New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-06-25
From the Lynn Floltsr.
uLe Uar Auoiust Mexico.

From the Lynn Pioneer
War ARainst Mexico.
War is very interesting and sometimes very
pretty thing on paper and In the distance bat on
the field itself upon the treacherous waters is
very different matter-being not only interesting
and pretty, but accompanied by such scenes OF an
guish and cruelty, of rapne, violence and blood, rs
10 give II character much more behltin5 the lie
and death of Fiends and Furies than OF Men and
Christians There never war which did not
cost more sin and Suffering than any end whatever
could possibly justify. And yet our poor race has
become so accustomed to bloodshed and butchery-
to the Internal policy Of an eye for an eye and
tooth for tooth which sees no crime in the most
wholesale slaughter and heart.breaking bereavc-
Inent-that for the most part we talk about the
7rice OF coolly as about the price of wool
aud read just now accounts Of the deliberate muir
der of thousands of men, if they were killed not
by the ordinance of Polk but the ordination oil Prov
idence
Puuipg aside all questions as to the cause OF our
war with Mexico, and and admitting even (which is
admitting the exact opposite OF the truth that our
war was one OF defence and not aggression, TO Sc
cure right and not wrong-adml,ing this, can any
human pereon justify the proceedings now going on
in Mexico Is ii not plain as plainness self thai
no law OF God or good, possibly Justify or pal
iate the bloodthirsiy spirit and strife which Is there
manifesting itself? Can any one possessing spark
Of brothery feeling the slightest appreciation OF
his relation 10 God man encourage such spirit or
assist in such q strife y
1t NAV be said that our national honor is al stake.
So indeed ii is and is likely TO be burnt al the
stake, and that by our own hands. II seems as it
this great Nation striving with furious energy
to commit suicide. and with uncertain prospect OF
success-and not only suicide but homicide, and
fratricide even So far as her honor is involved, il
has become 80 by her own folly, and 10 attempt TO
clear it up by the present war is TO attempt 10 atone
for series of wrongs by the preparation OF an
other. But admitting that her honor making the
desperate concession that she has such quality
haB been wounded by the Mexican powers, how III
the name Of common sense can the wound be heal
ed by sending thousands OF her sons to be the vic
tins of Mexican sabres or even by booming thou
sands of the sons Of Mexico 10 be the victims oil her
sabres2 Is the divine in junction divine and hu
mani overcome evil with good to be interpreted
in such manner as to lend sanction and sacredness
90 bot.blooded murder; so that IL can be perpetra
ted in the name of Jesus and for the glory OF God
may be fanatic on this subject OF national and
international honor, but it seems to me that II Is
with people collectively and corporately as sepa-
ralely and Individually that the part OF greatness
and magnanimty (which is always the part of true
honor IL to return kisses for blows, blessings for
cursings, benefits for injuries, In one word good
for evil =; while the opposite system which we are
now pursuing of an eye for an eye, tooth Tor
TOOTH throat for ihroat is the part only oil mean
ness and malice If Mexico has really abused the
United States and trampled their citizens under
foot-what lesson would il be to the whole world,
il instead of pursuing course oil retaliation and re-
yenge declaring war TO the knife and the hnlie 10
the hilt ," we should seek some opportunity TO con-
fer signal benefit upon that degraded nation, eX.
hbtng toward her the spirit OF friendship and for
eiveness and avowing before all the nations OF the
earth our determination under no circumstances 10
Oe provoked into that most internal OF all states
the state of war; Such course would exat US as a
people TO the sublimest position which any nation
sal and haas
should insult u.s. to the lowest depths OF lntamy.
know this idea THE leading idea OF Christianity Is
considered visionary, and transceudenta, and non
resistant and Utopan, and anarchical, and inhdel,
and all that'-but nevertheless also know that
il 10 the dictate of every true SOUL and Is one with
every high impulse and generous emotion OF which
our nation is capable. | know, moreover, that 10
adopt any other land especially its opposite in the
private walks and several relations OF lie, ads TO
make this earth q hell and the inhabitants .lereot a
communty OF devils. Let any one " doubts his
apply the principles being put IN force by our
divine powers that be" in MeXh o--to 7rit, the
principles of retaliation and reveng in the man
agement of his family. Let him te. CHI his children
never 10 receive an injury without prompt ana IL
need be violent resentment; TO consider every un
kind word addressed TO them, or every unjust act
committed against them as an attack upon their
honor which calls loudly tor immediate and brutal
hostility. Let him, when his wife treats him other
vice than well, slap her face or pull her nose or
treats her with neglect and trespasses In the least
upon her rights let her such things always being
done In the presence of the children for examples
sake) spit in his face, pull his hair scratch his eyes
oar or throw the coffee pot at his head This would
be In accordance with the moduS operdHdi oil war
and why would it not be as likely 10 promote tamil
iy peace as well as national peace w hen SIS
Ter abuses brother, let him stick fork into her
eve or pitch her into the stove, and when brother
abuses sister. let her shove him down stsirs. or
throw a cup of boiling water in his face or run
knitting needle into his ears! Thstw would be legit
mate warfare Though positively humane compared
,o that now existing the banks OF the Rio
GTandcl and il the principles and precePts OF war
are eound, would produce in any family which should
put it into vigoroas execution the most dellShuu'
and pacific results. Yet every body knows tliiera
ly every body that TO pursue such warlike and
reveDgeful course would plunge any family who
should try il into state OF continual and unmitSa
ted hostility alike among It's own members ana win
all the neighborhood. And 1t is just so with ma
tions. War besets war-and peace peace; and the
precept in time of peace prepare for war las II Is
commonly underscod) is one Of the most destructive
and demoniac precspis which ever crazed the head
of a weak minded people. The true precept Is, IN
yime of prepare for peace. and IN time OF peace
prepare for It's appreciation, enjoyment ana con'n-
nance II not if we should in time OF peace pre-
pare for war; in o;ler words in time OF love pre-
pare 10 hate thenla as arm the whole community
with weapons of death; lei every pocket conIain
pistol and every belt Bowie. knife and let US not
trust so much to good Providence as TO good pow
der. Let us beat our pruning hooks into spears
and cur plowshares into swords, and learn peace
no more. Let US be ever prepared 10 return lie Tor
lie insult for insult blow for blow; and be equally
prepared to take eye for eye tooth for TOOTH lie for
life
My object when commenced this article was 70
write few words introductory 10 some half dozen
extracts from the papers OF the country Civ
ing some idea OF the beauties of the presen. war,
and the propriety of humane people engaging In it.
Not that the scenes here recorded are al all adapted
TO convey sufficient impression OF the intense sell
6shness and suffering OF the battle field to do this
vvoud REQUIRE something much stronger than words I
Rut thew are scenes which may put the mind and |
heart or the right track and it is well therefore ths
their fame should be extended
LOOK OUT!-The Post Once department mas
.,, ,forcsd unon Posrnassers the duty OF feryetng
ont case. of writing on newspapers The postage on