The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-09-20
From the Philadelphia North American.
PEACE OR WAR.

glory OF military achievements had enabled
Caesar to lay popular liberty at his feet, that
teacher arose, humble villager in an obscure
district of conquered province, who dared to de-
nOunce the spirit of the world to set his face
against arms and bloodshed and to preach not
only peace and good will, but forgiveness of in
jury and forbearance among men. Nearly two
thousand years have passed away since this
strange doctrine was first heard, two thousand
years during which untold millions have profess
ed to believe it, and to adore its author, and vet
the generation is unborn, which may witness It's
practical adoption by any one people of the null
titude confessing his divinity We discern as yet
only the dawn of that light when nations will ac-
knowledge their fraternity, when the art of hu-
man slaughter will cease to be regarded an
honor to human nature, and when the noblest
victory OF state, as Of an individual, will be
over its own selfish passions.
Our country is now excited with the questions
of war. After thirty years of amicable inter-
course with all other countries, we are now ready
to take up arms against our nearest independent
neighbor. We await the pretext to strike the
blow. Should contest come, victory is surely
ours. We have numbers, union, money. Our
opponents are few, distracted, poor. No glory
can attend the strife even now and with posterl-
ty our success will be synonymous with our shame.
This crisis, however, is not without its uses
Mems minds have reposed for thirty years under
system, which the present state of things is
preparing them to examine. We mean the sys-
TEN of sustaining armies anil navies in times of
profound tranquility and security. For thirty
years has this beensdone, and now the inquiry is
heard, wherefore all tins constant preparation for
battle, this vast waste of talent and energy, this
prodigal contamination of fruits of labor Gu
riosity on this great theme breathes yet only
in whispers. Common sense has stood so long in
of barbarolls custom, that its voice is but
family raised, and folly is still able to oyerwhel
its suggestions with ridicue. We shall, never
theless, dare with the few to expose the inutility
and oppressiVeness of the martial policy of our
government. We mean not the special acts of
men now in authority, but the war doctrines, the
scheme OF perpetual ornaments the sustenance
Of soldiers and sailors by levies upon useful indus
try, under an Elusive theory OF strength and
honor.
We are at present twenty millions of people,
our ns@-As-ss inSl casing as people never before
ncr q Lila the elements of wealth and true
power Aons in ourselves The world knows
us any, ose - eatest nation would not dream of
abridglns our freedom or impairing our prosperi-
ty. What need have we of bayonets and bullets
to make our rights more secure, our name more
respected If we are just, W no can be our ene-
my? If we are generous who will not be proud
OF our friendship It is in opposition to these
truths that the country is maintaining a large
force by land and sea, draining the Treasury Of
more money than is requisite for all its civil pur-
poses. Few men, few of those whose daily toll
contributes to the sustenance of all this idle par
ade, are accustomed to count its cost or to con-
slider what amount of substantive good might be
accomplished by equal MEANS Let us view this
subject temporarily, Invested of the prejUdices
OF education, and the influence of world wide
example. Let us analyze facts, and see whether
in truth, power and powder are synonymous.
From the close of the last war with Great
Britain to the present time, the Army and Nav.
OF the United States bavo cost, as we estimate
aO6ut two hundred and fifty millions of dollars
For this enormous sum, sum OF which the mind
has no adequate conception what have we to
show Scarcely one ortress for every thousand
miles OF sea coast, and armed ship for every
halt million of people. Such are the means, such
the result. And what might not this money
have done of genuine good-good for the age,
good Tor all time. How many moral flower has
wasted its sweetness, how many an intellectual
gem has lain in darkness, which these means
might have discovered, and used to illustrate and
benefit humanity For years did the opposing
political parties Of this city contend regarding
the cost OF the marble temple which adorns its
suburbs and is destined for the reception of its in
dlgent orphans. The sum required to support
tie Army and Navy tor two months, would more
than pay for its construction. Generations pass
ed from the founding of St. Peters at Rome until
Its completion, and Christendom was taxed to sup
ply the funds. 1t stands now the most sublime
world. small fraction OF the amount which
our thirty years. preparation for war has cost,
would have raised pile even more sublime than
St. Peters. 1t would have founded University
in every State in the Union, beneath which the
lustres of Harvard or Yale would be dim. The
interest OF it would amply educate every child in
the Republic 1t would bind the North to the
South and the East to the West, with the iron
bands of intercourse, which give sympathy, unity,
prosperity TO our great family OF treemen. 1t
would exhibit to the world the spectacle, unex-
ampled in its history, of people all capable OF
reading their own laws, of writing their own SEN
timents, bound by common interests, and though
spread over thousands of miles, communing daily
as the neighbors Of a single parish.
The means that might have accomplished any
OF these noble results have been wasted in the
maintenance Of theory begotton by british
fears and nursed by sordid ignorance. Shall our
maxms be hereafter those of Peace or those OF
War Shall we still at the expense of annual
millions, foster the love of blood the spirit of re-
venge, the appetite for renown in the arts Of de-
struction Shall we not rather apply these mill
ions to promote peace, and secure it, by culuvat-
ing the popular mind and heart by developing
the native resources of our country, by extend,
inc the special ADVANTAGES of any portion 10 all