Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-10-04

way against it. He has not advanced one
step against it until he has shown it TO be
less saluiary and secure than the opposite
practice. Here is where | meet him.
On the confines, the DOT posts Of the field.
l tell him positively that he has no: yet
got his foot upon it-and confidently, that
he tOiH not Why, he has not even un-
dertaken to show that the Quakers have
not been more secure than others, 10 pro-
portion as they have practiced Non-Re-
distance. To The contrary of this, he
knows they have been, if he knows any,
thing Of the facts in the case. And the
same is true of all others. The history
of the world shows that, as general
thing, those classes who have conducted
mos. peacefully AMI forbearingly towards
others, have lived in the greatest safety.
Examine the history Of the Quakers on
this point, in connection with the Irish
rebellion, and the wars between Great
Britain and this country. The history Of
William Penn, among the Indians, as
compared with the history of the New
England Puritans. While the folmer
lived in safety, the latter were butchered.
The history of the Shakers. The his
tory Of men, in all ages. 1t is true that
in the aggregate many of the peaceful
have died martyrs, during the ignorance,
violence and brut,hness Of men in past
times. But an incomparably larger pro-
portion Of those who have taken the sword
for defense, have persisted in its use, than
of those who have refrained from violence.
Perfect Non. Resisiants have rarely been
found. So that little can be affirmed of
them, as yet, 10 the shape Of facts. But
what facts there are go in support Of the
principle.
But what is wanting in facts, in the in
fancy and childhood Of the race, is suppl
ed by sound philosophy. Does like be-
get like! Then violence begets vic.
Ience. Peacefulness begets peacefulness.
Love begels love. Good will begets good
will. What can be conceived of, more
absurd than to say that TO refuse TO fgh:
leads to the destruction ofliie2I That to
use violence, and thereby increase the
amount OF it, is the way to bring it into
disuse and decrease the amount Of it,!
The Editor of the Investigator says -
" We advise these modern enthusiasts to
give up this phantom Of Non Resistance,
and take some more rational ground for
promoting and establishing universal
peace" And what more "rationaL ground
for promoting and establishing universal
peace" than 10 abandon war and practice
peacetalaess? VIVA. more irrational than
to assume and say that a0ar is the legiti-
mate instrunlentaLity Jorpromoting peaee3!
That killing Is the true philosophy for
SAVING iifs?! Was there ever such an
abuse of language or of reason! And
yet the man VINO talks thus irrationally,
begins one of the paragraphs in which be
puts himself in such position and advo-
cafes such doctrine, by saying: -" The
doctrine Of non-resstance, we consider a
mere phantom of the imagination" The
next paragraph. by saying =" Any man
who should carry the principles OF non.
resistance into practice, would be regard
ed as insane with enthusiasm" And the
next. and last. by saying -" We advise
these modern enthusiasts TO give up thi:
phantom Of Don-resistance And al
This from man who is most manfull,
and nobly battling against violent, blood
thirsty, irrational, intolerant, dogmaiic
religion commend to him an examin
alton of his own position. Does be no
/ owe it TO himself as an advocate of reason
) against assumption and dogmatism Ii
his note alluding 10 the matter, the weel
I preceding the foregoing piece. he attach
: ed importance to the subject. Let hin
| reason upon il then. and not rave.
! EIe says" We cannot protect virtu
$ except by resisting vice; we cannot pro
tect friend, except by resisting those VIII
\ are disposed TO ipjure him. II we have
! right, therefore, TO protect. we have
e right also. to resist. inasmuch as protet
$ ton implies resistance. - The very thin
II here taken for granted is the question j
II dispute-Damely. the righ!fulness of u
o. ing pinlence for nrnieciian and resis.nnc