Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-04-01
No. XVIII.
On earth Peace, good ,viH towards Men.
Causes of War-by Erasmus.

Causes OF Udr-0y Erasmus.
1t isl truth TO be ls.nented, rather than denied
that IL any one examines The matter carefully and
faithfully he will fad almost all tue wars Of chl.-
tiaas, To have originated either in folly wicked
ness His illustration of this sentiment will be O.
mittsd such views of tie causes OF war says
the transcriber were written by Erasmus, about
lhree hundred years ago Had IL lived ii ON that
day to this. he would probably nave seen 10 rea-
for altering his opinion. Is 1t not then deslra-
ble that people in general, should De better M
Drm d on this subject that ia Y should under-
,sand the nature Lese HI prai volcanoes, aad The
true causes of lneir Le4nent erupti"n', that the
proper remedies may De applied
application Of .dr. Wilia,s Pafs aSsoer 10 The
proposition for q graduGt G5oI ton Of the oIaoe
Trade.
Passing over Mr.. Puts reasoning On this subject
aud his argln ents in favour vt an Immediate aooli
ion, the following extracts from the application
of them 10 tue subject of ar ,sare here transcribed
: Is not war as clearly ial evil rs the slave
trade? Can It exist but by injustice, wickedness
aud murdera Ii not, why should it be tolerated for
a siagle day **# 10 propose a gradual abolition
of war, would be as absurd, or indeed the same
thing, as TO propose gradual abolition Of injus-
tice, piracy, rapine aud human butchery.'
The great objection against an immediate
abolition of the slave trade, was, that other na-
tions would not give it up, If GREAT Britain should
renounce it, A SIMILAR objection Is now made a.,
gaiusI The abolition of war. But *s' lei II be re
,nembeed, that Great Britain did abolish the slave
trade, before II was known THAI any other nations
Of Europe would follow the example What has
oeen the consequences ,,ne government alter
another has had It's eyes opened, anu gwen up the
trade and - as soon as we eau be certan that one
aati,u has fully determined to abolish war, may We
~ al. mil ENl he 81 al mule
lie. those who formed the Holy League but ad-
here 70 its principles, and all the nations OF Eu-
rope will abandon the savage custom.
First Annual Report Of The Massachusetts Peces 30
ciety.
In this report. the proceedings Of the executive
COMMITTEES during ihe preceding year are repre-
sentcd, aud the encouraging facts which have been
noted IN these numbers, inserted. IL may no"
be asked say the committee, what institution
was ever founded for nobier object, than the
abolition of war and The ! reservation OF peace
A. by diusius the peaceful principles and spirit OF
the eospei, We effect The abolition Of war, we aboi
ish the school ol vice. and depsavity, and estab-
lsh IN ats room the school Of christian virtue and
benevoence ne dry up the sources u desoiatins
ambition, aud open new channel for the display
of heroisin, aad the attainment of glory nay, we
ob.truct ,he road 10 perdtion, aud lay open and IL
luWiHdte tbc pot" va rssc.s y 'se'ssfs 5000
.sas formed, with what gloom was it surrounded,
except when it looked up TO the Father OF iiShtso
into the gospel OF his SOP. those who hrst con-
versed on the .utject hardly knew whom il would
De proper t. consult, or where 10 look tor suih-
Gent number Of members to be Called society
Not syliable had reached our country rsspeeuns
the pacific league of the three sovereigns and moth
ing perhaps, was more remote from expectation
aan such phenomenon 1t was indeed iormid-
able objection in the minds of many against joan
ing the society, tina, nothing Of the kind was known
10 exI.t in Europe. But now this objection is ob
waited; he gloon which accompanied the dawn is
dispelled anu the SUE OF PEACE is above the hor-
lzan Ii may be occasionally eclipsed or its Ign.
may be partially obstrueted by intervening clouds
YET il will pursue lis course, till it shall shine with
meridian splendour.