Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-06-23
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THE INVADER-BY j. g.: JOHNSON.

J.
att The mos, iaexousable variety OF warts the
invasive asiq Or offensive; for the Invader does NOT
usually conine hostility without being gen-'
orally wsil assured that he has great superiority
10 men and money, in comparison with those
against whom he proposes to war His feeling.
IS ike that of a braggart, when an Einsp pection
Of the physical appearance of his opponent, IN
jductes him 10 infee that he will have an easy
trium pb.a7 Itis this reliance which makes his
intentions d matter Of might, and not of right,
and eiyes. him. contempt for the .remonstranee
Of the power that he designs to destroy. The
glare of specious excuses, aud the promise OF
nInnder, soon bring around him desperate
characters enough 10 do his bidding and,3
9dkuowing that the confines Of the country which
he determines to invade are not impenetrabte
to his march he starts on his crusade, and con
ducts his campaigosIas unpltylng y as opposing
circumstances will permit them to be- When
upon the sell which he intends to 2overran, be
abrogates all its law and order, and the measure
Of his will; becomes the rule OF his martial
sphere All that, be sees belongs to those whom
he has made his enemies, ana, feeling that his
hostile presence makes almost every man
y against whom he wars, his foey he trusts none
beyond his orders, and all the natives that adj
here to the land he inyades, are brought to
know the ruthless rigor OF vandsl strife, he
sparesneither sex nor age, and fearful sorrow and
gannt desolation, follow in his track. ! The
more arduous his struggle, the more heartless
he becomes Success quickens his desire tor
authority and, emboIdened bya fortunate IN
clnation Of his plans, he strives TO force all to
Weld to the qualification of his wishes, and
havoc and dismay, riot in the War-path. be
makes his arbitrary power most strlngently
lelt,;l land & strange sights, aod shocking
sounds mark the horror of his progress. The,
sentiments of religion and the precepts OF
principles are alike valueless to him, and he
sweeps ia an instant, the accumulated fruit OF
life. time 8 labor into worthlessness and ruln.I
He violates all civil law, and being the unques-I
toned judge Of his own acts, no order OF his is
ever allowed to bring the blush OF shame to his
cheek Hetoo often bushes the plous prayers
Of ministers of the gospel who refuse to use at
the throne of peace the words which his sacri-
Iegious lips dictate, and destroys sacred edl6ces
to appease the whimz of his offended opinion.
He yields dwellings, mills and granerles as fuel
ito his torch; and the tools Of hus6andry, and
the implements of trade, share the Ire OF his
ban He destroys the temples OF justice, and
turns into ashes the records of marriage, legiti-
macy and property He gives license to injus-
tice by breaking the bonds of society, and leaves
il to sink, into anarchy by depriviog its mem
bers ofathe3 data which prevent confusion IN
the transactions of the business OF life he
sometimes violates the grave BY demohshlng
its sacred mementos searches the bodies ot the
sepulchre, and robs the inanimate mass OF the
tokens which were placed about it by the ten
der care of relatives. aStruektures OF }aarning
vanish before his tread. and valuable books
and cherished paintings are cast blurred and
broken upon the earth. he converts every
thing that is either pleasure or profit to those
in oDposition to him, into instruments OF tor
ture to them; and teaches those who follow
him, a contempt for liberty of person, and
lreedomIof speech, by incarcerating those who
oppose him In sentiment.
Such is the conduct of the invader as sketch
cd by history when he attempts to oVerrun
those who are superior to him, IN every human
attributes, save that OF the brute power OF num-
bersa and whether the inhabitants OF the
country which he invades are brought to SUP.
mission to his impious power, or 1lse superior
70 his 1insolent mandates, and drive him I'M
potent from their soil, his culpabilty Is ever
the same, and life gives him no Lethean stream
TO wash his name from the impress OF the
wickedness which his deeds work; for he COM
mits more sin, and produces more havoc, IN
the short period of one year s reign OF the
armed influence of his hate and cupidity, than
a amyriad Of good men could atone for and re
pair il life time. It he fails, the people vi hom
he attempted to subdue will recover as they do
from pestilence, or as flower does when the
rude pressure that crushed it, isremoved;, but
If he succeeds, all soon droops and withers,
save that feeling an injured people always have
for him who owes his notoriety Or importance
ito those acts by which he wantonly accom-
plished their distress and ruin. = Ply: . 1..-.
DRICK T. A,Y.J G. a@-5F'- 49, - ~ r,