The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-04-22
ALL ABOUT "OLIVE BRANCHES.

cIllatlrn. The tenuereSt INFANT IN our
Sunday schools lisps the story of the Bib
heal bird i'll whose mouth was an olive
leaf pluckt off, and the sight of which
gladdened the eye and heart of old Noah,
the first recorded mariner.
Among the early Greeks. the olive was
sacred to Minerva. the goddess of wis
dom. as the emblem of honor, dignity,
and purity. With the AthenianS.
crown of olive twigs was the emblem Of
the highest distinction of 4 citizen who
had merited well of his country. either
on the Bench, in the camp, or in the
forum.
In the Olympic games it was the Gov
cted prize of the victor and the Athenian
athlete valued above diamonds and ru-
hies. this proud emblem of his physical
strength and proves.
Revercd. however. as the ''olive branch
has been in history and in antiquity.
respectable as it may be from its classic
associations. as the symbol of peace, of
wisdom of honor. of virtue. of dignity.
of strength. and of prowess, vet. meta
phoricallv speaking. "olive branches
are slightly withered in reputation, in
deed are very much faded in character.
in these less ancient and less classical
ont more sensible and common sense
days. of intelligence and steam, of news
papers, and common schools.
To ship-huilder of Noah's modest at
tainments, and somewhat limited repu-
tation, it is doubtless true that the " olive
hranch.' with the idea it suggested, was
something simply immense.
There was :. most excellent reason why
it should be so.
1t was Noah's first appearance as a
navigator, as well as the first prominent
public transaction in which the "olive
branch = had taken a part.
Since the DAYS of Noah and the classic
era Of the Athenians. however. the olive
branch area and idea have been some
what expanded-the latter, indeed we
may remark, having been considerably
perverted.
What was originally good. and good
because it was original. has. by excessive
nsapplcation and misuse, become stale
and Improbable. As a symbol, We mean
of honesty and DISTINGUISHED good will.
In sooth. "olive branches are not as
respectable as they once were.
The ancestral - olive branch. " the true
,.li. genuine stock. WAS doubtless glori-
.n> old thin~ i'll its day.
But those Were the days of sincerity in
'hurch and State. of honesty in religion
and in politics,
The original "olivc branch" the old
man of all. the first root Of this very pro-
Iiiic and Widespread family, was undoubt-
eilv the true symbol of the true. and
-omethiu. excellent in its way.
| Respectable, however. as was the an
cestor. WHAT graceess scamp and scape-
! goat his latter-day progeny has become.
What travesty npon the genteel old
man.
The parent idea of the symbol has en-
| tirely changed in the oh ldren.
| 1t has became too promiscurus by far
tnn miscellaneous hy half
! 1t has lost reputation by bad associa
fion upon the principle that evil com
! Eiuuicatinn corrupt good manners. until
the Symha! has become the badge Of the
unworthy. and the resource Of the Gun
uing.
Need we adduce instances to supper
the assertion?
2Tr. Charles Francis Adams, a gentle
man of national reputation, but very re
Gently he4uiied into hanco game il
Boston and tlccced by sharpers OF nine
teen thousand dollars in checks, was APP
preached bg the conspirators with thu
traditional .'oIive branch"
y burglar. not very long ago, tapped ;
New England bank safe, abstractcd bond
10y the million. and afterwards made over
lures looking to their restoration. tina
We're accepted b. those Interested.
He used an ""1ive brauch. of course
The fact is tine use of the symbol has
by general prostitution. become a ciea
ease of stealing the livery Of Heaven I
serve the Devil in.
When an "olive branch y is tlauute
in your face be on your guard for decei
and triclSery.
1t were bad enough that criminals, whe
about to condone their miSdemeanors ant
fclunieS. always hang ont an "oliv
, branch
even with politicians.
| Every politician, whether seeking
, place of high or lsw degree. keeps o
Ind : stock of ready made "oliv
, branches.
Recent local political history in Mary
land furnishes cases III point, some c
. under the shadow of an "oiivc branch.
The symbol Of peace and good will, me
with more ambition than Judgment {
discretion. have turned war-like hau
against their party brethren and wit
whom they were at peace.
We have tratlickcr in "oli?e- oranch
wares right at our own doors.
Our contemporary of Tie Cecil Democr'
deals in that stock and of the Mtnnf
kind.
Like Hodges razors. or the old Sc!
: ton 5 spade. they were made to take til
people i'll.
He generally holds one well in the pull
lie eye, and by careful handling, maj
ages to keep it blooming and booming.
; Some ofhs s. olive branches" have rel
dered him most excellent service, VIVA
! ever service he himself may in turn has
rendered the people.
Not very long ago. when the DEM
cratic County Commissioners, in plat
knnSH in history as the Hole-in tn
= WALL could not possibly agree upon
;, clerk, and the dead -iOcG doNp stat
promised to be as everlasting as OF
county bonded Indebtedness, our Gotten
!, porary came along with his little "oii'
branch" when 10, presto-ehange IN
the deadlock turned to lite-iuck. Whe
he consented, simply as a peace-inake
to accept a handsome salary for the Sc
vice. and became clerk to the Coun,
i Board, while another man did the wor