The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-06-19

to the party they represent
Yours truly, j.
For tho REPUBLICAN,.
Mr.. EDlroR AS the suffrage qurs-
ton appears TO engross considerable at,
tenlion at this time, and there appears
to be various shades of opinion respect :
ing it, permit me through the medium
OF your paper, to present a thought or
two on the snbject, to the readers of the
REPUBLICAN. In approaching this ques-
tlon-inasmuch as we profess to be a
christian people, 1t would be well to view
1t from a christian stand point, and thus
determine what Is our duty as a christian
people, in the premises.
If we are what we profess to be, let
our course of action he in accordance
with the teachings OF that infallible stand
ard of christian faith and practice. By
reference to Luke X. 25-37 we are re-
quredao extend the same charity to one
nelghbor we would have him extend to
us. The question would naturally arise
who Is my neighbor9 Christ gave an
intallible rule by which we may know.
He says "a certain man Tor Jew) went
down trcm Jerusalem to Jericho, and
fell among thieves, who stripped him
OF his raiment, and wounded him, and
departed, leaving him half dead, and by
chance there came down a certain Priest
that way, and when he saw him, he pass.
ed by on the other side Likewise, a
Levite. when he was at the place, came
and looked on him, and passed by on
the other side. But'a certain Samaritan
as he journeyed, came where he was !;
and when he saw him he had compassion
kpn him, and went to him, and bound up
his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and
set hi u on his own beast, and brought
him to an inn, and took care of him."
&C. Now, this man, although a poor,
despiSed Samaritan was '.neighbor to
him that fell among thieves" whilst the
Priest and Levite, although, born to
Ecclesiastical titles and distinction, were
not. 1t so happened, in our day, that
the army of the Government went down
from the North INTO Dixie" to suppress
a gigantic and wicked rebellion, and
many OF them fell among Mieves, rob6e,s,
traitors and murolere,s, which stripped
them of their raiment, and wounded
them, and thrust them into vile and filthy
prisons, and lett them there to lanquish,
Starue and die. The Priest and Leyite
of the South came and looked on them,
but as they lin most instances) were
strangers to pity, and compassion they
passed by on the other side. But the
poor, desplsed and stricken Samaritan
was there also, and true to his natural
disposition, he had compa sion on our no
BILE defenders who had fallen among these
thieves, and exerted himself to the ut.
most OF his ability in administering to
their comfort and likewise IN aid of
their escape from the hands OF their mus
derers.
For the proof of the truthfulness of
these statements, we refer to Rev. j. J.
Geer, Pittcnger, Prentlss, and host of
others, But why 60 from our own vi.
cinity for testimony, when we have
abundance at home! Why not refer to
Lieutenant Rogers, Sergt. Lisbon Scott,
Col. j. Cooke, and others in our midst.
who all say that while they were pursu,
ed by blood'hounds, and still more
blood>thlrsty men, the Samaritans of
the South hoyered near their pathways,
and rendered them assistance IN their
flight from prison, starvation and death,
whenever 1t was within the scope of
mortal power to render 1t y; often subject,
ing themselves to the severest pains, and
death itself, to save our brave country.
men. This people surely have earned
and 'eeA earned the appellation of neigh
bof. In view OF all the facts we have
stated, and in view Of the great respon-
sibillty resting on us as a professedy
christian people, and our accountability
to God, shall we reward treason, and
punish loyalty by enfranchising these
thieves, traitors and foes to our countrv
and at the same time deny to the loyal
Samaritan his civil rights, tho power of
.vo;,, anI hos,,o .,.l