The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-09-23

less state of society in Europe rendered ne
cessary, and which was granted in conse-
quence of the deep feelings of veneration
with which the German ancestors OF the
cavaliers had always regarded the opposite
sex. Palestine was the land OF religion, but
not of love- The Crusaders were armed de-
voices rather than gentle knights. The
prize Of beauty was net joined to the praise
of arms.
We are unaccustomed to think that the
national and civil hostilitles which RACED III
the west during the middle ages, We're laNor,
able to intellectual cultivation, and u would
be as difficult to prove that the holy wars
were beneficial to Europe, by rousins it from
intellectual torpidity, and strengthening or
refining the tone of mind. They were tles
| OF action rather than Of letters. They excl
ted a cruel and savage courage, and lighted
the consuming fires of superstition. opoila-
| tion and slaughter were accounted the hlSh-
est pitch of human glory, and therefore, all
| that most mcrtcd fame, was III silence ND
! Modes for the destruction OF men, not for
their amelioration, employed the minds OF
! Christians. The humble and unobtrusive
virtues of peace, and their long train OF USE
| full and elegant arts, were not tostcred for
| tranquility was perpetually broken IN upon
the leaders of opinions made the duty oi
war their greatest theme, and when the ~
tulgcnce Of the fcrocious passions became
sanctified, no desire could be felt to emerge
from rutlcncss and ignorance. Much has
been written on the supposed advantages To-
Europe of the collision Of mind produced by
The mixture OF the various nations OF Chris
| tendon in tho course of the Crusaics. but
except in the first Of these holy wars, the u
nion among them WAS netcr eithcfcortliai OF
| lasting. Indeed tliSsehtions were MAN
1 cause OF ultimate want OF success. ne con
! nection between different states was SO short
and occasional, that national prejudices were
not softcned, political varieties obliteiated,
| or mutual Knowledge intcrchanged. NJ the
| close Of thc Crasades, the nations OF i.urope
| were as much separated as they had bccn az
the commencement. Religion had united
them for awhile bat the band soon was
broken, and the world returned to its for
mcr state.
! A view Of the heroic ages Of Christianity,
in regard to their grand and general results,
is an Useful and important, though melan-
choy employment The Crustdcs retarded
the march OF civilization, thckened the
clouds Of ignorance and superstition, and en-
couraged Intolerance, cruelty, and hercc-
ness Rcl 5ion lost its mildness and charity;
and war its mitigating qualities OF honour
and courtesy. Such were the bitter fruits OF
the holy wars! Painful is i retrospect OF
the consequences; but interesting are the
historical details Of the heroic and tanatical
achievements OF oar ancestors. ihc perfect
singularitv cf the object, the different char
actcrs OF the preachers ana leaders of the
], CruSades, the martial array OF the ancient
power and majesty Of Europe, the political
and civil history Of the Latin states in SYRIA,
the military annals of the orders Of st. John
and the Temple, fix the regard of those who
view the history Of human passions with the
eyes OF philosopher or a statesman. we
can follow with sympathy both the deludcd
fanatic, and the noble adyeaturer in arms, Ill
their wanderings and marches through Tor
eign regions, Drawing the most frightful dam
gers, patient in toll, invincible i'll military
) spirit. So visionary was the object, SO APP
parcntly remote from selfish relations that
their fanatcsm wears character ct gener-
Gus virtue. The picture, however, becomes
: darkencd and nature rccoils with horror
from thcil cruelticS, and with shame FROM
their habitual foly and scnsclcssncss. Com
pairing the object with tile cost, the gain pre-
posed with the cei tain peril, we call the At
tempt the EXTREMIST idea Of madness, and
wonaer that the western world should fGf
two hlntlretl wears pour forth its blood and
treasure in chase Of a Phantom. But the
CrusateS wcrl not 4 greater reproacli to
virtue and w!aticm, than n0st OF those con-
tests which in every Seot the world pI.dc
and ambition haze given rise to. II what is
perpetual be natural, the dreadful SUPPOSE
tion might BE entertained that war is the
moral state OF man. The miactics Of hos
tilities almost induce rs to think, with the
ancient Sage, that man is the most Wretched
Of animals. Millions q oar race nave been
sacrificed Il the altar Of glory and popular
praise, as well as at the shrine Of superat-
) tion. Fancifnl claims To foreign thrones, and
the vanity oi foreign dominion liaFs, like the
Crusatlcs, contracted the circle Of science
AID civilization, and turned the benevolent
; affections into furious passions, But
They err, who count il glorious 70 subdue
hy conquest far and wide, . ovci-run
Large countries and iii field great battles WIN,
; Great cities BY assault; what do these wolth,cs,
!. But rob and spoil, burn, slaughter, and ens.re
Pcacei,bie nations, neighborng, orrcmote,
: Made captive, vet deserving freedom more
Than those thur conauerors, who leave behind
/ Nothing but ruin Where,o'er they rove,
/ And all the ilourislling works Of tpeacc destroy"
: We tccl no sorrow az the fnal doom OF tho
Crusadcs, because i'll its origin the war wa
: iniquitous and unjust. " The blood Of MAJ
should never be shed but torcGecm tie bloog
of man. 1t is well shed i3r oui family, foi
g our friends, for our God, for on Kind. TAt
: rest is vanity, the rest is crime