The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-08-13
rHE NaToVa1 qalDuvH: lzE = a. THURSDAY AUGUST 49, 1896

ioue of hcwitching manner amazingly popu-
lar. Both conspired against the crown botn
were vain, jealous, aspiring and plotting.
AbsaionIs Methods.
He began tn put OH much of royalty in his
eouipage. That pleased the people. 1hey
wanted their King to assume moro OF the
grandeur common to Oriental rulers. A6satom
secured chariots and had them drawn Dy
horses. Samuel had told the people, when they
demanded II King That such customs pe'hg
common for Kings would be practiced ny thei1
own rulers. Sam. g.: II. The use OF horses
by Israclires was not allowed by the law. Den,
l7:l6 Nevertheless. Solomon had chariots
and horses. HI. 10: 26. 20. When Adonl-
inh aspired to become King. he also began TO
a assume similar royal usage<. HI. 1: D.
Ahsalo,n also had 80 runners. V. ]. Thus
lid Adonjaii. Josephus tAnt.. Z. 8, ~ called
| them armor- hearers They have been styled
Ivy some commentators. drdHt cour1crs. STACK
| house made them a body guard. Absalom put
on MI the style of Prince royal and heir APP
parent.
He rose up early. "a. He wanted TO
! gain reputation for great industry. lie was
so concerned for the "dear people" that ne
couid not slrep Then. the masses must De
/ early risers, and Absalom desired the pe"pie TO
gain the impression he was one oil then', eapa-
! BILE of sympathiZing with them
He stood beside tho way OF the gate. That was
the usual place of congregating. There he could
| come into contact with the niuitituhe He WAS
| conscious Of his grand figure and progressing
ways, and knew the influence OF SUCH adVau-
| tayrs on the public.
/ When the people complained he commended
them lie told them they had reason 10 DC
! aggrie we'd He always took their side, although
| tl1nt side was against the Crown and harmiui 10
his father.
He became a demagog. He was all things
to all smen. lie assumed all the tricks OF the
La. ar e.
| body-spoke TO every bod y-smlled on every
body. He shook hands with all-patted them
on the shnuder-button-holed them-and as
was not socially unusual then and there, ne
kissed them. Plato says in his Republic BOOK
8: When anyone intends to make himseii
tyrant in popular State, no no sooner enters
on the Government but lie smiles npon and
kindly salutcs all sorts of people wherever ne
meets them; avowing that he hates tyranny,
promising great things, both III private ana
pubic and making as If he would he mild ana
gentle and fatherly to all" And Iacitus says
OF Otho, that he nsed to kiss and shake hanas
with anyone court and adore the moi, ana 90
evnry little servie thing, to get possession u
the Governments" Tao. Hist, Book l. Arts
to1Ie in his work on Politics, says, Book V,
Chap. A: "All changes and revolutions In COY
eminent are made by one of these two ways
either by force or violence or else by deceit and
craft" Absalom reminds the student OF VII
gips Turnus. Book VII lines 473, 4I4 Stack
house says of Absalom Nor was there ever a
man better formed by nature TO manage mat
tiers in this latter way {by craft than was a b.
SALON., who was a person Of courage ana gar
lautry. of civlity and courtesy, yonng ana
: wonderfully beautiful. descended from Kings
both by fathers and mothers side, and prohf
gal enough OF large and magnificent promises
if he over came to be King"
: TO get away under cover OF good excuse a 0
SALON. pretended that when banisbe' he vo"et
that IL restored to Jerusalem and his father
favor he would make thank offering at lie
s. broD. He had delayed the duty and his con
(. science troubled him. Hence he asked roya
leave to go and fulfill his row. David ala no
suspect disloyalty but rather rejoiced in tn
conscientiousness and Righteousness of his son
He devised a sort of teegraphic system owe
the country, so that signals could be given a
the right moment and practically simuita
> neously. thus securing united co-operation.
As if guests of Absalom he took 200 leadin
men with him to attend the sacriiiciai feast
The men were not let into the secret at once
David had such good hold on the crow
+, that it is not likely Absaom took a position
against the King. but rather acted as thong
his father becoming old Wa pleased to have hi
!. son assume power and relieve David. =
Specially was isalom anxious TO secure tn
assistance Of Ahiihophel, who for some reaso
y had been politically sheIved and could be eas
led to act against David. His very name is tn
symbol of treachery. Hc was sagacious. 16
90 1t was always grief to David that on
who had been so dear to him should become
traitor. Ps., Al 80; 50: 12-l4. His death, INK
that of m ost of those who are so vile-e. g., Xix
- that of Absalon1-was violent. 1923 Ahiti
). ophel was grandfather OF Bethsheha, and Their
> was a grim justice, marked retribntive fines
in his becoming the instrument to II large a.
> gree of David's punishment for his crime again'
Uriub.