The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-06-24
A Remarkable Poem-The Patron
Saint Of Political DemagOgues.

A
This poem is the production of W. W. Story, the
American Poet and SCULPTOR master in both
arts-who has for some years resided abroad, and
who has illustrated his patriotism by giving four
years gratntous labor in producing appropriate
statuary for the Centennial.
In this poem, young Roman lawyer is repre-
sented as sojourning in Jerusalem, in the first
century, some years after the crucifiKion of
Christ A companion, having grown tired of
Jerusalem, is about leaving for Rome, and by his
hand the lawyer sends an epistle to legal friend
in Rome. His subject is the betrayal of Christ
by Judas, the story of which be has had from
fhe lips of an old man, who was leader of the
band of Centurions that seized Christ. He gives
the old mans narrative, and then sums up the
case as it appears to him. The argument is to
show that Jndas was the only one who really and
fully believed that Christ was God, and that his
act of betrayal was scheme to convince the
people of christ's power, and exhibit him to the
world in all his glory. When he discovered that
he really had betrayed Christ to death, his hor-
ror and agony, and his speedy suicide, are thrill
| lingly depicted. There was never a legal case
argued more closely, and all the facts and cir
cumstanees so clearly shown up and connected
together. Whatever the readers belief may be
concerning the betrayal. he cannot but admire
the ingenuity with which the case is stated and
reasoned.
At this distance of time, the account of the be-
trayal of Christ looks thin even if the different
chronicers of the affair were agreed in their ac-
counts. Saying nothing of Judas having been
placed and put in a position of trust, while
| 10 l,o ol,i Of
picion, we would like TO know what occasion
there was for Judas or any other man to betray
Christ, or for the authorities to offer bribe for
his arresti Christ never hid himself. According
to the four Gospels, he was daily out among the
people, preaching to them, healing the sick, and
performing miracles. A great part of his time
was spent in and about Jerusalem. The ac-
counts by his own apostles almost invariably
represent him as having been surrounded by
great multitudes. He preached, healed the sick,
raised the dead to life mraculously fed thou
sands of people, cast ont devils, and performed
various kinds of wonders, all in the presence of
multitudes of people. He even scourged the
Wall Street gold gamblers of Jerusalem out of
the temple, denouncing them for everything that
was mean Added to all this, he was man of
remarkable personal appearance. Can it be pos
sbe that such man was SO little known to the
public, that it was necessary to bribe one of his
followers to point him out, and to sneak upon
him after nighti The story won't wash; and
poor Judas must be banged about for all time,
because the other apostles wanted to clear them
selves of all blame suspicion.
But we want to set up the claim of Peter as
being the patron saint of modern political dema-
gogues and time-servers. Read the four Gospels
through, and you will find that Peter was always
on hand always oficious, and always putting in
his lip, even correcting Christ's statements, and
giving him advice. When he saw Christ walk
ing on the water, he wanted to show that he
could do the same thing; and when he found he
could not make the rifle, he squealed most Wig
orously for help. At the last SUPPER when Christ
said that one of the twelve would betray him,
Peter was anxious to know which one it was,
intimating, by a look, that he would go through
him like dose of salts. But he said he would
stand by Christ, if all the rest deserted him.
| When Christ told him he would even deny him
before morning, Peter made so bold as to dispute
his word, and insist that he did not know his
man. Christ could always depend upon him.
But Peter, the political trimmer always made it
point to be on the big side. When the soldiers
came to arrest Christ Peter up with his sword,
and slashed off one fellows ear. (We could new
er exactly understand why a follower of Christ,
the Prince of Peace, should go about with sa-
bre Gathering at his heels, like Second Lieu
tenant in the Home Guards.) But when this
| fellow Peter found that Christ was actually in
the hands of the military, he forgot his prom
| ise to stand by him, but ran like a euss. That
didn't seem to be the beating side, just then. He
afterward sneaked along in the rear to find out
how the land lay. He mixed in the crowd, and
found matters pretty blue. The party to which
he belonged was disorganized. Some one recog-
nized him, and aeeused him of belonging to
Christ's party. He denied it, and lied like a
thief He even swore to the lie-the Scripture
says he cursed and swore, and denied that he
knew Christ. But he did not make his point
He was regarded with suspicion. and felt there
was no chance for him there; so he went out and
wept and beloved like calf. And after thus
denying Christ to his very face, and swearing to
the lie we are told that Peter holds the keys of
Heaven. The other disciples, who remained
true, but had less cheek, occupy back seats.
Now, what could be more like the modern po-
liticai shyster He always sticks himself close
to the ear of the party leader, until the public
begin to wonder whether he is not really the
big man, and the reputed leader character of
secondary Importance. His nose is foremost in
everything, until the party meets with a reverse,
when he is found training to the other side; but
if his party finally triumphs, he gets the fat Office
and holds the keys to official favor, while the
men who remained steadfast, and achieved the
triumph, are left in obseurity.
Let us hope that such fellows as David and
Peter do not hold the balance of power in Hesv-
| en-!
~ 1t is confidently asserted that If Mr. Beecher would
declare that he the author of the tablets of Moses
hundred Of hundred and of his flock would
heve it-NdrSh. Hess.
UonIdn;t thav ha al,out corract in tb;s