Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-08-18
Ex-senator Foote'S Repentent Conies
SiONS.
From Foote's Reminisc

SiOnS.
From Foote's "reminiscences.
have seen for nearly fifty years that any
,,;,Yur, to disrupt this Union of States
and divide it into separate republics, even it
.rr,sssiu, would be ruinous to all engaged
Lcrciu opening the way, as it would certainly
do, to continued border wars standing armies
t,r the purpose of guarding against ever ln-
rcpdng attacks from without, and the ultimate
establishment of monarchica despotlsm 10
Zach one Of the new formed confederacles. No
Individual will ever be found who had clearer
CONVICTIONS than [ have always entertained OF
rbe inevitably demoralizing influence OF all wars
and especially of those occurring between peo-
pe Of the same derivation, language, aud civil
history. And yet was drawn into that very
war which had so long dreaded and SO often
prcdcted My nature was too weak to resist
the Influences, which were brought to bear
upon me- When the blood OF my kindred be-
gan to stream upon my natal soil; when all with
whom | stood connected, either by ties OF con-
Sauguinity or of affinity had taken sides IN the
col hict; when my beloved native State, the
venerat.d mother of many States, and the pro-
liiic genetrix of so many men OF immortal re-
nown, broke loose from her moorngs aud un-
turled the Confederate banner almost 10 view
of the National Capitol, my once boasted hrln
ness gave way. became an earnst champion
OF resistance. | aided 10 armlpg my gallant
young couDtrymen of the South agalnSt the
wi,cs!, noblest, treest Government that the Wit
of nau has ever put IN action. l dld TINS
without sober and scrutlnlzlng examination
of all the real circumstances then IN existence;
in;ued 10 making causeess and unprovoked
w,r: war, too under an Executive Chief whose
iocompetcncy had long known; the selhshnesS
FINN M
his wizard physiogDomy was to my vision;
whose awless aspirations to despotic power
had for Tor many years more than suspected;
and whose overwecDiug prtjudlceS and partla'i-
ties could not doubt would be every moment
Ji>rlaying themselves so long as he could any
where find few blind servitors willing to obey
his beteStS and aid him in the qualification OF his
cpurmous and Unsuitable ambition. les en-
tered into that war bliudly and madIy, with
little to give me hope as to the future except
the known virtue and Intelligence Of the South
cru people and the heroic valor Of that chlval-
rUus aud selt-devoting soldiery whose merits
and whose sutferiugs in behalf of cause IN
which they had so impulsively entered will
stand enrolled iu ever living characters upon
the pages Of the just minded and phllosophlc
historians whom lutUre generations shall sup
ply
IL | CUulWlllCu LHC SIcdt cIlOl Va luy IL
oiung the ranks of insurrectoDary hostility
Ia,crnal government whose magnanlmlty against
that toward the conquered isat this instant call
ing forth plaudts from the whole civilized world,
much do rejoice that it is yet in my power to
make some little atonement tor my past .dere:-
lictlon by a free and full confession thereof aud
Iy doing all that is now possible for me to DO
in bindiug up the yet bleeding wounds OF civil
coLtct; iu guarding the unwary against future
alterations from civil rectitude, and especially
IN calming the rage of ever-termentlng sectional
!sT: in supprcssing extreme party zeal where
SOtver it may be found, and in persuadlDg good
men everywhere to join MS compatrlots and
brethren in upholding our benefcently framed
aud yet more benehceutly amended organic Sys-
ten against all who may essay to ovcrturn 1t by
open violence, or to sap It's foundations BY the
covert and insidlous encroachments OF spolls-
loving and principle renounclng partlsanshlp,
TUE MAMMOTH RELIGION. tourist
ROAMING over the suuny lands of the East, can
not bu, gaze with admiring wonder on the
gorgeous temple ediGces that everywhere meet
the eye. Even amid the superatlve richness
OF tropical scenery they stand cOnsplcuous-
their Scuder, gilded spires towering upward
offend hundreds of feet, till they seemed lost
in the blue ether; their tinted tiles Of green and
gold, rejecting as by prism all the coors OF
the rainbow; and their myriads of tiny, tinkling
bells pendent from every turret and gable OF
the yauItcd roof breathing out sweet music at
each touch of the passing breeze. Nowhere
else, mol even on their magnificent palaces, or
the gorgeous abodes of their kings, do Orlentals
80 lavish time and money, taste and skill, as 90
Tie temples of their gods. Amid the wealth
Of Iuxurauce the Divine Creator has scat
tered 50 plenteousIy around, these seem IN per
icct accord-mUnument of a Devotion and SELF
sacrifice that challenge our admiration, even
While awakening pity for Il zeal SO sadly ms
Placed. Never were devotees OF any creed or
'ath Sc last bound in its thraldom as are these
disciples Of Buddh or Gaudama; while this
iIauMoth religion numbers as its votarles more
'an five hundred and fifty millions OF human
'eIng>, or nearly half the population of our
tobe For some two thousand five hundred
Years 1t has been the established religion OF
Garnah, Siam, Laos, Pcgu, Camboda, Thlbet,
Japan, Tartary. Ceylon, the LooChoo and
Many ncighboring islands, besides about two
,hrdS Of China and a large portion OF 81
il%,Ha; and at the present day no inconsidera-
oe humber Of the simple peasantry OF Swed-
1sn Laplaud are found among its firm adher-
ents
Buddhism in its pure form. undoubtedly
had Its origin in Hindos,an. where its founder
S was born; and thence, by the almost super
M0'llan efforts of its its priests and devotees, it
was scattered far and wide all through eastern
l":de, and shouthern Asia. When Moham-
Hcaan>n was first Introduced into Java, the
i,roFIc were all Buddhists; and they clung to
uelr established religion with tenacity that
even the fire and sword of the false prophet
T:' Mre IN mauy cases incapable of subduing. Iu
i''lIostau, within few centuries after the
ESa'l OF Gaudama, we fad the Brahnins
"''cGIy Prosecuting tho Buddhists, and ulti-
na'riy cxpelIing them from the country yet to
I,ls iaay, despite the deadly malignity of the
pp'aSam!ns, the persistent warfare waged against
buddhism by Mohammedens, and the CON-
S; |''sa prayers and efforts Of all Chrstcudom, no
m;nS.' Mv.Sne victory has been achieved over this