Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-05-14
The Past the Prophet of the Future

In the year 1914, the battle of Marston
Moor was fought, aud the signal victory gain
ed by the old Puritan party over the Cava.
hers placed England ucder the merciless
control of the former. Providence allowed
the unnatural and new order of affairs to CON
tlnue for season, until at length the fierce
storm OF tanaticism subsided, reason returned
again, Charles III was recalled from exile, and
the Nation once more resumed its former or
der.
During the protectorate. cruel provocations
were given, aud most heIoicalIy endured by
the Cavaliers. Onerous fines were imposed.
Punshments inflicted, amusements and dtheat-
rical diversions prescribed, the reading of the
book of Common Prayer interGicted, peril
dies of all kinds practised, coupled with Bit
ter taunts and wanton jests. The numerous
enormties practised, but little tempted by
humanity or common sense, are too we'll
known to the historic student to be rcpeated,
allowing that we had the space to do SO.
For . years the noble old Cavaliers, strip
ped of everything, patiently bore their aflic-
tions and isnoble condition; bankrupt in all
save hope and honor, they found a comfort
in implOring throne of Grace, asking How
long, 0 God! is it Thy will that Thy SER
wants should sufer?'
Among other afilictions attendant on revo-
lutions which the courtly Cavaliers had to
bear with, there was also party similar in
all respects to our Loyal Shark Party which
was generated precisely in the same manner
from the old debris of society, the rif.raff,
the buffalOes (they also had buffaloes.) J and
fungi, which arose from the fermentation. as
does the green ooze from a stagnant frog
pond.
1t is generally consoling to those in trouble
4 EF1nT aV,I 60 kl,,k& 81,
others have felt sorrows equally as keen and
have suffered from passions equally as malig-
nant. We hope our readers will derive some
comfort from tho pleasant reflection we
would commend to their careful perusal the
History of England during this period-from
1G44 to 1850.
"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 (uow the Radicals); the South has
been subjugated, and the May Flower philos-
ophers 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 in our
day as they divided the country then into
military districts and placed over each dis
--AIAA'"'J SONSiuOT, lHey nave done
now; as the fear inspired by the power of the
sword quelIed the spirit of the Cavaliers then.
SO are the spirits Of their descendants crushed
now.
These two events we look on as unique in
history, 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 obe-
dlence and patience and though we are in
travail and the pains are keen, t.illy becomes
us to pine, complain and torture ourselves
like tethercd animal. A Sancho Panza
would say, that which cannot be cured must
be endured; VIC should be thankful that our
condition is no worse; redemption will come
anon: To paraphraso the lines of the old
English poet we may say;
When vile corruption's brazcn race
Al Council board shall take her place;
And Judgc and justices resort
10 welcome her in civil court:
Look up, yc SouthronS cease to sirh
For your redemption drawCth nigh.
Excess of iniquity bringeth its own rem
edy, just as an overdose of poison supplies its
own antidote. Some day a future General
Monk may restore the Constitution in its e,-
sentlaI teatures.-NOrJolk Tirgihtan.