Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-01-12
A PARABLE.
How n City Was Governed by "a Chief and
Kindred Spirits.


There was a city amid the NOUN
tains of many industrious people, and it
increased in numbers and riches by the
barter Of its men of trade and its work
shops 80 UA ~ -
And there dwelt in the city chief man
OF large possessions who worshiped gold.
And lie gathered about him kindred spir-
its, and being man of many years, he
cuunseled them in this wise:
Behold here is q growing city. 1t hath
rich fields about it, and all that the artizen
needs to make".yast workshops and great
riches. The city hath a chief ruler who
shapes its streets, paves them with rock
aud holds authority over its people. Let
us seize this city and be its chief rulers.
Then let us take ourselves all the fields and
waste places about it, and with the taxes
gathered from its people let Us make these
fields of great value, and then our chief can
turn the trade and growth of the city that
way. And thus these men counseled to-
gether and took it upon themselves to get
control of the city.
ring how they should ride into power, and
he was man Of many words and he spake
thus: Now "you sect we will go to the
people and say unto them ''put us to rule
over you and we will take none of your
taxes. We will serve the people for the
love we bear them. Then many of the
people hearkened unto them and cried out,
we want this man to rule over us. And
when the ring heard the voices they rejoic-
ed. They smole smile that was not sick
". Then the chief and his kindred spirits
smote their breasts before the people and
talked much of the great wisdom of the
chief. And the people took them for rul-
crs and the chief said it was good.
And he ruled over the people one year, and
in all that time he had many men to work about
his fields and houses. And when he could, he
got some Of the friendly of the people to sing
aloud his praises. And the people were kind
and good, and they thought it all well. And
so, when the time came to choose ruler for
another twelvemonth, the chief gathered his
ring and spake to them thus on see,' the
people think VIC are wise rulers, but We must
make many of them gifts that they do not raise
their voices against Us. We can we'll do this,
for it hath been of great profit to Us. For in
stance we have now many more lots for sale
with walks and cutters and streets about them.
And the people that come to dwell among US
and can help them. Other land-holders MUIR
muir at this, for they say their lots do not find
such ready sale, but by gifts to the people we
must make the songs of praise to hush the MUIR
murs." And the ring counseled together,
and they reckoned their chief had made
81 full doll in fwn
month"; and they told tie chief TO make the
gifts and they would pay for them. And the
chief gave out boots and shoes and hardware
and groceries and merchandi, G for his commissa-
ry and the men who came to him at his bank for
he is money lender for money got it by pay
ing him usurious rates, but many of them
thought not of this, but sang his praises with
the multitude. AnG the chief gave many gifts
of the money OF the ring to the multitude and
loud sang they of his virtues as chief ruler
And when the ring heard this they said 10 !!
how foolish are the people and how artful is our
chief And so the chief ruled again and again,
and the taxes from the people all went to the
benefit of the ring, so much so, that although
they gave very many gifts, so many that wise
men maryeled at it, yet many of the people
knew it not. But the chief grew so bold and
selfish that the murmurs grew louder than the
songs of the multitude that took gifts or were
of Kin to the chief, and then the people took
counsel of each other and when they SAW how
they naQ Deen Q6ceIFeu tuey WeTO feASO, anu
many felt ashamed that they had not sooner
seen through the tricks of the ring. And the
latter became fearful lest their power would
pass from them, so they held counsel and one
that was fond of jest and made fun for the peo-
pie arose and said, now that the people are slow
to take our gifts unless they be very large, and
as the shrewd people watch US We will hire US
Jester and an organ" that makes music for the
people and the jester shall beat the drums and
grind the organ and we will raise shouts and
hire people to cry aloud about our jests and
laughing and so they will turn from those VINO
tell them of our decetful ways. And the chief
thought it wise and while the jester sang Songs
and beat the gong and made lond noise with
the old ''organ" that the people listened to be-
cause of the new noises put forth, the chiefgave
out his gifts and loweredthe usurious charges
for many, at his bank and told the people about
his rule many curious things. And still anoth-
er of the ring went to the multitude and said if
they could rule out lone year more" their fields
would all be city lots and they would be con-
tent But the people were indignant and now
word cometh from the city that the deceitful
rulers who made false promises to the people
and took from their taxes without rendering
unto them value therefor are to be overthrow.