The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-13


people for whom he was risking so much,
would flood to his standard in OVERLOOKING
thousands. But they preferred staying at
home, possibly hoping and wishing that he
might succeed in doing the fighting, but
evidently thinking it too wild and risky to
take any part in themselves. So he and
those who made instruction with him sue
ceeded only in committing MURDER
is, killing few people, and perhaps by no
means those whom he desired to kill-and
tn n they were speedily overpowered, cap
tured, and for some time clay bound in
prison"
But, of course, Barabbas became at once
notable prisoner. Every other believer in
the irrepressibe conflict sympathized with
him, and his name was in their mouths in
all the cities, towEs villages and hamets,
from Dan to Beersheba. Though they were
all ready to disclaim any responsibility for
his deed of violence and blood-for there is
a great deal of difference between only
entertaining dangerous opinion, and being
such madcap as to act upon it-yet they
were unanimously agreed that Barabbas
was admirably brave that his error was
only an error Of the head, not of the heart
and that if he bad only succeeded, he would
have been hero, instead of being, as he
was, robber," and murderer" and
very likely to be hanged on tree.
There is one excuse for Barabbas, how
ever, that must not be forgotten. Those
whom he was SO anxious to deliver were of
his own race and nation-of his own flesh
and blood. He had no idea of any such
Quixotism as undertaking an Instruction
Tor the benefit of different race. 1t was
not to deliver the Samaritans, or the rem
nants of the Caananites in the land, or the
Phiistines or the Moabites, or the Edom.
ties, or the jewellers in Tyre and Sidon, or
the yet more distant subjects of Candace,
queen of ETHIOPIA, that he took up arms, and
perilled his life and the lives of his follow
ers. The sufferings and expressions of those
other nations and peoples, he very we'll knew,
were none of his business. He had been
faithful in attendance on the Synagogue,
doubtless (else the chief priests would hardly
have taken so great liking to him. and
had often heard read there the words of the
wise King Solomon -" He that passeth
by and meddleth with strife belonging not
to him, is like one that taketh dog by the
ears" The comparison is very striking,
especially to one who, like Barabbas, was
familiar with the packs of untamed dogs
that act as scavengers in all the villages and
towns of the East That there was gross
oppression among those other nations was
true; and, probably, particular cases of it
may have come to bis knowledge, and stirred
his Indignation at the time. But he re.
membered King Solomon, and bethought
him of the consequences of taking a dog
by the ears. He knew that this method of
proceeding does not really hurt the animal,
and thus might not prejudice his excellent
character for kindness and true humanity of
disposition. But he knew that it has very
irritating effect upon dog to take him by the
ears, especially if he be large dog, a strong
dog, and a dog of unsubdued and violent
passion. He knew, also, that the position
is exceedingly inconvenient for the man
that holds the dog. For though, while
firmly grasping the ears of the brute, and
turning them in judicious direction, the
dog cannot bite, yet every moment increases
the ierocity of his desire to bite. More
over, the dog, under such circumstances, is
an active and energetic member of the
liberty party, and makes incessant struggles
to recover that full use and enjoyment of
his own ears, to which every dog has an
inalienable right by nature. On reflection,
too, it will be perceived that, in the position
alluded to with such pregnant brevity by
King Solomon, the mans hands are likely to
ache miserably with the fatigue and exer-
ton of holding the dogs ears, long before
the dog is tired of trying to get away so
that, no matter how long the indulgence in
this awkward amusement is protected, the
chances of tue dog are continually getting
better, while those of the man are as rapidly
growing worse. The mans reflections, too
as his strength decreases, aud his eyes are
fascinated more and more by the long white
teeth that are not far from the dogs ears,
can hardly be agreeable. He is apt to say
to himself, What fool was to take this
dog by the ears! cannot possibly hold on
much longer, and how terribly he will bite
when he is let go!" Indeed the natural
finale of this affair is unpleasant to look for.
ward to, that if we have succeeded in clearly
picturing to the mind of our readers man
in that uncomfortable predicament, we are
sure we shall be pardoned by them if we
decline to see him through with it, and
prefer, of mere kindness, to leave him hold
ing on still.
But Barabbas, as we have said, was no
such fool; which is not little to his credit.
He Lad made an attempt for the benefit of
his own nation, and he knew they under
stood it. He knew they looked forward to
the coming struggle as well as he did i; and
that even were he executed, he would be
reckoned by them a martyr in the cause of
liberty, and his name would bea watchword
on their lips when the great day of bloody
deliverance should come at last. So he was
fully prepared to die like hero; although