The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-05-13

If it were done when It's done, then 'twere
well it were done quickly MAcakrH N
The recent disinterment Of the remains
of j. Wilkes Booth from the prison yard III
Washington, ard their Te-burial ia Green
wood cenle terry sins7tL presence of .frianJs
and relatives, recalls tosthe public memory
the fearful tragedy in which he was the
principle figure. and caused the mind of the
writer to run over some Of the most memor-
able assassnations in the worlds history
First, with reference to the origin and
meaning Of the word assassin, aud de6ni-
tioa Of its present derived Specification We
learn from the new Cyclopedia that the
word was brought by the crusaders into
Western Europe on their return from the
Holy Land, where existed a set Of bloody
fanatics, bound to their leader, the then
celebrated ''od man Of the ountain,' - by
fearful oaths. and who murdered unhesita-
tingly whoever was pointed out by him,
reckless of death or dangers. The name
of this leader was Hashshnie, being derived
from Hashishnie, an opiate now known as
hashish, used by him to bring his disciples
into a state of nurderous frerzy,a a drug
which had been introduced among the Arabs
by contemporary Of Nahommed. 1t is a
little singular that this frenzy of mind,
whether produced by artificial stimulauts,
as hashish or superinduced by purely moral
causes, seems to have been the necessary
mental condition of all assasSins, and indeed
is their chief characteristic. ErWtr
This brings US to the deprived sense of
the word. Assassin is defined 10 be secret
murderer--but although the word is fire.
quently used indiscriminately to denote al
kinds of secret murder, yet an assassin
by prs-eminence, is something mere than
murderer. Indeed, it is not so much the
act, nor the manner of it, whether secret or
open, for most assassiBs are bold to reck less
ness, but the motive which determines the
nature Of the act. The motive of the as
sasslD rarely, il ever, purely personal, sell
fish OF private one; but the word has as
sumed a political meaning, and the histori-
cal Gssassins acts in obedience to some high
er law, of which be persuaded himself by
his own peculiar and fsllacious reasoning
that he Is the executor Some motive Of
public, political. national. patriotic or relig
ious necessity prompts him.
The reasoning that brings the will to such
a remedy for any evil or oppression. wheth-
er public or private, no matter how many
il. necessarily fallacious, and betokens a dis
eased Imagination Gin the person that even
contemphtes it, whether the object is to
cut down oEe's country or aYenge a private
wreng-they all belong to tbs class denomi-
mated mouomaniacs.
The assassination Of Cesar by Drutus, of
Henry the Fourth by the fanatic Ravaillac,
Of Duncan by Macbeth, more celebrated by
the poet than by history, of Marat by Char
lotte Corday, the terrible attempt on Napo-
leon the Great by Staps, and the last equal
ly as horrible and defeuselesS as any Of the
Others, of Lincoln by j. Wilkes Booth, are
among the most celebrated in history, and
are removed by the motives, not at all by
manner, from those vulgar murders prompt
ed by such private and selfish motives as
revenge. jealously or gain.
Brutus, instigated by misconceived pa
trlotism, holding, at the time, the Office Of
city piator, thus recognizing the govern
ment Of his patron BY acting under.it, killed
Cse ar at the capital. in the Senate Cham
Der in the light of day and the very eye Of
the public. He failed even by dint of his
political power and the most artful elo-
quence 10 make the Roman people approve
of this ungrateful act withdrew into Mace
donia. and. although opposing the triumvirs
with mighty force. met the ayenging spir-
it of the murdered Caesar at Phillippi, and
in tine agony of remorse, nliscrably cast him
self upon bis sword and put az end to his
own life.
Francois Rayailiac, FIRST lawyers clerk,
then q schoolmaster, and afterwards mem
Der Of the order OF the Feuilants, but ex-
Pclled from 1t as a fanatic, sfterw ards re-
turned to his native village of Angolom,
where his gloomy fanaticisrn engendered in
him the most intense hatred of Protes tant-
ism, and especially of his sovereign, Henry
", an adherent of the new faith, and one
OF the most enlightened monarchs who ever
set upon throne, whom, however, he had
been taught to believe the enemy Of the
Catholic faith, and whom he went TO Paris
10 Kill. Clad in the long gown Of his order
and armed with a long knife, Ravaillac net
the King as he was riding from his palace
to visit the sick Sully, and in the public
street of La Ferronnerie, in the midst of a
crowd, plunged the dagger into the heart Of
his victim lie shedl,~but was immediately
caught, acknowledged the deed, and, after
trIal Ia faris, was torn to pieces by
horses. tes
Macbeth. after inviting Duncan. King Of
Scotland, to partake of his hospitality, lat
least, such is the legendary account upon
winch the tragedy of Shakespeare is founded, |
and, although differing FROM the obscure
scrap OF history which makes Macbeth kill
Duncan In 6attls. near E!gin, is theaccount
to which the minds of readers must natural |
ly revert,) murdered the old KING IN his
castle, thus committing double crime |
against the laws of hos pitality and nature !
The act of the poet has contriYsd to take
ell the pity aud sympathy away from the
poor old victim of the horrid deed, by fixing I
all our attention on the agony of renorse I
that tortnres the conscience of Macbeth. /
Charlotte Corday, (whoss character has /
been recently in our city sovividly por tray 4
ed by Mrs. Lander. a young woman of no |
bic descent, of singular purity of life, and !
a remarkable personal beauty that contrast
ed strangely With the horrid crime she ma |