Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-07-24
From the Republic.
AN ADDRESS,

1
in The Slate Of ohio, 10 the people IF tie o.
nited States, on the subject Of JTar.
This meeting, being introduced into a deep
exercise, on account of the attitude assumed
by the United States of America, towards
the Republic Of Mexico, is constrained, bv
the allegiance we eve TO the government of
the Supreme Being, to bear our testimony
against 1t. In ages past, the children Of men
through prejudice, Ignorance and superstition,
have claimed the divine sanction for the
waste of human life. If the scripture declar-
alton be true, that God is love- what is
war but rebellion against Ills empirel I'm
der the influence of the unchanging govern
ment of Jehovah, "mercy and truth meet to-
gether righteousness and peace have kissed
each other" Whence come wars and fight
ings; come they not of your lusts which war
in your members!" Every battle of the
warrior is with a confused noise and gar
ments rolled in blood" War; said Ma
poleon TO his aid-de-camp, before the battle
of Waterloo, " is a trade of barbarians.''-
Deeds of rapine follow in its train. 1t is an
appeal to mans lowest nature. The annals
OF the world are stained with the clashing of
nations. Military heroes driving the plough
share of destruction through the habitations
of the weak and defenseless. A Nero out
Eih wv laws VI llhlIlts ItIDtlIdllIuG cru
elites which overwhelIn the mind with horror.
An Alexander, a Bonaparte, overlurning king
doms at pleasure. In the language of the
gifted Sumner, "wasted lands, ruined and
iimished cities and slaughtered armies. are
only a part of the purple testament of bleed
ing war" Every soldier is connected as all
OF you, by tender ties Of kindred, love and
friendship. lie has been sternly summoned
from the warm embraces of family. To him
there is, perhaps, an aged mother, who has
fondly hoped 10 lean her decaylng frame up
on his more youthful form. Perhaps a wife,
whose life has just been cntwined with his,
now condemned to wasting despair perhaps
brothers and sisters As he falls on the field
of battle, must not all these rush with his
blood; but who car measure the distress that
rddiatcs as from d bloody sun, penetrating in
Vulnerable homes! Who can give the guage
and dimensions Of this incalculable sorrow Z
Tell us. We who have felt the bitterness of
parting from dear friends and kindred, whom
ye have watched tenderIy Till the last golden
sands have run out, and the great hour glass
is turned, what is the measure Of your an
guish? Your friend has departed. soothed
by kindness aud in the arms of love the SOL
dier, with no friend near, while the scowl o?
hate darkens all that he beholds, darkens his
own departing soul"
DR.. Thos. Dick. the distinguished philoso-
pher, computes siXty-nine millions, two hun
dred and fifty thousand tons of human flesh
have been manglcd, disfgurcd, glshcd. and
trHdden under foot in war; that fourteen
thousand millions Of the rational family have
persisted on the field of battle"
Shall the sword devour foreverl" Let
1t not be asserted that war is necessary. Ar
bitration-a congress Of nltions-night ami
cably and honorabIy settle all dispulations.-
II the Holy Spirit is grievcd when violence
Is In the land, wasting and destruction within
lis borders-if the command of the Highest,
"thou shalt not kill " the Injunction Of .Je-
sus Christ to the apostle, - put up again thy
sword into his place; for all they that take
the sword shall perish by thu sworI-Mnt-
thew %: 52-be of universal application, as
well as his blessing upon the pcace-makers,
together with the whole code Of morals
which he taught, as we verify believe they
are, what must be the position of this govern
ment in the sight of Heaven and the enlight-
ened nations of the earth, engaging in mortal
combat, not for the purpose of carrying out
the noble sentiment Incorporated in its dec
laratlon of independence, Z" that all men are
created free and equal" but for the extension
and perpetuatlon Of the most erccrabIe sySfcm
" UVFcoStHH WHICH ever ulnnTtCeu the world.
A system which annihilates manhood and
puts dow in its crimson ledger as chattles,
personal beings created in the image of the
Heavenly Father.
We are not insensible that our testimony
will conflict with the popular mind. This
will not deter us from speaking the truth.
In our judgment, wal is wrong, and wrong
continually. The present one has seldom, if
ever, been surpassed in a%trocity. If the ma
ton depends tor its stability upon making
war against the government of God, and the
rights of man. though it exalt itself as the
eagle and build its nest among the stars is
there not reason TO believe that, like Tyre and
Babylon of old, it will be cast into the deem!
That the rulers and the people may be brought
TO repentance and learn to do justice ere it be
to- late, is our ailectionate desire.
Signed by direction and on behalf of the
aforesaid meeting, the l7th of the 9th month,
1916.
THOS. SWAYNE,) c,
EI ~ SM ClerkS