The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-12-03
Correspondence of the Democratic Press
EHRS MISSION or MOSES.

rranslated pm ne Gernan of sshi1ler.
The estab blishment Of the Jewish
State by Moses is one of the most re-
markable events the account of which
history has preserved for us impor-
tant by the power of the mind by
which it was brought into existence !;
vastly more important by its result to
the world which; still continpe even
to this moment. Two religions, which
sway the greatest portion of the hab-
liable globe, viz: Christianity and Is
lamisa, are grounded on the religion of
1 the' Hebrews, and without this, there
never would have been either Chris
tianity or a Koran. Yes, in certain
sense, it is irrefutably true that we are
indebted to the Mosaic religion for a
Large portion of the mental illumina-
i-tion which we at this dayienjoy. For,
by this, apreeious truth which the un-
aided reason, left to itself, could have
first discovered only after a long de-
Felopment, viz. the doctrine of the
unity of God was spread abroad pro-
yisi6hably among the people, and, Jas
an ob5eCf of blind faith, was retained
by the same until it could mature in
clear heads to a rational idea and COM
prehensien.! by this,:,a great part of
the human family was prevented from
falling into all the deplorable errors
into which the belief ina plurality of
of gods must at last lead, and the He2
brew constitution held, the exclusive
preference, that the religion of the
wise did not stand in direct eentradic-
ton to the religion of the people, as
was still the case among the heathen.t
Examined from this standpoint, the
nation Of the Hebrews must appear to
US ASIA highly importrnt and univer-
sally historic race; and all the evil
which has been spoken against this
| peoples and all the. efforts of witty
heads to villify them, will not prevent
us from being just toward the same.-
The 'unworthiness and the abandoned
character of the nation cannot over
throw the sublime deserts of their
Law -giVer9 and quite as little effect
tewards.annihilating the immense in
fluence which this nation maintains in
the worlds history. We should re-
gard it as common and unclean YES
sci; yet, one in which something veryo
precious is preserved. :. I'VE shoulde
venerate it as a channel which, impure
as it, was, Providence chose in Or,
order to lead us to the noblest of all
things, viz: the truth which Provi4
dence also permitted to be shattered;
in pieces so soon as it had accom-
plished what it. was destined to do.-
In this way we shall be equally far re-
moved from attribHting to the He
brew race value which it never pos
sessed, and from robbing the same of
merits which incontestibly belong
| to it, 's..}t f5.- q 5l.pr E e..-
1.-THE Hebrews, as is well known,
migrated to Egypt as a single nomade
family, which comprised not over sew
enty souls, and first in Egypt became
nation! During a space of about
four hundred years. time, which they
spent in this land, they increased to
nearly two millions, among whom
were estimated six hundred thousand
fighting men at the time of their de-
paf'ture- from this kingdom: During
this long abode, they lived separate
from the Egyptians-separate as well
by their own dwelling place, which
they had received, as also by their no.
madic state, which rendered them an
adherence to all the natives of the
country, and excluded them from all
the political rights of the Egyptians.
TFhe5 -geEernod themselves according
to the nomadic fashion, viz: the pa
triarch ruled the family and the prince
ruled the tribe, and in this way they
constituted state within state,
which finally, by its rapid increase,
awakened the anxieties of the kings.
Such a multitude Of men, living dis
tilict' IN the heart Of a Kingdom, and
idle in consequence of their nomadic
course of life, who combined so close
1y together, but had indeed no interest
in common with the state, might be-
come dangerous in case of hostile
invasion, and might easily be tempted
to take advantage of the states weak
ness, of which they were the idle
spectators. Political wisdom seemed
to counsel to watch them closely, to
give them employment, and to- con-
trive means for the diminution Of
their numbers. The Egyptians rulers
therefore began to Cypress them with
severe 'labofs, and, as in this Way,
they had learned to render them use use
full to the state, self.:interest and polit-
ical cunning united: to increase their
burdens. InhurnanlY were they forced
into the service of their lords, and
Special task-masters were appointed
over them, to oppress and abuse them. |
But all this barbarous treatment did |
not hinder them from increasing; ever
more and more their strehgth.l A pol
icy therefore founded Upon true Wis |
dom would naturally have led the |
Egyptian govesfnnment to divide them, |
and apportion them among the other
Inhabitants, and to give them edual
rights 3 VIII Il these; but the general alb
'horrehctets' which the Egyptians enter
tained towards them did not allow
this This abhofTencei increased still
more BY the Consequences witch it
contributed to bring about Where
tie RE,fhg E,ffhfgsy Of Egypt vacated, for the
family of Jacob, for a dwelling place,
the Province of Goshen ION sfIe a,ast