Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-09
HANNAH AND THE GIBBEr.

Apropos Of President-elect Wilson's
declaration that he would hang upon
a gibbet higher than Humans those
who may attempt to create a false
panic, there has been much comment,
tending to justify the suspicion that
there Is not that familiarity there
should be with the story upon which
Mr.. Wilson's remark was based
The story of Haman and the gallows
upon which he was hanged is told In
the bible in the book Of Esther, and
has TO do. as the St Louis Times ex-
plains, with the rise Of Hannah in the
favor OF King Ahasuerus, who, the
bible says, reigned from India even
unto Ethiopia" When Haman had
strengthened his position with the
king he sought to destroy the Jews in
the 127 provinces over which Alias
uerus ruled.
After Humans plans were made
known to Queen Esther. she, acting
upon the advice Of Mordecai, her faith
err induced the king to accept an in
vitation to & banquet which she pro-
posed to give 10 Haman and the king
When Hannah received the invitation
he was so elated with the honor of
dining alone with the king and queen,
he went home, gathered his wife and
kinsmen about him and boosted of his
position at court However, he de-
clared his power was safe so long as
MOrdecai was honored by Ahasuerus.
Humans wife. Zeresh, feeling conf
dent Of her husbands ability to carry
out his plans to destroy the Jews, sug-
gested that Hannah build a gallows 80
cubits (about 70 feeD high. and on the
following day to induce the king to
hang Mordecai on it.
Work on the gallows apparently was
rushed, for the next day it was ready
At the banquet, which was describ-
ed as "a banquet of wine the king
was so pleased he told Esther to ask
what she would, even to half his king
dom. The queen then disclosed to
him the details of Humans plot to kill
the Jews through the provinces. The
situation apparently was a warm one
for Hdman, for the narrative says,
then Haman was afraid before the
king ana the queen"
Ahasuerus stalked into the palace
garden to reflect. leaving Hannah and
the queen alone. When he returned
he evidently had decided what to do.
fer a courtier promptly suggested the
manner Of disposing of Hannah. The
narrative continues:
And Harbonah, one of the chamber
lains, said before the king, behold.
also, the gallOws, so cubits high, which
Hannah had made for Mordecai, who
had spoken good of the king, standing
il TIE house of Hannah Then the
king said, hang him thereon So they
hanged Hannah on the gallows that he
had prepared for McrdeCai Then was
the kings wrath paCified.'
The king. at the request of Esther
then set apart one day Of the year on
which all the Jews in all the prov.
inces were permitted TO attack and
Slay their enemies. On the first Gel
ebration they hanged Humans 10 sons
on the gallows. The occasion became
known as the Feast of Purim.
II is not necessary to add that Pres
ident Wilson doesn't assume to be a
king. but he has erected a gibbet OF
public exposure and condemnation
upon which he viii hang those who
attempt TO precipitate a fake panic
and who attempt TO discredit this ma
uOnal democratic movement. to bring
a readjustment of present economic
conditions
II is well that such as they should
hang higher than Hannah