Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-10-20
TIE Crime of Hannah.

Auc Ouuudy oShooi pupiis ore hOW
studying the book of Esther, one of
the most interesting and fascinating
stories in all literature. 1t teaches
many beautiful and useful lessons,
but these we leave to the sunday
School teachers. Our purpose in re-
ferring TO the story is to call atten.
ton to the single statement that in
consideration of n large sum of
money to be paid Hannah Obtain ed
from the king permission to EXTERN,
mate n whole race Of people in order
to wreak his vengeance upon one
man who had refused to bow down
before him. So far as rhe text in.
forms us t. the contrary, it had never
occurred to the king to destroy these
people until the wicked suggestion
was made by his premier, and the
only two arguments that Hannah
used were that the people were
troublesome and that be would pay
into the treasury something like
Sl6,000,000 for the privilege of ex-
terminating them. Without either
discussing or considering the mat
ter, The kiLg readily gave his consent
and seemed to think that he had
made very good bargain in selling
the lives of these people for so con
siderable n sum of money.
In this enlightened age we shud
der ut the thought of such n cruel
deed, aud we tell our little ones that
such could not happen now. Yet,
at this very time the most enlighten-
ed nation on earth Is making war
upon a little republic down in South
Africa, and it has been time and
again stated through the public press
In the most matter of fact sort of
way, that it Is 10 be war of ex-
termination. What is the real secret
OF this war? Gold and diamonds.
That sounds like a harsh saying, but
it is true. Had the diamond IN mes
and the gold fields of South Africa
never been discovered, there had
been no war now in the Transvaal.
An important historian in reviewing
the courses that led up to the war
uses this language: The Transvaal
government had its heart set on two
great aims. One was to shut off
Cape Colony from the North, the
other to establish seaports of its
own. In short, the British took so
little interest 10 this matter, that it
is not impossible that the Beers
might stealthily and gradually have
succeeded in their double aim, des.
pite the diligence of Cecil Rhodes
and Sir Hercules Robins IN. But
the discovery of gold in the Wit
watersrand hills changed every
thing"
This article is not written special
ly to condemn Great Britain, fol- as
our readers know, we have said that
any other nation, even liberty loving
America, would probably have per.
sued the same course under similar
provocation. As things now go it is
hard to see just how this war could
have been averted. but the war is
none the less terrible and none the
less inconsistent with the high pro-
fessions of civilized nations.
In another article we have spoken
of the Commercial Congress in Phil.
adelphia, and have quoted from
some of the speakers who dwelt low
ingly on the topic of "universol
brotherhood" 1t is but little
while since the representatives of
the great powers of the earth met to-
gethel III peace conference, the OBJ
Ject Of which was to establish a uni
versal code by which disagreements
between nations might be settled
without resort to the sword. But
for all this, and for all our high
sounding phrases, we are still SAVAGE
In our nature. Let two nations get
into dispute about their posses.
sions and they are as ready as even
the savages OF old were to fight for
the coveted prize. We cannot fairly
claim to be civilized or Chris,ianized
until we abolish war and settle opr
disputes by peaceful arbltrament.
The spi it of the wicked Haman ia
still marching on -Richmord Times.
The campaign in i we'll this