The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-03-10
ORR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.

RUSSIAN REFUGEES-''G SHOULD
ANEND-FoREIGN DIPLOMATIC SER
vICE-JoNAH AND THE VII ALE-THE
PRESENT MODE OF ELECTIEG PRES
DENT, ETC.
Regular Correspondence Of THE FREEMAN
PHILADELPHIA, March 6, 1882.
DEAR HENRY-The Academy of Mu-
sic was crowded on Saturday last with
those of our citizens who were eager to
show their sympathy and generosity for
the Russian refugees, where they gave
voices to their feelings in regard to the
inhuman atrocities committed upon
them, The day was all the more appro-
pirate for .he meeting because of the an
nual celebration of Purim festival
With the common instincts of humanity
all classes of our citizens of all religious
differences came together to sympathize
with the outcasts and to protest against
RusSia'S persecution of them. The
voice of the entire American people
should be raised in the most emphatic
condemnation of the irhuman atroci-
ties now being perpetrated upon de-
fenceless race, The barbarous persecu-
tion of the Jews now going on in Russia
is a reproach to civilization. The whole
history of the Jews since Constantine
took the new creed under the protection
of his corquering eagles, is record of
Spoliation, oppression, Punishment and
massacre. Why is this The Jewish
scriptures are recognized as an integral
part of our sacred books Out of Juda-
ism came our religious faith. A Jewish
maiden was the chosen of God for the
Mother of Christ, without whose cruci-
iXiOn the scheme of our salvation could
not have been fulfilled. Whatever guilt
may be attached to the Jewish people
for the part they played in the tragedy
that took place near Jerusalem eighteen
centuries ago was long abundantly eX-
plated. Such of the Jews as consented
to our Saviour's crucifixion at the hands
of the Roman soldiers were, like the SOL
dier's themselves, instruments of PIoVi-
dence.
GATH" SHOULD AMEND,
"Gath, " the correspondent of the Gin
cmnati Enquirer. speaks of four great
chapters of dark politics in this coun-
try. The first was the rivalry between
Jefferson and Hamilton. Tie second
that between Jackson, Calhoun and
Crawford. The third the attempt to de-
feat Douglass for the Democratic nomi-
nation, and the fourth the scheme of
Conkling 81 Co.. to break down Garfield
and Blaine. "GaJh'' should be remind
ed that his declaration needs amending.
He failed to include the darkest of all
chapterS-that of thePresldential SLealby
the Stalwart Manufacturing Company.
1t seems little singular that Gath"
should have failed to include the dark
est of all the political crimes of the
country.
OUR FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.
In view of the many foolish acts of
tho Government representatives abroad,
would it not be better to DO away with
our entire foreign diplomatic service.
The New Y ork Sttn, after an eXhaus-
tive review of the labored literary ef-
forts of the foreign representatives of
American Diplomacy abroad, springiDg
from the compulsory system OF consul
lar correspondence instituted by Mr..
Evarts, disposes of the whole subject
matter with the laconic declaration that
1.-THE Chief difference between a pain
Consul and q fancy Minister Resident
or Minister PicuipOtentdry and Envoy
Extraordinary is that the Consul earns
his salary by doing things many of which
are utterly useless, while the Minister
earns his by doing nothing at ALL"
JONAH AND THE WHALE.
A certain Brooklyn clergyman has
lately been employing the powers of his
mighty intellect in explaining how SUI
pernatural events, such as Jonah and
the whale, may be in accordance with
natural laws. But, unfortunately, in
proportion as Mr.. Taimage succeeds in
explaining miracles he succeeds in ex-
planning them away. In undertaking to
explain, or to defend the scriptural ac-
count of Jonah and the whale, his
doughty sermon was much like his series
of doughty sermons in reply to Inger-
ha. M
rather calculated to awaken doubts in
the minds of those who read and hear
them than 80 convert any actual infidels.
Champions such as Talmage, who have
entered the lists to break lanceS with
IngcIsol in behalf of religion, ar do
ing Christianity more harm ;hau good.
lngtTsoll's most trenchant weapon is
ridicule, and ridicule cannot be replied
to by the defenders of religion, or of
any other great or viral interest of man
kind, with the gravity and dignity, to-
gether with the effectiveness, which be-
fit the subject The most valuable in
stitutions of society, the wisest usages
of civilization, the most sacred passions
and the hottest sentiments of human ma
ture, may be by an adroit and ingenious
scoffer, such as IngersOll, put in an alb
surd light, 1t is silly to attempt to an
swer Bob's infide|ic jests and jeers.
Anything whatever may be made the
butt of sarcasm.
Talmage's sermon in explanation of
the Scripturdl account of Jonah and
the whale reminds me of the story told
concerning lecture on tbs whale. a
man in Denver was lecturiug upon the
whale to an audience among whom were
a number of miners, and while telling
the story of Jonah and the whale one of
the excited rough diamonds shouted
out "See here, old pard, what in Ill
was Jonah doing with bis bowie knife
while he was prospecting in that thar
whale ?'' The lecturer was eXcusng
Jonah for not using his bowie knife by
telling the miner that the whale got the
drop on Jonah by catching the bowie
knife in its teeth, when a second man
cried out why in HI didn't he use
his revolver ?" and when the lecturer
excused Jonah for not using his revolver
by saying that it had got wet and was
out of order, a third rough diamond
yelled out, "Then why in HI didn't he
kick the stuffin' out of it ?'' The last
was a posser for which the poor lectur-
er was unable to give satisfactory
apology.
CHANGE THE MODE OF ELECTING A
PRESIDENT.
There never was such a delusion as
our present method of choosing a Pres
sident. At present an electoral col
lege'' is interposed between the people
, and the election. The voice of party
supercedes the voice Of the individual