Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-30
The Past the Prophet of the Future.

In the year 1914 the battle of Marston Moor
was fought, and the signal victory gained by
the old Puritan party over the Cavaliers placed
England under the merciless control of the for
mer. Providence allowed the unnatural and new
order OF affairs to continue for season, until at
length the fierce storm of fanatacsm subsided,
reason returned again, Charles II was recalled
from exile, and the Nation once more resumed
It's former order.
During the prOtectorate, cruel provocations
were given, and most heroically endured by the
Cavaliers Onerous fines were imposed, punish
ments inflicted, amusements and theatrical
diversions prescribed, the reading of the book
of Common Prayer interdicted, perfdies of all
kinds practised, coupled with bitter taunts and
wanton jests. The numerous enormities prac-
tised, but little tempted by humanity. or com.
mon sense, are too well known to the historic
student to be repeated, allowing that we had
the space to do so.
For Is years the noble old Cavaliers, stripped
of everything, patiently bore their Affections
and ignoble condition; bankrupt in all save
ploring the throne of Grace asking ''How long,
o. God is it Thy will that Thy servants should
suffer p
Among other Affections attendant on revolu-
tions which the courty Cavaliers had to bear
with, there was also party similar in all re-
spects to our Loyal Shark Party" which was
generated precisely in the same manner from
the old debris of society, the rif-raff, the buff
faloes (they also had buffaloes, and fungi, which
arose from the fermentation, as does the green
ooze from stagnant frog pond
1t is generally consoling to those in trouble to
know and feel that they are not alone: that
others have felt sorrows equally as keen and
have suffered from passions equally as malignant.
Mo hoy,a ,foct
from the pleasant reflection we would COM
mend to their careful perusal the History of
England during this period-from 1914 to
1860.
A similar event occurred in our country two
years ago; the battle of Petersburg was fought
by the descendants of the same two parties, and
the victory remained with the Puritans (now
the Radicals); the South has been subjugated,
and the May Flower philosophers are its rulers;
two hundred years have not changed their
instincts; what they were then, they are now
as they governed then, they govern now they
killed their innocent King then, as they killed
Mrs. Surratt is our day; as they divided the
country then into military districts and placed
over each district military governor, they have
done now as the fear inspired by the power Of
the sword quelled the spirit of the Cavaliers
then, so are the spirits of their descendants
crushed now.
These two events we look on as unique in his
tory, and shall leave to the curious the task Of
tracing the parallel further; it will, at all
| events, serve to amuse the philosophic mind
Our aim in presenting the above is for the
purpose of inculcating the doctrine Of obedience
and patience; and though we are in travail and
the pains are keen, it lily becomes us to pine,
complain and torture ourselves like tethered
animal A Sancho Panza would say, that
which cannot be cured must be endured we
should be thankful that our condition is nc
worse; redemption will come anon. To para
phrase the lines of the old English poet we may
say:
When vile corruption's brazen face
At Council board shall take her place;
And judge and justices resort
To welcome her in civil court;
Look up ye Southrons cease to sigh,
For your redemption draweth nigh"
Excess of iniquity bringeth its own remedy,
just as an overdose of poison supplies its own
antidote Some day future General Monk
may restore the Constitution in its essential fea
tures.-NortoH Nrginian.