Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-12-27
For the Fayetteville Observer.
HISTORY.

past, and deduce from times mould
ering ruins lessons of practical and
exalted wisdom? What presents to
us such a brave field, such an ample
survey, in which to viewman in allhis
weakness, power, and glory, from the
period when time first began its stately
march to the present century, as his
tory? What gives us such clear In
sight to every part and parcel of the
whole machinery of human society
developing man as he was, is, and
must be, as the records of the past?
Philosophy and science may exhaust
their powers in search of mans true
character and nature, without effect
ing anything towards the attainment
of the grand design; It's the peculiar
province of history to determine this
great object, and to exhibit human ma
ture correctly in every conceivable
position of life. In this we see spread
out, as it were, the great map of Gre
alton, on which are inscribed, with
historic correctness, the momentous
events of near six thousand years
the rise and fall of naughty kingdoms
and proud empires; magnificent cities
once proud in imperial greatness, sur
rounded by walls impossible, and dec
Grated in all the pomp of oriental
splendor. History is the vast maya
zine of earth from which all may draw
rich supplies for practical life. This is
mans only true expounder. When
men and nations exist, few there are,
in consequence of prejudices and pre-
vious associations, that are prepared
to judge impartially of their merits
or dement's; but after they have passed
from the drama of life, former preju-
dices forgotten, and long connections
obliterated, the may the student of
history, in the calmness Of solitude,
learn and properly appreciate their
characters, may penetrate the secret
and once unknown springs of action,
that have aroused nations to deeds of
blood, and caused many of earth's no
blest sons to suppose this good earth
naught else than a grand theatre in
which kings may tilt and subjects
bleed mighty arena in which the
ambition of man is to be satiated by
human gore, and the tears of the wild
ow and orphan. How often does
posterity thus reverse the decisions of
a former generation! Christ and His
Apostles are illustrious examples Of
this proposition. No man, of historic
memory, ! presume, sustained great
er amount of opprobrium and vile
abuse, and died in the midst Of more
Iinvective and detraction by his CO.
temporaries, than did Martin Luther.
Filled with the spirit of his Master,
he renounced the superstitions Of his
fathers, and arrayed himself in all his
amplitude against the CALLING tyran
ny of Papal power. The veil of
eight centuries of ignorance, of NOR.
al and political darkness, was removed
from his vision, and, with prophetic
accuracy, he beheld the dawnings Of
more glorious epoch. But priest
ridden Europe, unable or unwilling to
appreciate the sublime doctrines he
promulgated, or the motives that ac-
tuated him to oppose the established
customs of his ancestors, and bravely
stem the torrent of infatuated passions,
condemned his teachings as heretical
and consigned his name to oblivion
How different the Judgment OF more
wise and liberal posterityl History is
that alone which unfolds to US our
origin, true knowledge of the SUI
preme Being, the creation of the world,
of man, etc. How confused the ideas
of the wisest of the ancients con-
corning these great truths, compared
with the faith, principles, and doc
trines of those versed in the history
of our world. While the one gropes in
midnight darkness, with reference to
the most important facts connect
ed with man, and the sublime and
awful name of Deity, the other,
contemplating them under the focal
light of all history, sacred, and
profane, beholds man as he was, is,
and must be. He views his Creator
as the Being, who, by the word of His
mighty power, commanded, and from
naught chaos sprang into existence
the earth adorned in primeval beauty,
who spoke, and from eternal darkness
'ushed the brilliant light of day.
When the radiant morn of Creation broke,
And the world in the smile of God awoke,
nd the empty realms of darkness and death