The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-30
COM NJ U MIC TON.
For the Voice Of Freedom.

PRINCIPLES OF PEACE..-No. IL.
THE tree is known by its fruit And
are there not to be found obvious evils Of
war-evils not depending on moral and
metaphysical proof for their disclosure
And will it appear from naked facts, that
war is on the whole bad in its effects,
having done more harm than good2 Ii
will most certainly so appear. And the
reasons we have not already adduced such
proof are an aversion 10 such horrid
scenes, (tor who can wade in blood with
out emotion p and because it would be
much like undertaking the task of proving
a self evident position. Yet so much
does the human mind depend, on sensible
exhibitions for its impressions, it would
seem defect to leave such proof quite I'M
noticed. What then, We would inquire,
are to be styled, Obvious evils3 Is pro-
miscuous and wholesale massacre, with
managing aud torture, and all the varied
distinctions of human life2 We so re-
gard them, with the deepest emotions of
horror exhibited in the practice of ancient
heather, sacrificing their innocent chill
dren to their Deities, We are struck
with the customs of Hindoos, in prostrat-
ing themselves to be crushed by the cal
of an Idol in burning living widows on
the funeral pile, and in offering month
" sacrifice of children by drowning in
The Ganges Why then, when we read
The history Of states and empires, their rise,
and fail, are we not overwhelmed with
CONSERVATION For the history of our
7corld, is history Of aOar, But alas all
is vanished over with The splendor of
military renown; the death-groan is
drowned in the Shouts Of conquest; the
blood and horrors are all covered in the
silen: grave; and the pen of the historian,
obsequious to the popular will, draws the
curtain over the tears and signs of the !
servile sufferers; and displays in sacred
bonors alike the maine Of the prime au-
thor of these evils, and the banner of VIC
tory.
We can sympathise with the missiona-
Yy instructress as she gives The parting
Kiss to her lovely pupils, with the painful
apprehension that these little immorlals
may again return to paganism, and one
day perish in obedience to pagan delu.
sion al a distance the aspect is horrid
Why then do we not discern the danger
of our own children, reared to pay hon.
age to an imaginary deity, formerly call
ed Mars, but now Improperly or technic-
ally styled Patriotism?
Judging from analogy, the hazard may
be greater that our children, involved in
the decisions and guilt OF the war system
NAV be offered in sacrifice; or offer them
selves to this Demon. For war is the
idol of the world, Says DR.. Predeaux-
'ln fifty battles fought by Caesar, he slew
100000 OF his enemy Add the loss of
his own troops and incidental destruction
of women and children Oh both sides would
probably make in the aggregate not less
than two millions of human beings, sacri.
feed through the ambition of one man
If we assign to Alexander and Napoleon |
an equal number each, we have the sum
of sic millions, butchered by the will of
three military despots! But why should
fty battles, or three warriors be selected
from the countless mass2 Some have by
computation and by analogy ventured the
opinion, that the whole number of human
beings slain in war is nos less than seven
tv times the number who now people the
earth 4! He, and he on y who can null
tiply the agonies Of battlefield death by
his immense number, can calculate the