Evening journal., 1898-04-19
nRorHER HoUsroN,s MUSE.

Robert G. Houston, of Georgetown, Is
the man who defeated Hon. Jonathan
S. Willis for reelection to Congress.
He once made speech in the Auditor
ium in this city, which Mr.. Willis
doubtless cherishes as one OF the most
valuable contributions to his scrap
book. At the present time Brother
Houston Is practicing law, editing the
Sussex Republican and counting the
muses.. II the fruits OF his labors In
this latter respect are to be accepted as
a guage OF his attentions to the god
desses OF poesy he must be sitting up
with them every night until an ex-
tremely late hour.
Brother Willis occasionally indulges
in poetry, but not for practical pur-
poses. Brother Houston has discover
ed that poetry has hidden within II a
political power, and that power has
been invoked. He has done well. He
has grasped and utilized harmonizing
agency which his contemporaries in
Delaware politics have utterly ignored
It is a clever piece OF work, and de-
serving OF unbounded praise. II cam
not fail TO have some effect in an age
like this when the world grasps eagerly
at innovations in anything. He starts
out by saying:
Could we but draw the curtains
That surround each others lives,
See the marked heart and spirit,
Know what spur the action gives,
Often we should find it better,
Purer than we judge we should;
We should love each other better
II we only understood
This is one Of the frankest admis-
sions which Brother Houston has made
since his never-to-be-forgotten speech
in the Auditorium. It is evident that
he has no faith whatever in the ex-
ternal appearance OF things. He wants
to get behind the scenes and secure
definite information relative to the Ad-
dicks cardla and it's motive power. He
does not accept the public belief that
the motive power OF Addicksism Is $40
a head, in advance. He believes that
thereis q spur ofsome sort used, and that
it is better and purer than generally
supposed He mas an abiding faith
that, II Chairman Alice will only let
him in on the inside and see for him
self just what is going on. he and tn
Addicksltes will love each othel
more by reason OF the bet
ter understanding incident I,
closer acquaintance with the Addickl
men and their methods We have
shared in the popular supposition tina
the regular Republicans and Addicks
ties knew all about each other tina
they really cared to know, but Brothe
Houston gives voice to an inqulsltive
ness not generally supposed to exist.
The second poetic step taken b!
Brother Houston indicates that he ha
come to the conclusion that Addicks
ism is bad, but that Addicks may be
pretty good sort OF fellow, after all
II the following does not indicate a de
sire on the part OF the regular Repuhli
can leader to overlook the past an,
come to terms with the gas man, ther
is no merit in poetic expression, an,
Brother Houston has mistaken liar
license for poetic license and used al
he found in the vial:
Could we Judge all deeds by motives,
See the good and bad within,
Often we should love the sinner,
All the while we lOathe the sin;
Could we know the powers working
To o'erthrow integrity.
We should judge each others errors
With more patient charity.
Mr.. Houston's words mean that /
could love Addicks without loving h
political system; and that II the AZ
dicks people would but take him MOI
into their confidence and give him a
inkling OF the motives which inspii
their deeds he might be able to see thu
the end justified the means. He al
pears to be in ignorance of the powel
which are working to overthrow re,
ular Republican integrity, and su.
gests an experience meeting behinO Il
scenes so that he can receive enligh
eminent and then become a party to
conference in retrospect relative to pa
errors and future charity. Such an /
terchange OF confidence would be me
interesting. and the divulgences ma
on both sides would in all probabili
lead the conferees TO the conclusi
that they had been misjudging ea
other and that, by means OF an ech
tic school Of Republican politics, De
ware might yet be redeemed from I
dominating influence OF Democri
and demagogues.
1t is never polite to cast up. A m
who has had troubles OF his own d.
not like other men to throw them in
teeth in public places. In the next We
the heretofore astute Sussex coui
leader makes the apparent mistake
recalling to the mind OF Addicks that
has had a good many cares and tri.