Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-11-09
From the New York Evening Post.
[DOLATRY-PARALLEL.

first people who took the OK Ou OF the COM
mon heard, and made a god of him. They
then had choice places for the living ami
NAL to move in, and at death preserved his
hide. They made pictures and drawings
Of him, and in their public asSemblages, and
on great moments, he was brought forth
and installed as the guardian genius Of the
occasion. Flags and banners were raised
on high, and waved back aud forth with
his image engraved thereon, and emblazon-
ed with words from which the Latin poet de-
rived his idea, which is thus expressed-"
In hoe signo vinces" Triumphat odes and
songs were made by the poets and sung to
this deity on public occasions, and the peo-
pie were taught to regard him as possess
ng a mysterious influence that would lead
them TO IA glorious success.
The Greeks and Romans had more re-
fnemcnt in their ideas Of the God who led
them to victory. They believed that he
was mortal, who had been raised to the
skies and endowed with superior attributes
and had the charge Of all human battles.
They considered him as stern, blood
thirsty, and cruel. They called him Mars
or the God Of War. And whenever his
favor was desired, they sung songs and
poured out Iibatlon3 TO him. They erected
special places over which he presided, and
adorned, them with al such trappings as
they though peculiar to him. And when
about to engage il any conflict, they
shouted, = TIE ducc," " In hoe signo," &c.
and snug songs.
The civilized Indians OF Mexico and
Central America, selected several Of the
larger quadrupeds, and made gods Of them.
And we find their profles drawn on the
decayed walls Of their temples.
The old Jews always had an itching
fancy to take up the calf and make god
Of HIN.
But generally, instead oftaking the live
animal, they would form some image of
him from gold. And they would set it up
even when the spIcndor Of the Diety Of
heaven was shining, with full! blaze on
their tents.
In various parts Of the world, the people
make god of fire, or Of the sun and moon
or of nlligators, or other animals, and IN
woke their influence in their enterprises.
But it remained for the wings OF this chris
native woods, and set him up in the pub
lie places, and make god of him. They
adopted him as the presiding genius Of
their great occasion. They brought him
TO all their public gatherings. They erect
cd log cabins as temples to him, where
especially he might be found, and when
these were wanting, they introduced HIM
thelore the affairs OF Heaven, and protaned
them with pollutng beast. In their pro-
ccssions, they carried banners embazoned
with his image, and with words like these
IN glaring letters. " la hoe signo vinces!"
or "That same old COON" They set him
on high, at all their public meetings, and
rs he gazed about he was hailed with
shouts Their speakers, after they had
come forth and been welcomed by the au-
di"ncc, would turn to the coon, and IN
effect make obeisance, exclaimng, Te
duce," aud the shouts of the multitude
would rend the air with cInppng and stamp
ing, and the god would l'rIsk himself and
rattle his chain, and the multitude would
shout longer and louder. Then they would
sing odes and songs, which had been com
posed by their poets, and made sacred to
him. Then pour out libaions Of hard
cider to him, and in the riotous excuses
Of their Joy intoXicate themSelve. Thus
they deifed him as the presiding genius of
their political campaign, and he was as
kind and faithful Deity TO them as the
OK 10 the Indians.
But the parallel, degrading as it is, does
not stop here. Where are the Egyptians
with all their greatness and glory?--
Where are the proud nations of Central
America? Where are the veteran warriors
OF Greece, the fire worshippers Of North
crn India or the devoted to the sun and
moon, or the coon worshipper OF Amerlcn!
They committed themselves to the guId-
ance Of low and detcstable principles, and
they are sharing one fate. In Egypt, we
find tombs, and sepulchres, and mummies.
In Greece, we sec heaps upon heaps, and
read only tales Of their former splendor,
and the remnant OF the calf worshippers of
Judca, is scattered as stragglers in every
land. The worshippers of the coon shot
up with 'pentitudc of power that had
been unequaicd in this nation; yet all their
might we have seen tnrned into weakness.
They possessed, as they thought, wise
md prudent men, yet their counSels have
been filled with confusion. and brought to
naught. All their pride and success have
been turned to folly. They are bccom-
ing a luuni and a rcproch with their oppo-
nents, In their dismay they brought out
" that same old coon," and when they
trusted that he should deliver them, he
could not save them. In this day of thier
adversely, their god has proved himself to
be trickiSh.