The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-04
IA Story 1sem spans.s. 1ssstory.

~. "A Story from Spanish History. =.
Senator Salisbury, of Delaware, in
his speeefeinsthe Senate, d few days
since, in trying to inculcate the ne
cessity Of reconciliation as well as re-
construction, to secure the peace and
promote the welfare of the Govern
ment, read most beautiful story
from Spanish'histo which we here
take the liberty of repeating:
Some centuries ago, two kings
were contending for tile crown of
CASTLE. forgot their names for the
present, but to facilitate the telling
of my story, I shall call one Alphonso
and the other John. Alphonso pro-
claimed, of course, that John was q
usurper and rebel, and John re-
turned the compliment. Well, John
at last defeated his rival, horse and
foot, and carried everything triumph
antly before him, with the exception
of single town, which Alphonso
had entrusted to n ST. t old knight,
called Aguilar, and which, after a
long siege, still remained impregna-
BILE. "You have done enough for
honor" said King John, one day, to
the knight, Surrender, and you shall
have tho most liberal terms. eff
you had read the history of your
country" answered Angular, ''you
would have known that none of my
race ever capitulated." II will starve
you, proud and obstinate fool"
"Starge the. eagle, if you can." "I
will put You and the whole garrison
to the sword" "Try," was the la
COMO reply, and the siege went on.
One morning, as the rising sun was
beginning to gild with its rays the
highest towers of the beleaguered
city, parley sounded from the camp
of the enemy. The. old knight ap-
peared on the wall, and looked down
on the king below. Surrender, I"
said John, again; "my rival, Alphon-
so, is dead, and the whole of CASTLE
recognizes my sway rs that of the le-
gitimate sovereign" ''Sire I be-
lieve you, but I must see my dead
master" "Go, then, to Seville,
where his body lies. You have my
royal word that I shall attempt no.
thing against you on your way, nor
against the city in your absence. 2"
The knight came out with banners
flying. and small escort of grim
visaged warriors. Behind him the
gates closed; before him the. dense
battalions of the enemy opened their
ranks, and as he passed along, slowly
riding his noble warehouse, shouts of
admiration burst wide and far from
the whole host who had so often wit
messed his deeds of valor, and tho
echoes of the loud and enthusiastic
greeting accompanied him until the
red plume which waved over his he'll
met was out of sight. I(e arrived at
Seville, and went straight to the ca
thedral, where he found the tomb of
his former sovereign. He had it
opened, and after gazing awhile with
moist eyes at the pale face which met
his look, he thus addressed the dead
monarch: ''Sire, I had sworn never
to deliver to any but yourself the
keys of the town which you had en-
trusted to my care. Here they are;
have kept my oath, land lie deposit
ed them on the breast of King AL
phonso. Then bestriding his good
steed, he galloped back to his post.
AS soon as he approached, again the
ranks of the enemy opened, and
King John confronted him. "Well, "
said the king, ''afe you satisfied, and
do you now give up the contest?"
eyes, sire" "Where are the keys of
the town?" son King &lphonso's
breast" $50 and get them. We
meet no more" SIN Heaven we shall
never part" exclaimed the king.
"Get the keys back yourself, and re-
main in command of the town in my
name" The followers of the king
murmured, and complained of his
rewarding rebel. "He is no longer
one. Such rebels, when won, become
the best of subjects"
Commenting on this, the Senator
said: "Let the Republican party
take lesson from this incident in
Spanish history, and now that the
people have deposited the keys upon
the dead body of the Southern Con-
fedcracy, let them say with King
John, NO longer rebels-wo never
part more.'"
The Newberry Herald says: GA
E,,n f.,