Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-01-30
Communication.

Ma. EpiroR - To the present critical state Of our
relations with Great Britain, every philanthropst and
patriot naturally turns serious and anxious eye II
10 10 he hoped, indeed that the Of words, waped
% holly for the last few weeks, by Congress and the
Press 10 not the destined prelude TO national blows
but should the controversy issue in war, no pen can
trace no tongue tell the horrors, the carnage and
the dcsolaiion which must follow. Such result
would not prove a mere repetition or counterpart Of
the war of 1872 1t would be attended with nm in
crease Of devastation and caanitcs direct propor-
Non to the increase Of the begercnts in population
in pow ., in wealth, in inventions. in the art Of war;
and in all the resources which two mighty and pros
porous nations hn We been accommodating for than
thirty years. And yet invested as the subject has
been, with all the ec,of which patriotic ervcsccnce,
and editorial and parliamentary va'"i (not that o!the
batie-flID have thrown around it, and adorned and
cmbeshed as it has cen, with all the gems of rhet-
ORR, and flowers Of oratory and of poetry which hu.
man ingenuity could either borrow or originate its
Horrors have dwindled into comparative insignia.
csucc, supplanted-ly brilliant halo of apnary
splendor an glory. But let no, the pnbic mind be
deceived Let not the noble severi of the judgment
be warped and deuded by sophisry, by the interest
ID appeals Of the pariznn, the swelling periods Of
the orator. lie, war be stripped Of its merericous
tfappings, and viewed in all its naked dcormty-
Let the dire reality, and not the f1uniinG garb in
which some would seek TO hide il, be regarded.
would invite those polemi Hospurs If the House of
Representatives, who seem To have drawn literally on
the poets for emb, llishmenis for their oratory to
elancc st the following pas age from eminent En-
ol:sh philosopher and poet, written in 1893 during
the alarm Of m INVASION The sentiment seems to
me equally applicable TO country and 10 the
present time. The periinence and force Of the ex.
uac' must apologize for its length:
1--WE, this Whole people, have been camorous
For wU and bloOdshed. animal ing SPORTS
The which, We pay for n Thing TO ialk OF,
spectators and not combataUts. No guess
Aniici aiiOns Of wrong untelt,
No speculation or contingency
However dim and vague. too vague and dim
To yield Jusiving cause; and forth
(Stufei out with big preamble holy name,
And adjuia'ions Of the God in Heavenly
We send our mandates for the certain death
Of thousands and ten thousands! Boys and girls
And women, that would groan to see child
Pull of an insect's leg, all read Of War,
The hest amusement for our mornings meal
The poor wretch who has learnt h s only prayers
From curses, WIN knows scarcely words enough
To ask bile sing from his Heavenly Father,
Become. n fluent phrasenan, a salute
An technical IN victories and defeats.
And all our dinty terms for fratricidr;
Tsrms which we iinndle smoothly DER " ton cues
Like mere a,s'racIi'n-. empty sounds 10 winch
We JOIN no feeling, and attach no form!
As If the soldier lied without n wound;
As il the fibres Of this ID. like frame
We're g,rrd without n pane as if the wretch
Who fell in butte. doing l,ody deeds,
Passed off 10 Heaven, translated and not killed
As though he hal no wife to pine f,r him,
No God I" judge hin! Therefore, evil days
Are coming on us, o my tountrvlnen!
And what il al'1vengng Prov idrnce,
Strong and rerihntve, should make US know
The meaning of our word, force US 10 feel
The des,alion and the agony
or our fierce dolngs!"
But leaving for the present, the NATURAL and newt.
able horrors Of war, let bestow few thoughts uT
On the controversy which threatens them This how /.
ever, must constitute the theme Of q future commun
cation ID.