The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-17


So might rest forgiven Of all tonight.
Y Oh, friends, pray tonight &e -
Keep not your kisses for my dead cold brow!
Think gently Of mel am travel worn;
My faltering feet are pierced with many thorn
Forgive, oh, hearts estranged! forgive. plead
When dreamless rest is mine shall not need
The tenderness for which long tonight.
| A Modern Crusade. r
Amongst the countries OF the world rouni
which almost universal interest centre.
stands pre-eminently the land OF Palestine
Bleak and barren as It is, and the very home
OF desolation, there is one spot in it to which
have gathered successfully the armies both
OF pagan and Of Christian lands, and which
has been the battle-ground between infdeli.
ty and religious faith. The city Of Jerusa.
lem, this place Of interest, is ruin; its TEN
pie has fallen, its palaces are only mud ho-
wells; around it the wandering Bedouin pitch
es his tent and the crescent Of Islam floats
from its walls. And yet even to-day the
holy shrine hewn out in It's rocks is the most
sacred spot in the minds Of the faithful, and
| ''Those holy fields, Hi'47'itri siAF
| Over whose acres walked those blessed feet
Which eighteen hundred years ago were nailed
For our advantage on the bitter cross, "a {,
have been the resting spot Of weary pilgrims
and devotees. In the light Of present events
it is worth while inquiring as to the proba-
bilities OF another conquest of this historic
city being inaugurated. From the year174O
down to the outbreak of the Crimean war
the world had almost forgotten the conflicts
which had been waged for possession of this
place. But simultaneously with that out
break both students of history and states;
men developed a marvellous interest in its
history. Some were optimists enough to be-
lieve that ancient prophecy was about to be
fulfilled. that the glories Of the Shekinah
were about to be restored, and that the ma
ton which had been scattered throughout
the world would again return and rebuild
their ruined homes. ~ II
But no such results followed, and to- day
the city is as difficult OF access as ever, while
the adventurous tourist who visits it has to-
pass through an enemy's country and al.
most to travel with his life in his hand. The
opening Of another war between Turkey and
Russia has again stirred up attention, and
many speculations have been INDUCED in as
to the probable effect of the conflict on the
possession Of Jerusalem. Following close
as it has on the publication of s.Daniel De.
ronda,' in which the return Of the Jews to-
their own land was so strongly dwelt upon,
there are many who deem that the time is
about ripe for making an attempt to free the
Holy Land from the rule Of the Turk and.
place it under the protection Of the civilized
world. That the present war is one of sem
timent cannot for moment be doubted.
The natural animosity which exists between
the Russians and the Turks is one OF the
best incentives to infaming their religious
fanaticisna, and it is only reasonable to sup
pose that Independent of the condition OF
the Christians in the Turkish provinces be-
ing set up as cause for war, their minds
will also be directed to that focal point in
Palestine round which the creed of the
Christian Church revolves. Once let the
Russian hordes pour into Armenia and Pal
estine and a crusade would open beside.
which that led by Peter the Hermit would
fade into insignificance. It does not matter
that the geographical position Of Palestine!
initiates against the idea Of annexing it to,
any other power. Abstract principles and
ideal plans have often played more import,
ant part in attempted eonquests than if there
had been substantial reasons for che strug.
gle. So, although the land in question is,
virtually cut off from .Christendom, while
the Syrian and Arabian deserts which sur,
round it are utterly valueless, it is not too!
much stretch Of the Imagination to assume
that the Russian pilgrims may yet flock by
thousands to the Holy Sepulchre, and that
the turbaned Turk, who glares deGantly on
the Christian beneath the very shadow Of
the temple, may be driven back into the.
desert, which was his original home.
There seems to be nothing, however, at
present to lead us to believe that the Jews
seriously contemplate the occupation Of
Palestine. Blended together as they are
with other nations, enjoying equal rights
with them, and being recognized as factors
in their prosperity and advancement, it
would be a visionary dream to suppose that
they would gather to a land where nothing
but sterility exists until the way had at least
been to certain extent paved for their COM
ing. If Palestine were to be possessed by
the Christian Powers and placed under their
protection, a new order of things might
arise. Should England maintain her prom
Use OF neutrality such an attempt is not inn
probable, and the destiny which men believe.
Jerusalem has in store for her may soon take
shape. Once let civilization enter there, and
the whole aspect Of the country would be
changed. Travellers cannot at present GO
from Jerusalem to Jericho without falling
amongst thieves, and with but little hope OF
q good Samaritan being near to help them
But with the construction Of railroads and
the introduction of labor, the hills and plains
of that sacred land would again become
fruitful, and the dream Of the exiles who sat
by the waters Of Babylon and wept, might
at last be realized. A land like Palestine,'
rich in events from which three hundred
millions Of people draw their inspiration,
should be the common property Of all, and
although the longing for its possession might
not Justify war and bloodshed, yet il the
present conflict indirectly brings a change
in its government, new value will attach
to it both in the eyes Of the student, the
churchman, and the Archaeological. A rail-
road depot in Jerusalem and modern hotel
in Jericho may seem homogeneous, but they,
could not offend more than does that intense
and unmitigated fanatieism which rules in
the Holy City, and to which civilization and
industry are alike hateful.-BaN.. american.
Rev. Wright G.. Campbell has received a
call from the Lutheran congregation in Mad
ison county. Mr.. Campbell will be remem-
bered as the young man who was associated
with G. Shiery in an unsuccessful attempt to
establish daily paper in Staunton several