Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1846-01-01

Il PEAcE NOT WAR.-We have been
favored with an early copy o! sermon
delivered in the Federal street meeting
house, Dec. 18th, 1916, by Rev. DIR.
Gannett, with the above title. 1t has
been published by request. We have
read it with much pleasure. 1t is an a
bic and conclusive argument to prove
the siniulncss and aati-christian charac-
ter Of warfare. We regret that we can
find room for but single extract = Bos-
ION Alias.
"Let the great Christian principles
which are involved, be brought out and
weighed. Let the pleas, on which they
who advocate war rely for their juslif-
cation, be examined, that their weak
ness may be made manifest.
/ These pleas are in substance but two,
be the forms in which they are present
ed ever so various. One is the magical
but mischievous cry, that tho honor OF
the country is concerned. The honor
ofthc country'-a phrase on which the
changes are rung by those whose only
idea ofhonor is compounded ofthe inso-
lsnce of the bully and the meanness OF
the miser. Is there no honor, but in
clamoring or in fighting for one S right
Is there no honor in generosity' nor in
preierrng the lessons Of conscience to
the impulse Of passion? nor in maintai
ing the supremacy of moral principles
aud in paying reverence to Christian
truth' Or, would that which is honora-
BILE in private citizen bring dishonor
on people or It's government We
had reason to hope, that our part at least
of the Christian world had outgrown the
notion, that honor must always be main
tained at the cannon's mouth Is that
the highest form of national character,
which is seen or vindicated on the field
Of battle? No No! Let every house,
and every heart in the land echo, No
England, be she chargeable with ambi-
'ion and cupidiiy, can teach Ms better
than that for she has spoken, in some
of her journals, OF the honor thai may
be found in yielding rather than in en-
forcing even Just claims. II we suffer
her TO 60 beyond us in the assertion or
eXcnp!ificution Of the true honor Of u
country, we shall indeed be disgraced.
/ The other plea is one which too easi-
ly caplivates American ears that we
must extend the area ol freedom over
this continent. There are more replies
to be given to this idle defamation than
| have now time to repeat. 1t is suili-
cirnt to say, that we have something
else to do besides extending the area of
fre edom and that is, to secure for free
dom It's true character within the bounds
over which i, is already extended. The
first and great mission of this country
is not to spread free institutions over all
North America bul to show the effect
of free institutions on a people who
know how to appreciate and use them.
We have enough before us, for at least
Il century to come, in making all within
the settled limits of our territory free,
and wisely free. We shall do more
good by setting the example Of n people
who can exercise self.governmen, with
out injustice to others or injury to them
selves, than by extending the name of
our institutions across the breadth or
length of The continent. Free institu-
iions are worth having, only when they
give energy TO peoples virtue and
freedom to their souls.
BE it then our business, friends and
hearers, to expose the emptiness Of these
pleas, on which they who would embrol
this country with n foreign power rely
for their justification. There is neither
pertnency nor force in them. Say SO.
Encourage others to say so. Tell your,
countrymen what is tire real honor Of a
nation, and what the true Office Of the
American people. Express your dis
taste, your disapprobation, your abhor-
renee Of war OF war with England, or
France, or Mexico, or any other coun-
try on earth ; Of war, as in itself un-
christian, fruitful Of evil, productive Of
no good. Say that war costs more than
it yields that if wo could get the whole
Pacific coast, from souihernmos: Cali
lornla to the most northern Of the Rus
sian settlements, by single months
fighting, We should pay too much for II.
Say that it is not all worth n drop Of
blood shed in The strife Of rival nations.
Say that peace is what Christ came To
bcstow on men, through thoir adoption
of The principles Of his religion and
that il is what yon as his disciples will
maintain, aud the country must main
;ain, let some be ever 40 loud in their
'npu,a,ion Of ,roachery or cowardicc -
Show you the courage of faith, aud the
patriotism or principle. Utter the Ian
auagG which have nav commended to
onr lips, ~ the public places or The
private ciirlrs Ia which yoG may have
access. Men sp,ak u To nu" nnmhri
ia Tie street, and let II b. overheard rs
the passer-by. Wives repeat II i,.
YOUR husbands in the thoughtful quictudc
of your homes. NIoihers explain il
to your children One and all, he yc'
open and earnest. firm though calm, in
asserting the claims of Peace up"n
overy American aud every Christian"
The Rev, NT Penny. " ltn went out With