The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-10-16

T. az Va C"'nltS '"O savage QoSo poSSSSSs u
given to The purpose Of war. But advance
4 TO the next social condition, Barbarian
It And does this social organization favor
peaceR On the contrary, combined pow
r. er for the purpose Of conquest, is It's lead
= ing idea, The very conditions OF life in
Barbarism, are those of war; master and
' slave, lord and vassaI. The condition too,
, in which womau is forced TO live, excluded
TO the harem, her very existence depend
ing upon the will of her lord and master,
fan and keep alive the glowing embers Of
war in the bosom of nah. Surely it cam
not be said in this period, that "the gentle
hard Of social refinement has been prevail
Jag against the practice of war" But we
pass to the third social condition, CiziJjz-
alton; and here admitting that war is not
the leading idea OF civilization, must
still say that it is one Of its leading fea.
lures. "CiviIized warfare an absurd con.
tradicion in termsW Why Sir, c;viIza.
! ton could not exist a moment without the
idea Of physical force. 1t is the strong,
right arm of the law. Events have trans
pired within the last year, in a neighbor.
ing State that illustrates this fully. There, !
the execution Of the law was opposed, and
it was found necessary 10 overcome force
with force. Take from society the idea
of force-that men may not protect themo
selves, and the demons hate a0d revenge,
that now lie payatively crushed under |
the strong hand olhe law, would rise up,
shaking the dust from their garments,
would stalk abroad at MONDAY, and muir
der, ard rapine would follow 10 their train
Am not borne out in the conclusion that
mans social condition, is prevailing in IA
vor OF warl
have said that war is enc OF the lead
ing features Of civilization; and | now
say that it has other features as odious as
this "Of modern civilizaiion' says Doct.
Charming "the natural fruits are contempt |
for others rights; fraud, oppression, a
gambling spirit in trade, reckless adven-
lurc, and commercial commissions, all
tending to impoverish the Iaborer, and to
render every condition insecure" Ia the
early stages of civilization, the minds Of
men were engrossed with the pomp and
glory of war. Men were valued Their, onlyas
they brought numerical strength and pow
err TO the hands OF their masters. IL mod
ern civilization, the minds Of men are ems
crossed with the glory of wealth and
men are valued for the amount of coin
that can be ground from their living bones,
and sinews. Verify, "the gentle hand Of
social refinement has been prevailing
against the practice of war ~
Why Sir, look around you and see the
thousand forms Of suffering with which
humanity is now afflicted. The restless
anxiety Of the rich, the grinding exactions
praclced upon the poor,lhe pauperism and
crime, and the ignorance and degradation
Of the many. This, civilization has no
power to remedy. These present to my
mind, picture far more intoler0bIe than
the slavery and evils of Barbarism. More
intolerabIe, because the principles ard ap.
piances for better condition of things
are all ready, and men will not apply or
use them. If
And now to the remaining point OF ,
your letter. With feelings Of respect for S
one who has Iabored long and ardentiy in 4
the cause Of peace. | must still be al |
lowed to record my opinion against the
application Of your remedy with any hope +
of success 10 The world as it is. 10 Illus,
lrate my position, The advocate Of TEN (
perance eaters the haunts Of drunkenness.
and Iabors hard to convince the intempet> g
axe, of the runous consequences of their c
course of living. Suppose for moment, ,
that he is successful in his appeals to their a
better feelings, aud that with one voice r
tkey eoQuire for the remedy. Would +
leaving of drinking be sufficient RENEE. a
dy2 while they were still LEFT to breathe S
an atmosphere loaded with the nuisance t
Of Drunkenness, and surrounded with as t
eociatious, and circumstances, foil Of it's 0
terminating seeds. No sir. They must f
be told not only to leave of drinking, but d