Evening journal., 1908-10-05
Mr.. HASTINGS TO MIR. BELL
Replies TO The Stars Article CRITICS.
ms the Veteran Leaders
Attitude


Dear sir:-I would be extremely un-
grateful if I did not thank you for the
very complimentary language with
which you are pleased to allude
to my personal character and re-
putation and alleged valuable public
services" in the editorial article in
your paper yesterday, entitled "A Good
Man Gone Wrong"
With this endorsement, notwithstand-
ing the truly pitiful spectacle in the
decline of life. which you seem to
think ] present, l hope TO be able TO
continue to live in this community
and spend the remainder of those de-
clining years. q am enjoying excel
lent health at present. thank you) and,
at least keep out of jail.
Speaking of "pitiful spectaclcs" l am
reminded TO call your attention and
that of your fellow Democrats in this
community, 10 the brilliant specimens
which you and they are and have for
quite while been exhibiting In your
efforts TO resurrect and put new life
into the ghost OF "Addicks and Ad-
dicksism' which has long since depart
ed and ceased to be a factor, in any
manner or degree, in the politics of
this State. And the no less pitiful,
not to say contemplate attitude which
gentlemen present when they continue
TO hound a man who is no longer in
public Iife and has left the State and
who, whatever his faults and defcien-
cies may or may not have been, skulk-
ing behind a false pretence was not
one of them, but who fought his politi-
cal battles out i'm the open and subject
TO the gaze and inspection and criti-
pf nF al .F raof1 f1fats
they thought his aspirations seemly
or his methods for achieving his ann
bition good or had and who. when
he found his cause to be hopeless
one and success an impossibility, had
good sense enough to surrender and
retire from the field.
But the disappointment and chagrin
OF yourself and your fellow Democrats
at the departure of Mr.. Addicks from
the arena Of Delaware politics is quite
easily understood and accounted for
when it is remembered how valuable
an asset of the Democratic party Of
| Delaware Mr.. Addicks was while he
remained here and how industriously
and assiduously that party employed
and utilized that asset for its own ben
! eft at every possible opportunity and
IN every conceivable way For one in
stance we need go no farther back
than the occasion on which Governor
Watson assumed the position and du-
ties of Speaker of the state Senate a
few hours before the final adjournment
Of that body-when his right to do so
was at least questionable-in order to
prevent the election of a Republican,
other than Mr. Addicks. to the United
states Senate. and thereby eliminate
Mr. Addicks from the contest for the
senatorship. and, as an inevitable re-
suit. debar him from active participa
tion in the politics of this State at
that time and probably for all time
as happened later.
But the retirement of Mr. Addiclss
did not suit the purposes of the Demo.
cratic nartv Whilst he remained that
party had. a least. q faint hope OF
success some time, as his presence here
would. as they hoped. keep tho Re
publican party hopelessly disrupted ana
at omen war: but with his departure
that hope would vanish-as it did when
that event took place. Therefore
whilst the Democratic party was
ostensiblv and outward,y the enemy ot
Mr.. Addleks. covertly and in secret il
was his friend; and aided and abeted
his cause in every possible way that IL
could and with as much publicity as
It dared So. Mr. Bell, when in hc
half of your party, YOU summon this
ghost OF BanQuo" from it's poltical
grave. beware lest It appear with
twenty mortal murders on its crown
and lay them at your door.
You criticise me. Mr.. Bell, for sup
I porting Mr.. Davis and stigmatize that
! support by saying-to use your own
words-that my reasons for now
abandoning decency and casting his
| (mv) influence with those forces Of
evil which for years he has so gal
lantly opposed. are puerile. not to say
silly; and they are as baseless in logic
as they are i'm morals" If that is So
which I deny-so he IL! I arraig,,
YOU because. for partisan purposes. In
the eNegencies of a desperate political
campaign in which your party has bu.
little hope of success. you ruthlessly
and savagelv attack man in his
character. his personal habits and his
profession. by which he earns his liV.
ing, and. up TO this time YOU have not
4, submitted one particle of proof. OF
shadow Of evidence to -substantiate OF
Justify your charges Vrhis course of
yours NAV be in accordance the rules
Of sound logic and good mrals, but
do not think so.
Now word or two in regard to the
position and attitude of Brother
-rters in this controversy. and this let.
ter already too long, will close.
Mr.. Arters has declared that he i.
not a Democrat and / fully believe hil
statement and rejoice at it; and hav,
already expressed my regret at hav.
ing, through misinformation, PLACED
him i'm the wrong political household
But Mr.. Arters' action which / criti.
cised last week. admits Of no other con
struction, that I can see. than tha
he lent the aid of his official position
Ia the Anti-Saloon League, and there
! by the aid of the opponets of thu
saloon" In this State. so far as hil
influence goes, TO the Democratic can
/ didate for Attorney General ant
, against the Republican candidate fo
that Office without giving the latter al
, opportunity 10 be heard on the subject
as he did the former. This may havl
been the result Of misapprehensioi
OF the situation and misinformation 81
to the facts OF fho case which Mr.