The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-04
PARDON ILLUSTRATED.

There is an incident in the career of Henry
NJ. Stanley which beautifully illustrates the
exercise of pardon OIL the ground of substi.
tuition. In his recent explorations in Africa
he had great deal Of trouble with his
assistants on account of their propensity to
steal. Finally, lie decrecd that the next man,
who was caught stealing, should suffer the
penalty OF death. Not long after, great was
Mr.. SANKEY'S grief, upon learning that
Ulcdi, the braveSt and noblest Of his follow
ers, had been detected in committing theft,
of peculiarly aggravsting character. This
man had saved a hundred. lives, besides his
own, by his brilliant daring and skill, and he
was always successful and very kind. Very
sorry. therefore, was Mr.. Stanly that Uledi
Lad violated his commandment, but more
sorry that he should have to he executed
for his deed.
But Mr.. Stanley re olved to find 4 way out
of this serious affair without compromising
the majesty OF his government OF the mon.
So he called them all together and constitut-
ed them council. Tlirn he explained to
them the gravity Of U:cdi's crime, reminding
them of his own severe decree, and saying
that lie could Eot feel like executing it. He
would not shoot UIedi, nor would lie de-
mand that any of his m I'll should do what he
himself would not do. So, lie left it with
the council to decide what must be done
with the cu!prit; and they agre d that he
should be t!ogged.
= When the decision was announced, Uledi
lay crouched at the feet Of Stanley, while the
council gathered more closely around the
two. At that point one man, whose life was
saved by Uledi under circumstances OF re-
markable peril, stepped forward and said:
Give me half the blows, master" Then,
another one, with tender ..cccnts and falling
tears. said: "Will the master give his slave
leave to spcak~ Mr.. Stanley replied, eyes"
Then the Arab went to Uledi's side, knelt
down and said: 1.-The master is wise. He
knows al! that has been, for lie writes them
in 4 book. am black and know not. Nor
can remember what is past What we saw
yesterday is today forgotten.
"But the master forgcts nothing. He puts
1t a In that book. Each day something is
written. Let your slave fetch the book,
master, and turn its leaves. Maybe there is
something that tells how he saved Zaldi
from the white waters of the cataract; how
saved many mcn,-how many I forget
Fin All, Mabruki, Koni-Kusi-ot others, too;
how he is worthier than any three OF us;
how he always listens when the master
speaks, and flies forth at his word.
"Look, master at the book. Then, II the
blows must be struck. Shumari will take
half, and the other half. The master will
do what is right. Saywa has spoken" Upon
hearing this intcrccding and patht tic speech,
Mr.. Stanley threw away his whip, and said
"CleLi is free. Shum1ri and Saywa are
par,loned." This |, beautiful picture Of
pardon. on the ground of q proffered sui sti-
tuition of two fellow-men, in behalf Of an
other: but it does not extend so far as Gods
scheme Of pardon does.
Nor does the substitutionary feature Of II
cover the same extent Of ground that is seen
in the work OF Christ for he actually took
the sinners place, and received the blows
which the lazy of God had said that the sin
ner deserved. And yet, We may we'll admire
the scene which is pictured to us, in the
above narration. because it shows the pity
which was evoked, IN behalf Of one who had
violated his commanders law. 1t does not
suggest any appreciation Of the culprit's act
no sympathy with his sin, but q pity fol
him, in his condemned condition.
Besides this, the moral influence Of that
whole transaction seems to have been
healthy and effective. 1t doubtless did more
to restrain the forgiven man from repeating
the act than the threatened tiOgging would
have done, had it been executed. And may
we not say, that when we have felt q sense
of divine pardon for some specially aggrara'
ting sins committed; the effect has been
more subduing and stronger resolves to sin
no more have been made, than would have
been the case, had we not experienced such
a sense Of pardon? We think that such Il
the case Religious Herald.
Whatsoever we beg Of God, let US also