Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-10-13
uiz,ory Nspsa,kng Itself.

Persons v 10 are accustomed to look at
history as psgeent, may think 1t des-
ecration to present it in G Lomely shape,
robbed of its gorgeous acc assories. They
will fec! of nded a. finding the romance
Of history irrevercntly demolished for the
sake of mere reality. To such we would not
commend o work now in print. entitled
"The Comic History Of England; bat We
can. and do, to those who will not object
to seeing many a mock heroism stripped
OF it's pretene:ons, many political hypoc-
risv Invested Of It's mask. and much So
called patriotism exposed in its hollow
ne-s,-and all through the agency of
Il rmless satire and a very genial humor.
aimed though they be at come Of the most
time-houored traditions of the past.
But our present Object, in making few
extracts from the book in question, is
simply to show how strikinely events and
people Of former centuries, c0nsecrated by
the sober muse Of history, appear in an
aIogy with people and events of the p1 esent
degenerate days, when touched by the
hand OF salirical truth.
Tins, the following description Of Crom
wells Parliament might very we'll stand as
poytraiture of the present American Con-
grcss 1.-THE new Parliament was q mis-
ceI!aaaous collection OF impostors and
scaup7. with a slight mixture CT honest
ne2,-bat tie=c were too few to make the
thing respectable" And the PROTECTORS"
of liberty md CQualiIy, as described by the
author IS about that of the modern Radi-
cal party, with Grant at its head, viz !:
"Thay lthe oo"ie) were al equally bound
to show subserviooce to him, and, as to
liberty, they were az perfect liberty to do,
say or think anything that would not be
offensive to him"
With regard to the Star Chamber Court,
which had its origin In the reign of Henry
VII, VIC aTe facetiously told that the
word Star" was applied 10 the Court,
because, within its walls, justice (so-called)
was administered in a f9cimhling all of
which is forcibly suggestive of Judge
Bonds Court, especially when one observes
how men, who, admittedly never were on
Ku K!ux raid or in Kn Kiux meeting,
have BEEN sen enced by that model jurist to
two years incar c8ration in common Jail
'It ought" says the author, "with as
much reason. be suggested that tho name
had reference to the constellation Of legal
talent OF which the tribunal was COM
posed - which still more wildly presents
the Court in Raleigh. with its sparkling
array of forensic ability, IN the persons of
S.W-buck Lu k, etc.. etc.
The ubjoined description Of Titus Oates
will do very well for some of the spies,
sensationalists and informers, who have
appeared before the Outrage Committee
at Washil gson " The stories got up by
him were of the most deliberately absurd
descr pt.oo, betraying an eqoal ignorance
Of truth, grammar, geography, and every
other branch Of information, polite or
otherwise. He became the most success
fal political nloralist ever known, and re-
ceived q pension, besides lodgings in
whitehall, by way of recognition for his |
services IL contributing to he amusement |
Of the people. by frightening them out
of their propriety."
The s:0riaa spsaks of a class of men |
who, about tn same period, having failed |
tempted t, repair their fortunes by turn
ing patriots. "a class of men who have their
exact par llleis nt the present day, especi
ally in North Carolina.
In the days Of the first Charles, SIS see
what I've found" was the common cry at
the snatcbing of purse,-which reminds
one of Tim L3e, the carpet-bag sheriff OF
U.1-o Gsa,1,1,s, S1O mn ~ GaaAn l1oo3s
tied up il o package and directed r. =b i.s
address ~ T-;+tl4RelS
- ~ G1tU1rCl4oiU.
And who DIES MT think OF Phillips. |
Rodman. e. id 0nane, wien we read of an |
English Ministry, who Cooked upon poll |
tics as trade, and principles as the nee |
essary capital, which must be turned over
and over again, in order to realize extraor-
binary profits!'