The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-21
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.


matter of absorbing interest in such
countries as China. Turkey, Persia, and
Morocco today. 1t is a question which
has caused many wars, especially IN the
Orient. 1t precipitated a crisis in Is
rael at the close of the reign Of old King
David. Then, as often since, aspirants
for the sceptre did not hesitate to con-
spire against the reigning monarch and
against the heir apparent. Adon1Jah,
the Pretender tried to possess himself
of the kingdom ahead of Solomon, for
whom David intended the throne. The
result was a dramatic series of events,
not without their meaning TO these
modern times
The Old King.
There is something pathetic in the
spectacle of old King David, 20 years OF
age and enfeebled by his griefs and
sins and turbulent career, being oblig-
ed to do battle for his rights against
his own flesh, and blood, and against
those who had fought by his side in
many a hard campaign The old king
should have been permitted to end his
days in peace, and to enjoy domestic
quiet after a life of action in court and
field. Yet, as is the fate OF most old
men who possess power in any form,
he was the constant object of the wiles
of the designing. Even his subsequent
course in the matter of Solomon was
the outcome of a shreWdly devised
scheme between Bathsheba and Nathan.
David's plan was that Solomon should
that this would come to pass naturally.
But, as at the beginning of his career,
and again during the rebellion OF Ap-
salon, so at the close of his days, ne
found that he must do battle for his
royal prerogatives. 1t is an illustration
of the old hymns declaration that we
must fight if we would reign. NO
kingdom worth having can be Kept
without constant vigilance and prepar-
edness for struggle.
The PRINCES Plot
one of the several sons of David was
Adoniiah, whose mother was Hagglth.
He was a pampered child of the palace.
OF him it is significantly written that
his father had never displeased him by
reproving him. The young man was al
lowed to go his own gait-and that pace
usually leads to sorrow and destructlon.
Adonijah like Absalom before him, be-
gan to plot for the throne. He won to
his side even old Captain Joab, the
head of David's army, and Abiathar,
the high priest. In his train also Ioi-
lowed every man who thought to bet
ter his own fortunes by treason to the
king and alliance with the rebel prince.
It was felt that the mistakes of ADJ
SALON. had been avoided, and now that
the king, with his ancient vigilance and
vieor departed, was passing his closing
DAYS in quiet, they would, all unnoticed,
be able successfully to raise the stand
ard of revolt at Zoheleth.
A Woman in Politics.
Ouite a little tumult was created at
the time over the part that women We're
said to have played in the aaffirs OF
the Russian and Boer wars. They were
charged with being the real force pc
hind the powers that governed. II was
commonly reported that their lntefler-
ence with the plans of the authorities
was responsible for a great deal OF the
disaster that came to the Russian anu
British armies. That is nothing new
however. Women have mixed up ~
a
organized society. Long before Cieopa-
fra, swayed rulers, Bathsheba-she for
whom David so grievously fell-Was ex-
ercising her wiles upon the aged mon
David himself did not know of the |
turn events had taken in the kingdom. |
Bathsheba did; and with Nathan as
sistance she planned that the truth
should be brought dramatically to the |
kings attention, that he should be |
made to see that the power had de-
parted from him; that Adon1Jah was IN
revolt; and that Solomon's chances OF
succession were inperiled. 1t all turn
ed out as woman wit had devised.
Upon realizing the situation, the lassi-
tude of the king wa shaken off,, and
he at once foced the problem of in |
surfing the scepter to Solomon.
A Conspiracy That Failed.
There was more of the king left in
David than Adonijah and his fellow
plotters had supposed The reVela-
lions made by Bathsheba and Nathan
stirred him to royal action Just as
the late political campaign has quick
ened the fighting vim of many old men
who have heard in the call of one or
the other party the great summons to
enter the noble arena of governmental
affairs, so David was reused from the
commonplace habit and Indifference
into which he had fallen. 1t takes a
national crisis to prove patriots; how
much more a king.
Without waiting for counsels or con-
ferences David struck a telling blow
at the usurper'S cause. Hastily sum-
moning Zadok the priest, Nathan the
prophet, and Benaiah, a man of af-
fairs, he ordered them to proceed at
once with the coronation of Solomon.
The incident is an ancient reminder
best way to parry is to hit" David
did not wait for the schemes of
Adonijah to have effect. He set up
the true king about whom the people
and ceremony and regularity and
royal sanction, Solomon was invested |
with the kingly office, the people cried |
aloud, Long live King Solomon" That
unexpected coup shattered the preten-
der'S chances.
DR. Wayland Hoyt has a telling SER
mon upon this incident His point is
that the way to meet lifes temptations
and ills is not by combating the bad,
but by GROWING the good. Evil may
best be put to flight by the coronation
of righteousness. All the Adonijahs of
temptation fee in terror when the
solomon of virtue is crowned. 1t is a
good life principle, in every hour of
emergency, to "crown Solomon
New Kings Inheritance.
This royal action of David, as he
abdicated the throne in favor of his
son, cleared the horizon for solomon.
cause had been bolstered |
= s.