Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-01-11
No. VII.
No. VII. ~.
On earth Peace, GOOD ell to7gards Mes.

1
The next article to be noticed, in the third num-
Der of /" The Friend of Peace'' is entitled A sol
enn appeal TO The coasciences Of Pr9essed Christians
/" MY BRETHREN,n
:" In Jew of the crimes and horror of the Rus
sian campaign, suffer appeal to your conciences
and feelings, as 10 professed disciples OF Him who
loved us, and died the just for the unjust that he
might bring us TO God"
. First. On the supposition that we had made no
profession of regard TO the Savior Of men, on what
possible ground could we justify the horrible car
mage and desoation made by war; Can they be
justified by the principles of reason and humanityp
Was there ever conduct more unjust and inhumau
or sceEes more revolving to benevolent mind than
those witnessed in the wars of christian nations ?"
/" Second. We are professedty the disciples of the
PRINCE OF PEAcE How is it possible to recon
cile the crimes oil war, TO his precepts example
M to form in our minds more perfect contrast
than is to be between the Spirit of our Saviour
and the spirit Of war, violence and reyeuse? The
moral nature of war Is the same whether it be car
red on by Frenchmen, Russian, Englishmen or A
mericans y. by Christians. Mahometans Pagans or
Devis.F*s
/ AS it is absolutely impossible to make war in O.
brdiesce TO the precepts of Christ, in coniorni-
( ty to his example, shall who profess to be his
friends and disciples, countenance any longer,
custom which cannot possibly exist, but by nEu-
manity, injustice, revenge, violence and nnrder.;
x*n#
SIS it not an unden;abe truth, that the greater
the number is, in any nation, who are Of pacific
character, and who in temper ndspruciple OPP
posed to war; the greater is the safety of that com
muniy and of the individuals, of which il is coal-
posed On The contrary, is it not equally evident,
that the more there are in any community, who
indulge and cultivate passion for war, the grea-
ter j. the danger ? So
| Third What my brethren, has our nation to
expect if the popularity of war shall be continu-
ed Dur numbers are rapidly increasing, and
probably 1T will not be fifty years, perhaps not ten
before there will be convusion in the United
States, and one part of the citizens armed against
the other for mutual havoc aud destruction Par
| ty split already exists in the land. This sever of
a jealous and delusiye nature. Those who are un-
der its influence not very apt to study the things
that make for peace, nor very slow to invent pre-
texts for violent nleasures''
{" Should there be rupture in these states, the
miseries and desolations of the Russian campaign,
will probably be forgotten in the still distress
| ing scenes in our country. The horrors of
Smolensko, Boriodno, Moscow and Eeresina, may
be repeated in our land. $3.50
| g In reference to such day the words of Moses
to the people of Israel may be applied. See Deut.
23, IS, 81.
| he auufeSSef taen sets ioFln, IN very palmetto
manner the distressful scenes which would doubt
less take place in such aad the effects that
would ensue-and asks g do your feelings revolt at
the thought of having the horrors of the Russian
campaign repeated in our country? Why then
win any ofyou lend your influence in support of
custom which naturally involves such scenes of
guilt and woe? Why will you applaud the deeds
OF deluded and bloody men, and thus teach your
children to esteem honorable, successful violence
robbery and manslaughterp Let proper abhor-
renee of the guilty custon be excited, and its bay
oc and its horros will cease"
" 1t is not however, wished that you should treat
military men with contempt or disrespect. This is
not the way to convince men, of error; but the
direct way TO inhame their passions, to confirm
their prejudces and to close their eyes against the
| light. Let our own minds be imbued with the
spirit of the gospel let conversation in all res
poets oomport with its benevolent pfecepts.. Ma
NY of them will perhaps rejoice in being convinced
of their error and cordially unite their efforts TO
extend the light, and to open the eyes of others.
Lettts treat military apith that respect and
tenderness srAich becomes as as christians and then
se may hope for access TO Their understanding, and
their hearts.
Gen. Alexander Smyth, the hero who fig
ured away so nobly on the Canda lines, in the
l. A. 4 4 T.