The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-14
For tho National Era.
ANCIENT AND MODERN POLITICIANS.
BY WILLIAM JAY

III "ALbAAM sAhs
In the only true history ever written, we fnt
| narrative, which, although twenty. five centu
ries old, bears in several particulars stron(
resemblance to certain events in our own day
The King of Babylon was the source Of all off
ciaI power and einolument in his kingdom; or
| in more familiar phrase, he was the sole ap
pointing power Hence the ofice-holders and
office-seekers were ever on the watch to propi
tate his favor, by Aattering his vanity and pro.
Tossing devotion to his service. A certain high
officer, however, disdaining the arts of the self
ish thropg around him, had, by his ability and
integrity, won the confidence Of his royal mas
ter So convinced was the King of the wisdom
and moral independence Of this officer, that he
"thought to set him over the whole realm -
making him his prime minister, and virtually
a viceroy The proposed appointment spread
dismay among the politicians of Babylon II
dashed the hopes Of those who were them
selves in pursuit of the high office and as il
would transfer to the favorite the whole official
patronage of the Kingdom, all the Office seekers
felt that henceforth the loayes and fishes would
be distributed among men o. very different
character from themselves. -
A caucus was held, to devise means 10 pre-
vent the threatened appointment The whole
subject was discussed, aud the caucus unani.
mously agreed, awe shall not find any occa-
sion against this Daniel, except we find it
against him concerning the law of his GodD
By the Constitution OF Babylon, royal decree
was "the supreme law of the land;D but the
caucus we'll knew that Daniel acknowledged
and obeyed q still "HIoHER LAW" Hence it
was determined at once to fatter the King
and to ruin Daniel by means of this higher
lawn As demonstration of their loyalty to
the Constitution, and Of their profound rever-
ence for the King, it was determined to request
him to issue decree forbidding every subject
to ask any petition of any God or man, save Of
the King only, for the space Of thirty days, un.
der the penalty of being cast into den OF lions
The politicians were well aware that Daniel
would not obey this decree, although strictly
constitutional, and they were resolved to indict
him for violating it. II was feared, however,
that the King might honor instead Of punish
ing the honest disolediencs Of his favorite and
hence il was further resolved TO induce the
King to declare his decree rfHALITY, incapa-
BILE, under any circumstances, Of repeal or mod
ifcation.
The weak, yain-glorious monarch fell into
the snare, and signed tho writing, "that it
should not be changed, according to the law
Of the Modes and Persians that altereth not"
But it may be said, this, after ali, was q silly
scheme to eptrap Daniel. He might omit his
prayers to God for thirty days, or he might
offer them mentally, or, If he must needs pray
on his knees and audibly, he might shut him.
self up in his closet, and, stopping the key-hole
and closing his shutters, he might satisfy his
conscience without being guilty Of apparent
disrespect to the Constitution Of the country.
Had he lived in our times, he would have found
many learned teachers warning the opposers Of
wicked laws, that whosocver resisteth the pow
err, resistcth the ordinance Of God, and they that
resist shall receive TO themselves damnationp
But whatever ws may think Of Daniels NOR
ais and bis patriotism the politicians OF Baby
Ion knsw the man. Daniel instantly determin-
ed not merely TO obey but to HONOR, the high
or law by treating with open and contemptu-
Gus defiance the impious decree notwithstand-
ing it, unquestioned constitutionality. Hence,
he throws open his window, and, kneeling be-
fore 1t three times day prays to the King Of
Heaven, in the presence OF an excited and yn-
dictive crowd. OF course, he is arrested. The
King, now peroeiving the consequence OF bis alb
surd decree, strives to save the intended victim.
But the politicians tell him his own honor and
the authority of the Constitution require that
the penalty Of the law should be exacted As
human nature, and Of course politicians were
much the same then as now, possibly they in
sisted that Daniels offence was in fact, high
treason--a levying war against the Kingdom
as il was direct assault on the royal author
ity, and an attempt 10 overthrow the Constltu-
ton. So IL was concluded in the royal cabinet
that the law should take It's course.