Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-09
q scrlptnraI warming.

scrIpturaI Warning.
There arc very few, if indeed there are any new
things under the Sun, and for every changing phase
of our national progress parallel may be found
in the pa ges of history from which lessons OF nstruc
ton may be drawn, rising in value in proportion to
authority of the historian, and becoming priceless
when they appear under the sanction of Holy writ.
In the diversified history of the Jews especial
", may we find such lessons scattered broadcast.
and from the strangely confederated character of
that people, formed of twelve tribes, living apart
each tribe in its own allotted territory and having
the absolute control of certain regulations of its own,
totally apart and free from the interference of the
General Government the parallels to be found there
are to us, of the most startling character their
government in its federated features bears remark
able resemblance to our own.
The reader of the old testament, who has remark
ed the present IS Young America " humbug, and the
sneers which its votaries cast upon the old men, the
'Old Fogies as they call them, hardly fail to
have noticed the 10th chapter of second Chronicles:
wherein is related how the following of the counsels
of the young in despite of the older ones led to
the division of israeli the dispersion of ten out of the
twelve tribes and their loss as people until the
present day; SO much SO indeed that learned Jews
Of the remaining two tribes of Judah and Benjamin,
puzzled with speculations as to what has be-
come of them; some, Maj, Noah among the number,
endeavoring to trace them among the Indians of
North America, while others look for them in the
interior of Africa.
In the chapter of Chronicles, already alluded to,
it is related how after the death of King Solomon,
his SON Rehoboam went to Shechem TO be crowned,
and how the people made suit to him for a relaxa-
ton of taxes and duties and how he put them off
with promise to give them answer in three days;
and how in the mean time, he took counsel with the
old men that had stood before Solomon, his father
while he yet lived and how they counselled him to
accede to the request of the people But he forsook
the counsel of the old men, and took counsel with
the young men that were brought up with him and
their advice was contrary to that given by the old
men and he refused the people, and answered them
roughly and ten of the twelve tribes rebeed against
the house of David and the nation separated
forever-the Union was dissolved, and the glory of
the Jewish people had departed. There can be but
little doubt that the young King and his advisers
scoffed at the old men, who had stood before his
father. in nearly the same manner in which the new
lights scott at those that have stood before Wash
ington and jefferson, and the other worthless of the
revolution and if the Hebrew language afford a
synonym for old Fogy," no doubt they called them
"old Fogies while they rejoiced in the euphonious
appellation of 70 young Israeli"
There is nothing so foolish as to suppose that all
change is necessarily progress, or that all progress
must necessarily be in the right direction and next
tot the most foolish thing is to foreswear all change
as hurtful The first advice given to the young King
was that he should lessen the duties and taxes i'm
posed by his father. This was the declate of pru
dence, and a move in the right direction. The
second was, that he should increase them this was
also move, but in the wrong direction and it ruin
ed his country. From this short chapter in Jewish
history, a lesson may be learned by those who de
sire either the good of their country the safety
the Union. We are no preacher but we still thinl
that profitable and practical sermon might be made
from the 10th chapter of Second Chronicles w
commend it to Young America of both parties
and also to the Convention men in this State.