The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-06
WHO rs MY NEfdHBOR3D


fdence, j. s. GREEN.
"wH0 rs MY NElaHBoR7"
/. We fear that philanLsrop, is but word, and
that generosity Of Virgini ss-6eneUolence of
cioiIization-are but fgur of speech. We
fear that the savages of tn forest and the me-
groes of our fields may boa higher benevo-
lence than belongs to moderu civilization or to
the living Virginian race. 1t often happens
that good character is worn long after it is
forfeited, by communities as well as by men.
A noble ancestry may TRANSMIT an inheritance
of golden epinion to posterisg, which they may
not deserve, but which thSs may enjoy until a
time which tries mems souls arrives, to strip
them of the false reputation.S
What shall we say of the treatment which
our brethren of Norfolk and Portsmouth are
receiving at the hands of humanity? Was it
not enough that New York, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton, and Baltimore, should cut themselves off
from intercourse with those whom they esteem
only according to the measure of the profits of
their trade 2 Was it not enough that Weldon,
in a ncighboring State, should impose fine of
one hundred dollars upon every resident of the
doomed cities who should spend night in the
wretched village? Were these fit examples for
the imitation of Virginia cities towards peoples
flesh, in the hour of their sorrow and mis-.
fortune?
To what a forlorn and wretched condition
has our inhumanity reduced the afflicted peo-
pie of Norfolk and Portsmouth? We cause
every avenue of public conveyance, between
themselves and the cities and towns around
them, to be barricaded. We imprison them in
their charnel-house, as if they were pirates and
outlawed enemies of mankind. To confine them
in their infected habitations, is to consign them
to death. To allow them to escape into the
pure atmosphere of the country, or the untant-
ed Inequalities of our villages and towns beyond
the range of the pestilence, is to relieve them
from the jaws of an untimely grave. But we
refuse them escape; we deprive them Of all
means of making known their wants and ca
lamity. We doom them to fate worse than
the felon's, in the calculating and callous in
difference with which we contemplate their
forlorn estate.
to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which
stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him,
and departed, leaving him half dead.
"And by chance, there came down certain
priest that way; and when he saw him, he
passed by on the other side.
"And likewise Levite, when he was at the
place, came and looked on him, and passed by
on the other side.
"But certain Samaritan, as he iourneyed,
came where he was and when he saw him,
he had compassion on him, and went to him,
and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and
wine, and sethim on his own beast, and brought
him to an inn, and took care of him."
Here was philanthropy as taught two thou
sand years ago; and how sorry has been the
progress of that civilization and Christianity,
which now, in localities exempted by Providence
from the infectious elements of the distemper,
upon a selfish calculation of the mere chances
of harm, refuse all escape from infection and
bors, and kindred! Even the rude chivalry of
the dark ages puts our modern civilization and
Christianity to the blush Take an instance
from the Chronicles of the Cid:
Rodrigo forthwith set out upon the road,
and took with him twenty knights. And as he
went he did great good, and gave aims, feeding
the poor and needy. And upon the way they
found leper, struggling in quagmire, who
cried out to them with loud voice to help him
for the love of God and when Rodrigo heard
this, he alghted from his beast and helped him,
and placed him upon the beast before him, and
carried him with him in this manner to the inn
where he took up his lodging that night. at
| this, were his knights little pleased. And when
| supper was ready, he bade his knights take
| their Seats and he took the leper by the hand,
and seated him next himself, and cite with him
| out of the same dish. The knights were great
| y offended at this foul sight, insomuch that
they rose and left the chamber. But Rodrigo
| ordered bed to be made ready for himself and
| for the leper, and they twain slept together"
| The heroic lesson of charity may have been
lost on his companions, but the good Cid real
lied the vision of that nights rest with the
| leper, which assured him that his enemies
should never prevail against him in battle, that
he should die an honorable death in his own
house in his renown, for God had blessed him
and which exhorted him to 20 on eyermore,
persevering in doing good.
| How vain and idle are the exped;ents that
our frightened cities are using to keen avav a
pestilence that walketh in darkness and de-
struction that cometh at MONDAY. If the cities
of Petersburgh, Richmond, Alexandria, and
Washington, present the conditions of atmos
phere, locality, and population, which receive
and generate the poison, it is worse than idle
to attemptto bar out Its approach by quarantine
and embargo. 10 suppose that the pestilence
travels only on boats or In the persons of living
victims, is to borrow the idea of the nursery
and to adopt the stupidity along with the in
humanity of the brutes. If we are towards. LEI
us not proclaim it forth by measures which bro
claim US at the same time fools. The pesti
lence that travels upon the wings of the wind.
may surprise us in the rear, and be already
clipping at our life strings, while we are watch
ing pusillanimously from secure distance its
havoc among the crowd of helpless victims we
have quarantined upon an embargoed steam
boat. We have heard of no cases in Richmond
but such as have been CONTRACTED below; but
if we practice the inhuman policy in vogue
elsewhere towards the unhappy citizens of Nor
foik ana portsmouth, (who are camping in the
woods ana swamps around their cities, for the
iack OF more hospitable shelter, we should moi
be surprised if an offended Heaven should yisi,
us with a vengeance as terrible as our inhu
mainly is heinous in its sight
Richmond Examinv.