The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-06-12
Some Lessons from History
WILLIAM Z. FREELAND
SaaI's Hypocrisy

pie in the eyes Of the Lord Of Israel SC
Saul was commanded 10 20 fourth and
utterly destroy this nation leaving
neither man nor beast alive. But
when he had won his victory and saw
the fatness Of the oxen and the sheep
he kept the choicest, together with
their king Agag. Then the LORD
spoke to the prophet Samuel telling
him Of the selfshness OF Saul who had
destroyed the people Of Amalek and
the refuse Of their hocks, so the Lord
repented that he had made Saul king.
The prophets heart was sore and he
grieved all night. Rising early he
met the king who with unctious false
hoods proclaimed his own goodness.
But Samuel ignoring the vanity OF the
king demanded, what meanest then,
this bleatipg Of the sheep in mine
ears, and the lowing Of the oxen which
I hearl" With the edrontery OF a
modern demogogue Saul added lie
to his deceit saying he had Kept these
things for a sacrifice unto the Lord,
To this answer the prophet gave re-
ply full Of scorn and then returned to
Ramah and came to see Saul no more
until the day Of his death.
Fortunate are a free people il when
they repent Of the false leaders they
have chosen there is time for them to
remedy the evil before the hour has
grown too late, Sixty years ago this
country had for president man who
sat idly by while treason reared its head
saying it should not be but doing
nothing to crush the serpent. Be-
cause Of this mans weakness we had
to wage a bloody four years war and
upon the devoted Lincoln fell the
burden Of Buchanan's sins Yet in a
fuller sense the sins were oa the heads
Of the whole people for they had made
him president because Of expediucy,
because they listened to the hypocrisy
Of self.seeking autocrats who cared
more for personal power than for the
sllety Of the Republic.
1t is we'll we consider this lesson for
Of late years there has been a system
attic propaganda in this country that
seeks TO supplant devotion to the
nation by devotion to the individual,
This purpose has been Skilliully hidden
behind log Of words often full of
sweet sounding but meaningless mel
ody. II we permit Schemer to be-
tray our liberty with lair promises then
the history Of this great republic has
been written in the history Of France
during the rule OF Napoleon ILL.,
One Of the most unfortunate feature:
OF snch an issue is that many sincere
but thoughtless persons ally themselve:
with the au,ocrat believing in the
lace Ct hypocrisy and ialsehood iha,
the sweet words will bring right and
Justice to a troubled world. Il il
against the labor Of these well mean
log Americans that we must guard
II the seli-seeking demagcgue had Il
depend upon his hirclings ior his sue
cess he would have small chance in
nation like this. But 10 the hosts o
retainers owing their perquisltes 10 hi
favor there is added the large numbe
oil people who supported him Iron
prejudice or habit. When in addition
10 these two classes, the one selfisl
and the other unthinking there is add
ed the sincere people who live in
land Of fancy and are strangers to III
hard realities Of life the danger be
comes serious. We may shortly ex
pect 10 see many Of them assaultin
the people with a fog Of emotionalisd
That will sa,urate the land more copi
ously even than did the tears Of poll
ticians rushing irantcally up and dow
begging eloquently that We be ker
out Of war. Though the facts vet
stubbornly hidden !rcm US then clei
thinking men knew the storm vi
rushing upon Us while We undrepare
drilted idly under the spell Of ii
sirens sweet elusive song. How ne
this false and self.seeking demagog