Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-19

piled, Slnueeu L cannot tell; except tnat
mankind have always preferred songs to wis
DOM" s.3
Moreover, you may listen more coldly to
the advocacy of peace principles than to
other wise words; because few men profess
ing to believe the Christian religion venture
to deny their truth, while at the same time all
ar o in giving them a sort Of moonlight rep
alton, a will o. the wisp foundation, as
beautiful but impracticlble theories. But
! cannot help feeling a strong hope, amount
inu to faith. that the world will be at last re-
deemed from The frightful vortex of sin and
misery, into which it has been drawn by the
prevailing Law ofForce. And surely il is d
mission worth living for, if | can give the
least aid in convincing mankind that the
Christian doctrine Of overcoming evil with
good is not merely a beautiful sentiment, as
becoming to the religious soul as are pearls
to the .maiden's bosom, but that it is really
tho highest reason, the bravest manliness, the
most comprehensive philosophy, the wisest
political economy.
The amount Of proof that it is so, seems
abundant enough to warrant the belief that a
practical adoption Of peace principles would
be always safe, even with the most savage
men, and under the most desperate circum-
stances, provided there was Il chance TO have
it distinctly understood that such a course
was not based on cowarjice, but on prlncl-
Pile.
When Capt. Back went TO the-Polar Re-
gions, in search of his friend Capt. Ross, he
fell in with a band Of EsquimauX, who had
never seen a white man. The chief raised
his spear to hurl it at the strangers head; but
when Capt, Back approached calmly and un-
armed, the spear dropped, and the rude saw
- II H. .-1.z-lI a., hr,.lLr ,,,n ,r-la
had trusted in him. Had Capt. Back adopt
ed the usual maxim, that it is necessary to
carry arms in such emergencies, he would
probably have occasioned his own death, and
that of his companions.
Raymond, in bis Travels, says: ''The as
sassin has been my guide in the defles Of It.
ally, the smugglerof the Pyrenees has receiv-
ed me with a welcome in his secret-paths.-
Armed, | should have been the enemy of
both; unarined, they have alike respected me
In such expectation, | have long since laid
aside all menacing apparatus whatever
Arms may indeed be employed against wild
beasts; but men should never forget that they
are no defence against the traitor. They
may ~irritate the wicked and intimidate the
simple. The man of peace has a much more
sacred delence-his character.'
Perhaps the severest test to which the
peace prime Piles were ever put, was in Ire
land, during the memorable rebellion of 1898.
During that terrible conflict, the Irish Qua
kers were continually between two fires
The Protestant party viewed them with sus-
picion and dislike, because they refused to
fight, or to pay military taxes; and the fierce
multitude Of insurgents deemed it sufficient
cause of death, that they would neither pro-
fess belief in the Catholic religion, nor help
them to fight for Irish freedom. Victory al
terDated between the two contending parties,
and as usual in civil war, the victors made
almost iudiscrimlnate havoc of those who did
not march under their banners. 1t was a
p~erilous time for all men; but the Quakers a.
lone were liable to a raking fire from both
sides. Foreseeing calamity, they had, near
ly two years before the war broke out, pub
licly DESTROYED all their guns, and other weap-
ons used for game. But this pledge of pa
citic intentions was not sufficient TO satisfy
the government, which required warliko as
~sistance at their hands. Threats and insults
were heaped upon them from all quarters; but
they steadfastly adhered to their resolution
of doing good to both parties and to harm nei-
ther. Their houses were filled with widows
aud orphans, with the sick, the wounded, and
the dying, belonging both to the loyalists and
the rebels. Sometimes, when the Catholic
insurgents were victorious, they would he
greatly enraged to find Quaker houses filled
with Protestant families. They would point
their pistols, and threaten death, if their en-
emies We're not Immediately turned into the
street to be massacred. But the pistol drop
ped, when the Christian mildly replied,
- Friend, do what thou wilt, | will not harm
thee, or any other human being Not even
amid the savage fcrceness Of civil war, could
men fire at one who spoke such words as
those. They saw that this was not coward.
ice, but bravery much higher than their own.
On one occasion, an insurgent threatened
to burn down Quaker house, unless the own
or expelled the Protestant women and chill
dren, who had taken refuge there, II cannot
help it, replied the Friend: $50 long as
have a house, | will keep it open to succor
the helpless and the distressed, whether they
belong to thy ranks, or those Of thine enc
mics. If my house is burned, | must be turn
ell out with them, and share their aiHiction."
The fighter turned away, and did the Chris
tan no harm.
The Protestant party seized the Quaker
schoolmaster of Bailitore, saying they couli
see no reason why he should STAY at home in
quiet, while they were Obliged to fight to de-
fend his property. Friends, | have no man
to fight for me-" replied the schoolmaster.-
But they dragged him along, swearing that
he should stand in front of the army, and if
he would not fight he should at least stop a
bullet. His house and school house were
filled with women and children, who had Ia
ken refuge there; for it was an instructive
fact, throughout this bloody contest, that the
houses Of men Of peace were The oniy places Of
safsly. Some Of the women followed the SOL
dfers, begging them not to tako away their
friend and protector, a man who expended
more for the sick and the starving, than 9TH
or, Ala for - nod m, u,,piffon Fpl, ..l-.I