The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-12-02
FIVE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

There have been demagogues in all times, whoS
power OF fattery and seeming love for the dear peo
have been able TO secure themselves places of honon
national affairs for which neither their talents nor nah
ever fitted them So grossly have the people been
ceived sometimes, and that 100, with the eyes of II
understanding wide open that good men have some,is
questioned the ability OF the people to govern tn.
selves. twas this sentiment which induced one in II
tunes, IN the agony of his heart at the result of an e.
ton adverse to his hopes, to excaim, ''The People
jackass :"
The old chronicles tell us of man named Jacob
Artaveld, whom the Flemings once appointed to e
over FLANDERS, to the exclusion OF the rghu lord whe
PrefogahVe 1t was to govern them, according to
ieuda tenures OF those old ages. Jacob was an AMI
man. oil strong and determined character and hade
lived IN these times would have been an undobtea ay
lie with the dear people.
Jacob traced his lineage, Ike many of our great mn
not through long line OF ustriouS ancestors; buty
following 1t down till it burowed in the ground lila
i"pD' lie was brewer OF methegln, as his father IS
before him, in the good city of Ghent but he waso
content to live respected as humble brewer; andle
dreams coming greatness fitted so constantly here
his imagination, that he to regard himself as CO.
sen instrument of God to redress The grievances ofe
people and TO overthrow tyrants
The people were offended with the Earl their i'd
and refused to obey him. Jacob was ambitious. and,v
attu speeches. kept alive the rebeous spirit of the TO-
pie, until ne so far won the popular favor that he wa.n
vested with supreme authority over all Flanders.
dis first act was 10 seize upon all the revenues ofhe
Earl then ne banshed the knights and esquires iromhe
country Still thinking himself insecure in his usu,ed
power, he engaged band of devoted ruians and eut
about the country killing such as he hated or suspect
For lime years he collected the revenues of Flaners
and expended them without rendering any account eher
to the people or the Earl The vigor with which head.
mnlstered the government made men fear and tremIe
but they did not love him. Jacob knew this and hire
solved to aggrandize bis family and provide hmsel an
asylum against the wrath of the people, by privy seiug
his country to the English whom he invited to come wei
and take possession for consideration
The people of those days were, doubtless. good DIM.
ocrats and true patriots, although prone be rebeus
they loved their country and they had some regar fol
the rights of him they called their natural lord Wer
they discovered the scheme which Jacob was coyU,l,
engaged in, they were greatly enraged and resovedha
1t should never succeed. They fell upon him as he va
returning from conference with the king of EngIpd
and Notwithstanding his protesatons of patriotism, anc
his recital of the great benefits his administration Ia,
conferred upon them, they uograeiuy slew him. Wilton
mercy Unfortunate Jacob the yeast of his metheeln
aldedb poor men, raised him to power, which mad,
MIN gIddy, and wicked men slew him Such was Ii,
tate OF demagogue FIVE hundred years ago.