF
political corruption that ever cursed
Delaware or any other state advocacy
of a moral issue? If he does, has he
any argument to advance in support OF
his position? We are anxious to see
just what he can say in the nature OF
self defence.
In his ministerial calling Mr.. Short
has been so industrious in chasing tn,
devil around the stump that he carries
this faculty into his outside work HI
declares that he did not address an
Addicks meeting. but G. A. R. meet
ing. We want to ask him If the meet
ing that he addressed was not held il
the room OF the Union Republican
Club; whether it was not held unde
the direct auspices of the Addick
party, and whether the Organization
as an organization, is not pledged u
the support of Addicksism? Don
chase the devil around the stump. bu
come right out and give answer in tn
affirmative or negative. We challeng
him to come out over his own sigma
ture or in an authentic interview an
deny that Addicksism is back of thu
G. A. r. movement. as he calls it. A
a matter Of fact, it is not a G. A.
movement, for the G. A. R. is not
politics as a body. The organizatio
which he addressed is con
posed of old soldiers and sal
ors, who are in this figi
for the benefit OF Addicks and in a
endeavor to wean the old soldier vol
away from the regular Republican
who have always. in the main, had i
support.
II Mr.. Short is going to preach Il
gospel and minister to the spiritui
and material wants of the congreg'
tion belonging to Harrison Street M.
Church, he should do it. for he is pa
to do 80. The regular Republicans al