Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-09-16

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that they are greatly wronged by
somebody. Wherefore then lift We
up yourselves above the congrega-
ton of the Lord" How ready is hu-
man nature to hear its praises spoken,
even though the individual may
feel at the same time that he is not
worthy of it, and is only being fiat
tered for effect. What was Gods
opinion concerning these deina-
gogues and rebels? So terribly was
his wrath kindled toward them that
he caused the very earth to open
her mouth and swallow them up.
Again we find the ambitious and
inscriptions young demagogue,
Absalom, with his employed escort
of flatterers, who followed him
about, standing at the gate of the
city of Jerusalem, hailing the peo-
pie as they passed to and fro, and
filling them with feelings of discon-
tent and enmity against their gov
erment. He took advantage of that
thoughtlessnesso of the people, which
leads them to overlook the fact that
IL often4equires little but a bad heart
to find fault with and tear down the
labors of good men in government
and religion; while it requires more
of wisdom and integrity than is
often found among such destroyers
TO rebuild. Here we have an un-
grateful and degenerate son sitting
in Judgment upon the administra-
ton of his father, who was one of
the grandest of patriots, of warriors,
of statesmen, of kings and of poets.
Yonder comes some unhappy fell
low who has some matter about
which he wants to law. 1t seems
from the circumstances that his
complaint is of such character
that there is no law to which he can
appeal, which if true would indicate
that he is in the wrong, as God him
self was the author of the law of the
land, and cannot be supposed to
have erred. But what does the
young demagogue Absalom say to
him:
"See, thy matters are good and
right but there is no man deputed
of the King to hear thee. Absa-
lom said moreover, Q that l were
made Judge in the land, that every
man which hath any suit or cause
might come to me and would do
him Justice" q Samuel, Is, 3, A.
The result of this lemagoguery
was the creation of strong feeling
of Observation-Disclosures and unrest
among the people, eliminating in
an open and terrible rebellion, in
which the unfortunate leader and
lost his life.
In modern times we witness the
same schemes and demagOguery.
Men who are not capable of build
ing are trying to tear down. Those
who cannot better the condition Of
the people are trying to make them
with what they have.
The people themselves are greatly
prone to hear anything that seems
10 magnify their woes They have
become so accustomed to murlnlH-
ing, and grumbling, and complain
ing at their government and laws
that they seem to 4ilaves lost sight
Of the fact that they live in the best
Of all governments. / look upon
this spirit of murmuring and COM
planning as manifestation of in
gratitude to God. 1t is the same
spirit that was appealed to by Abb
SALON., that often manifested itself
in the journeyings of the children
Of Israel, and brought upon them
awful chastisements from God. On
the other hand, our, hearts ought to
be filled with joy and gratitude,
that heaven has poured out upon us
so tar in excess of our de-
3erts.- a ss.-.. q. o.. -
The facts that we should have
more or less of burden to carry in
order to keep up government, and
that we should be called upon to
make sacrifices for its good, are not
at all. On the other hand
it is astonishing that the burdens
Of government are not greater. In
the protection OF life, liberty, char
lcter and property, citizens receive
more in return for what they pay
out in the way of taxes than for any
other appropriation of their money
except when it is given
to God. Instead of humming and
and grumbling over the
of taxation we should, as
Christian citizens of a republic in
which we are the source of power,
promptly and cheerfully and hon
estly meet and discharge the duties
md responsibilities incidental to the
of those great blessings
Of protection to personal and prop
erty rights, secured to us by gov
4 nd those who undertake TO lead
he people, instead of falsely telling
them, as did the wicked Korah,
hat they are "holy, every one of
.hen," or as ambitious Absalom,
that they are unnecessarily neg
Iected and oppressed, should like
Moses have the moral courage to
boldly plant themselves on the side
If God and his truth, though it con-
lemn the people, and by honestly
md earnestly and unfiinchingly
for the right exert an
influence that will tend to elevate
md purify public sentiment, and
secure their ultimate good. In my |
Judgment, while the majority ought
% control at the ballot-box, it is not
rue that majority Of the people |
If this country are good men at |
ooart EortinotnIU hpNvpypr the