Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-19
Historical Characters.

SALADIN.-This famous Sultan of Egypt
and Syria was equally renowned as n warrior
and legislator. He was bora in the year
1l35, and became the most formidable enemy
of the Crusaders. lie achieved great con-
quests in Syria, Arabia, Persia, and Mcso-
potamia; after which he defeated the Chris
tians, with great slaughter, near Tiberias. and
took prisoner Guy de Lussignan, the King
of Jerusalem. This victory was followed by
the surrender Of Jerusalem, where he be-i
haved with great maSuauimity toward tho
Christians, In the year 1889, Richard Co3ufN
de Lion, with his ally. Philip Augustus of
France, laid seige to Acre, a sea- port of Pal.
estine. For two years the scige was contin-
ued, and then Saladin's forces were overcome
By the allies. The Crusaders subsequently,
took Cpsarea and JafIa, and Richard CDul
dc Lion advanced to within n short distancd
Of Jerusalem. a truce was then agreed up-N
on by Saladin and the Christians and soon
afterward the Sultan died, at the age of fifty
seven, overcome by the inroads made on his
constitution by the constant toll that was rem
dercd necessary to cfcctually OPPOSE tho
efforts of his cnemies-tte chief Christian
potentates of Europe
WILLIAMs.-RogerW Williams. the founder
of what is now the chief city of Rhode Island,
was an Englishman by birth, and became
clergyman Of the established church of that
country. At the ago of thir;y-two, in the
year 1851, having embraced the Puritan
tencts, he came to Auerica, wl:ere lie soon
attracted public attention by his religious
zeal, and through his published arguments
in defence of the liberty of consciencc-
Having defcd the authorities of NInssachu-
,sctts, by his outspoken scntiments-stnting
that every man should be allowed to vsorshit
his Creator in whatever manner seemed to
him best-to escape imprisonment, and per-
haps death, he fed to the woods, where hs
found an asylum among the Indians. With
some of his followers in the year 1896, bc
landed at Rhode Island, purchased some land
from the Indians, and founded colony which,
he called PrOvidence-"b because" :" said he. az
desired it might bo shelter for persons dis
tresscd for conscience" He subsequently
became president Of this colony, and his rulo
was characterized by justice ard sound prin-
clples: lie wrote great number of elouuent
works, in which he defended the right Of
every one to worship God in his own way
lie died IN Providence, in the year 1851.
FEscH.-Cardinal Joseph Fesch was tho
half brother Of Letitia Ramolini, the mother
of Napoleon, and, like his illustrious nephew,
native of Ajaccio, in Corsica After suf-
tering considerable privations during the rev.
olutionary period of France, Joseph suddenly
found his fortunes changed by the eIcvn' on
of his nephew to the cothnatid of the army
of Italy. In 1902 he was appointed Arch:
bishop Of Lyons, aud in the following wear
was sent as an ambassador to the Holy SEE.
From the Pope he received cardinals hat,
and aiterward gained the consent of that dig:
nitary to visit Paris and crown Napoloon.2
In 1909 he rejected the nrchbishopric Of Pa
ris on account of the severity With which the
Pope was treated by the Emperor; and soon
atterward he publicly rebuked Napoleon be-
fore the council OF Paris. For this he was
driven into exile, and took refuge in Rome,
where he resided until his death. which oc-
CURED in 1899, he being then in his seventy
sixth year.