Newbern weekly progress., 1861-05-28
Dead for q ducat "

RAIS.
Dead for ducat"
The rat has been for many years a great
favourte with the naturilists. His habits of
life, his acuteness, his selfishness his intclli-
gence in avoiding danger, ard in hunting for
grub under difficulties, have been fire.
qnea1y eloquently dilatcd upon by men of
genius like Goldsmith and Curicr There are
undoubtedly very many animals far more at
tractiTe in their appearance, and far nobler in
their nature than rats but the instinct of self
preservation is m0re remarkably developed in
tho rat than in any other animal He s..lel-
Ieth danger afar off, and avoi'Cth it according
ly He is a better judge of tho sea WORTH
ness Of i vessel than the most experienced
agent of Floyd, and he never asks long vow
age in ship whose tinbers are rotten, however
fair an exterior the painters brush may have
given it. Before a house totters to its fall,
whilst it yet looks strong and firm the rat who
has explored its foundations, gnawed its raj.
ters, and tested the strength OF its sills, flies
from it. to one more secure. He always takes
care of himself, and when he has doae that nc
cares nothing for kith or kin, for the intense
seltishness of the rat Is atniabie weakness
of that ubiquitous animal
II fated ships ard tottering houses arc de-
tested by rats, their love for fat pantres and
well-tillcd cribs is proverbial.
The political rat is an animal almost as ia
nous as tho rat of Goldsmith and Curier. All
nations and all ages have produced remarkable
specimens Of this animal They are as COM
mon in Republics as Monarchies. Inmonarch-
les they originated the cry Of 1.-the King is
dead, long live the King" because the political
rat, unlike the quadrupcd animal, processes
liking to dead kings. In Republics, the polit-
ical rat swims invariably with the popular cur
rent. Eo flies with squeaks of terror from
falling party, readily deserts Cd friends and
neishbors, and forgets i'll a moment all the as
sociations and pleasant "reminiscences Of the
party whose larders have been emptied by his
greedincss.
The most noted political rats Of other coun-
tries have been CLERICAL rats, and rats in search
of civil appointments. The celebrated vicar
of Bray, and a late prime Minister Of England,
were the most noted representatives of the
classes to which we have been alluding
History, we believe furnishes no instance of
which we are advised Of a nation putting its
political rats in command OF its armies and ma
yics Indeed with the exception of tho scige
laid to the palace Of q Bishop of Rheims by an
army Of rats, animals Of that character have
never been famous in the annals ofw We
can rccolIect no instance CT political rats having
been made generals, colonies, aid-de-camps,
captains and lieutenants. The chapter Of histo-
ry which records the heroic deeds Of this class
of politicians is yet to be written. How a
State, during long terrible war, is to thrive
with its faithful patriots in the ranks, and its
political rats on horseback, remains to be seen.
The modern political rat has, it seems weak
ness for military commissions He believes
that a converted political rat deserves to be
exalted over the heads of those who dtd not
rat it at the eleventh hour. Fidelity to princi-
pie merits only hint-lock musket, with a
smooth bore, plain coarse food heavy KNAPP
sack, light blanket, single ration per day,
and a PAIR of brogans. Tho original enemy to
submission must not stand upon the order OF
his fighting but the political rat of refined
tastes and delicate stomach must be tenderly
provided for Ifpolitical rats not rewar-
ded for their noble and heroic exhibitions OF
| those instincts Of self preservation which make
them fly from tottering parties to strong and
substantial ones, there is great danger of their
not rafting at all. Rats must therefore, be en-,
couraged, they must be patted on the back,
they must be epauletted and we'll paid.
| 1t is desirable that the commencement OF
war should be inaugurated by political mil
| lenium, and submission rats must be induced
to lie down side by side with their old enc
mics, the terriers. Hence, when old oppo-
! nent of the Southern Confederacy swins from
| the laundering ship of Submission, and says,
Il was a sinner, / fought against Secession,
| kept my State from taking her proper position
| for four months, but when was beaten, rat
| ted it and escaped with my life-give me a
| commission" 1t would be cruel not to say to
! that generous and self-sacrfising spirit Is most
noble political rat, we are brethren; l sympa
| thiZe with you; your rafting was timely and
courageous. So was mine. You deserve some
thing better than a musket, you shall be CO.
lionel over many terriers -