The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-06-29
Senatorial Scripture.

To prove the fallacy Of free trade
in wool Senator Proctor recently
quoted Scripture, convulsed the Sen.
ate and est ,blished an enviabe rep
utation as a humorist, all in one
speech. Thus the good book is made
to serve all purposes. We give the
gist Of his Scrlptural applications,
though we fail to see wherein the Al.
mighty ever instructed any nation on
earth TO corner wool. With no other
hope except to amuse the digsihed
body, so called, the Senator proceeded
with Republican argument as follows: {:
"The first recorded attempt to
break down the interests of sheep hus-
bandry was when Cain slew his brother
Able, who was the keeper of seeep."
The Senate was Immediately con.
vulsed, and the closest attention was
paid to the quaint remarks of the tall
statesman from Vermont. He contin.
ued: "The motives and purposes
which actuated Cain were plainly the
same as those which actuate his fol.
lowers to-day. 1t was jealousy of a
preferred and protected industry.
Cain was a tiller of the ground, and
brought OF the fruit Of the ground an
offering unto the Lord"
"This offering may have been Of
rice or cotton or sugar-the Record
does not state. The punishment meted
out to Cain fairly foreshadows that
which shall be meted out by the peo.
pie to the promoters of this measure I;
mark shall be set upon them, and
when the time Of retribution comes
they will say, with Cain: My pun
ishment is greater than / can bear"
Mr.. Proctor went on to quote con.
sderaoly from the Holy Writ to show
that sheep husbandry was, from the
earliest times, considered a favored
industry. Abraham rendered eve
lambs as witnesses Of an oath in one
of the earliest real estate transactions
on record. Mr.. Proctor alluded to
the success Of Jacob in improving the
breed of sheep, which grew out of
bargain with Laban, his, father.in law,
as described in the 18th chapter of
Genesis. The quotations were partcu-
larly apt. "The shepherd and his call.
ing and his hock,' continued Mr.
Proctor, "are often alluded to in the
Holy Writ, and furnish some Of its
grandest imagery and most beautiful
illustrations. Many of those specially
favored of the Lord were shepherds,
and everywhere that calling is referred
to as one of the highest character,
plainly recognizing its Importance to
the welfare and prosperity of the peo-
pie"
"The fate of those who attack this
industry and the hocks of their country
is plainly foreshadowed in and prophe-
sled in many places" Mr.. Proctor
quoted the following: "David said
unto Saul, "Thy servant kept his
fathers sheep, and there came lion
and bear and took lamb out of the
flock and l went out after him and
smote him and delivered it out Of his
mouth, and when he arose against me
l caught him by the beard and smote
him and slew him. Thy servant slew
both the hon and the bear; and this
uncircumcised Philstine shall be as
one of them, seeing he has defed the
armies of the living God"
"The same fate, Mr.. President" ="
remarked Mr.. Proctor, in his deepest
bass and most solemn manner, ''will
surely be meted out to the political
Philistine of the present day in No
vember, 1894, and 1896. The rewards
awaiting those who are faithful in sus-
tanning the industries Of their country
are also foretold" Mr., Proctor quoted
several passages to show the glorious
future Of those who cared for the
sheep, and he concluded his reference
to the Bible as follows, sending the
Senate into convulsion Of laughter !;
GAS further evidence of the Divine
preference it is written that he shall
set the sheep on his right hand, but