The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-26
From The Louisville Herald.
The PARABLE OF LOTHIAN.

The infatuation of the people of the Unit.
ed States, in adheriBg TO Andrew Jackson.
Notwithstanding his hypocrisy and misrule,
reminds US Of this ancient parable; in
which the folly and ingratitude Of the Shech-
emites, in making Abimeleck, the hasest of
Gideon's sons, their king. is happily exposed.
The Israeites becoming tired of freedom,
offered their kingdom TO Gideon, their re-
nowned Judge; but this virtuous man, as
tonished at their faulty, declined the honor.
No sooner had he done SO, than Abimeleck,
the son of his concubine, conceived the idea
OF usurping it himself The life of Abimeleck
had been devoted 10 vicious pleasures, and
no one knew better than he, how TO operate
upon the hopes and fears Of the giddy null
titude. He was not wise, but cunning. In
order to succeei in this daring scheme of
ambition he affected great humility, while
he artfully accused his brethren, the lcgitI-
mate sons of his father, of corrupt combi-
nation to seize upon the governmen them
selves; and toldly assuming this as a fact,
he plausibly insisted that they had better
be governed by one Prince, than so many
petty tyrants. BY appealing to the sympa-
thies and prejudices of the people. he in
duced them TO believe that he had been
cruelty neglected by his father, and revled
by his brethren, on account of his ignoble
birth.
These wics soon drew around him
band OF desperate Observation-Disclosures
in fame and fortnne-ft for stratagem and
"Spod," since they had all to gain, and
nothing to lose. Aided by such unprnci.
pied instruments. he succeeded m hunting
down all who stood in his way to the throne.
Thus this base born, and base spirited man,
without either merit or capacity, for so ex-
allied situation, became king in Israel!
The first that ever bore that title amongst the
! descendants Of Israel. When lothian heard
of ii he went and stood in the top of Mount
Gerzlln, and lifted up his voice and said,
hearken unto me We men of Skechem,
The trees went forth on a time, to
nnoint king over them-and they said
unto the OLiUe tree, reign thou over US !; but
the Olive tree said unto them, should |
leave my fairness wherewith by me they
honor God and man, and go to be promoted
! over the trees! And the trees said to the
! Fig tree, come thou and reign over us-but
the Fig tree said unto them, should for
cake my sweetness and my good fruit, and
go to be promoted over the trees? Then
said the trees unto the ZINE, come thou and
reign over US and the Vine said unto them,
| should leave my wine, which cheereth
God and man. and go to be promoted over
the trees? Then said all the trees unto the
brdmble, come thou and reign over us; and
the brambe said unto the trees, if in truth
ye ,ciN dnoint me king ouer you then como
and put your trust IN nty shadoto; and if not
| let fire come out Of The bramble and deuour
The cedars Of Lebanon."
In this beautiful parable, the presumption
and arrogance of Abimeleck, in aspiring to
the kingdom, and the arts which he employ
ed, are emblematically represented, with
| great ingenuity and simplicity. Had the
trees indeed wanted a monarch, the Olive
tree, the Fig tree, and Vine, had excelen-
| cy and usefulness the one dropped fairness :;
the other sweetness and the third, was
| gushing with wine. So Gideon, and his
other sons, were worthy Of Israel's suffra ge,
| if she had needed a king to rule over her:
! yet they, actuated by benevolence and gen
uine philanthropy, meekly and wisely de-
c!ined the offer. But Abimeleck, the son
of a concubine, of temperament, violent
and cruel, and perplexing as a brambte,
being told by his mother, that he tcas born
to command" soon convinced his unsuspect-
ing couDtrymen, they acre born TO obey.
Beguiled by promises which be intended to
violate by pledges which he never intend
I ed to redeem, they put their trust in his
shado,c. Being mere fire brand, he soon
threw every thing into confusion; set them
at variance ; and by trampling upon their
ancient ordinances and statutes, confound-
ed them in common ruin: he caused, as
he had threatened, the fire TO come out of
the bramble, and devour the cedars of Leb-
anon. JOB.