The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-01-07
Written for the Democratic Press.
THE MISSION OF AEosEs.-No. q.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF
SCHILLER,

new and more glaring fault. Since,
notwithstanding this oppression, they
had not succeeded in checking the
sources of population, they resorted
to an expedient as inhuman as it was
wretched, viz: to compel the mid
wives to murder, without delay. the
newborn male children. But, thanks
to the better nature Of men, despots
are never well obeyed when they COM
mand the infliction of abominable
cruelties. The midwives in Egypt
knew how to, mock this unnatural
command, and the government could
not carry into effect itsmeasures with
out resofting to the most violent
means. Commissioned murderers, at
the royal command, visited the abodes
of the Hebrews, and slaughtered all
male infants in the cradle. In this
way truly must the Egyptian rulers
accomplish their object, and, if no de-
liverer interviewed, a few generations
would see the nation of Israel entirely
extirpated. ''' .@-'''A
But whence now must this deliveref
come to save the Hebrews? Hardly
from the midst of the Egyptians them
selves, for how could one of these in
terest himself in behalf of a. nation
that was foreign to, him, whose lam
guage he did not at all understand,
and surely would not trouble himself
to learn, which must appear to him
quite as incapable of enjoying as they
were unworthy of a better Destiny
Yet still less from their own midst
for, in the course of several centu-.
ries, what. had the inhumanity of the
Egyptians made of the Hebrew peoti
pie? The rudest, the viIest, degraded
people of the earth !, rendered barbarL
ous by a total abandonment during
three centuries; eInbittered and rem
dered tiInorous BY a slaYYishp oppres--7 ,L,l, =
sion through all that time debased by l
hereditary plague inherent in, theft
blood; /; .enervated and incapable Of any
heroic resolves, and finally, BY stu
pidity transmitted from parent to
child, cast down almost to the, level
with wild beasts. How could a free
man, an enlightened head, hero, o or al
statesman, come forth from a race Of
men SO utterly abandoned? Where
among them tcotuiifdd be found d man
that would inspire. q nation of slaves
SO despised wifi, dignity a people So
long oppressed, with sentiments Of
self--respects; multitude Of ishep-d
herds, SO ignorant and rude, With a
feeling Of supriority over their refined
oppressors? a bold and heroic, spirit
could as little be expected to pali arise
from among the Hebrews of that Pc
Rod, as from the most degraded caste
Of the Parias among the Hindoos.
" Here must the great hand of Provi-l
dence, which unties. the most intricate
knots by the simplest means, rouse us
to the highest wonder-not that PROV
idence which interferes with, the econ
omy of nature by tl:e ,yieIIent means of
prodigies, but that Providence which
has prescribed to nature such an econ
omy as to effect extraordinary results
in the most tranquil way. No ma
tive Egyptian could possibly possess
any necessary motive or impulse to-
interest himself in the national affairs /
of the Hebrews, and rise up as their
deliverer. To pure Hebrew there |
must be lacking an energy, and spirit
for this undertaking. What kind of 7
expedient did Destiny select for this
purpose? It chose q Hebrew; but
very early removed him from his rude
nation, provided him withoth benefit
of Egyptian wisdom: and thus He
brew, educated according to the Egyp-f
tian custom, became the instrument
by which this nation escaped from
slavery a'f p. }H'5'fk9 '-fa'i .id 70 4
A Hebrew mother, belonging to the
tribe of Levi, had, during three
concealed her newly born son
from the murderers, who were con-
stantly waylaying, among her people,
all the male infants. Finally, she sur
rendered all hope Of securing near
herself place Of refuge for him.
This distress gave her a wise expedi-
ent,, by which She hoped she might
perhaps save him. She laid her suck
ing in a little basket made of papyy1rr1us
which She had ssmeared with pitch, to
prevent the influx of water, and waited 4
he time in which the daughter of |
Pharaoah was accustomed usually to I
resort there in, order to bathe. Shortlyih
beforehand, The sister was ordered to n
1lace the basket wherein he lay IL III the Z
'eeds near which the kings daughter IL
ised to pass, and where also, it would
meet her view. But she herself re- 4
llaihed in the vicinity to watch the Ir
urther destiny of the child. Pharaoh's ]
laughter soon observed him, and since 4
he boy pleased her, she resolved to fo
ave him. His sister now ventured to h
pproach, and offered to procure for n
i'm a Hebrew nurse, which was n
ranted by the princess. - For the
econd time the mother receives her
on, and now she feared not train him j.
p without concealment. Thus he c
sarned tile language of his nation, a
nd became acquainted with It's Gus c
pms and manners; while his mother a
oubtiess did not delay to plant in his p
'ndsr soul a very striking image of Iia'
ssEsy. s,,s 2eral misery. After he had So
IoNgettihee years when he no longer C
Is. CHAI cares of mother, and @
-: =, I.az ,ii3gsame necessary to deliver tal
sh Raarssss sGasl e esas common destiny Of his
rs srIet' atay0faDly y her brought him again bl
kfl;et f,,x,,;sl,<,s -.