The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-01-16

subiugation of the world by force and arms
that of the other, to free it from ignorance
and superstition, and to nring the human
mind 10 conform to the mild laws of nature.
How far each succeeded in his designs,
time has shown. Alexander conquered the
world. With his invincible army, he spread
terror among the nations but his conquest
was cruel and bloody, and limited only to
the duration of his own existence. He de-
stroyed the governments of states and king
doms, and established on universal empire
yet all this availed nothing, so long as
death would put an end to the existence of
him and his works together. Aristotle,
with his pen, was contending for more
honorable and permanent cause. He fought
not against armed men. but ignorant men !;
he had no reason to weep for want of en-
ployment, because he was laying the foun-
dation of system that time alone could es-
tablish He, alone and in retirement, was
building up system which posterity would
admire, and which would only serve to cast
shade on the laurels of the conqueror.
He was enlightening the human mind,
teaching mankind that the chief good was
not in war, and showing them the inferiori-
ty of military achievements, compared with
the acquisitions of the mind.
Such were the works ofthese distinguish
ed men, and such their duration. Since
similar causes produce similar results, we
may safely conclude, that those, who de-
vote themselves wholly to arms, share like
fate with him, whom the world have given
the empty title of Great" They build a
lofty and magnificent edifce, whose only
support is the brittle thread of life, which,
although bright and dazzling without, yet
within is full of dead mems bones while
those, who have employed themselves in
the improvement of the mind, and in exter-
minatlng vice, leave an example of their
deeds in the improved character of man
kind
War. no doubt, is sometimes the moving
cause of great and important benefits yet
we believe this happens, if ever, only when
good arises from evil. In history we can
find but a few instances, where we are SEN
sible that war has been the means of pro-
noting the happiness of mankind bat, on
the contrary, it has been their greatest
scourge, and produced more misery than all
other evils put together. War has Its orr
gin in ignorance and crime; and we con-
slider that people, who still delight in view
ing its bloody scenes, and are ever ready
to honor the man that has shed the blood
Of his fellow creatures, as still possessing a
barbarous passion, and consequently re-
nouncing their claims to civilization.
In whatever nation, and at whatever pc
Rod we view the relative effects of arms
and learning, we shall find that the glory
of arms is transient: like the electric flash,
which obscures for moment those nobler
fires, the dispensers of light and heat, it
bursts upon the world, dazzles the eyes of
the gazing multitude, and then vanishes
forever; while learning is luminary which
affords constant and refreshing light and
heat to mankind.
We admire the valor and patriotism of
Greece, but we cannot say that, in this,
consisted her greatness. Had not science
and learning adorned her history and char
acter, it would have afforded no more inter-
est to the philanthropist, than that of Car
thagc or any other nation, whose only glo-
Iy is war, whose ambition is conquest.
Past ages shew us that, while a people
cultivate the arts and sciences, and place
civil requirements before military, they are
powerful, free, and happy but, when they
neglect these, and delight in martial deeds,
their duration as body is short; conten-
tons, seditions and revolutions will take
place, and dissolve the social tie. l..