New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-07

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War nBd Glory.

fs.osk,ck fsrs, Secretaries ,sa
JAMS GkIDLEY, } mlo ~
War md Glory.
From the Oldest recorded time our earth has
echoed 10 the renown Of victors and OF battles
TIE earliest and most famous poems find here
tleir ms pration while Sculpture, Painting, Ar
ohitecture unite 20 dffuse and 70 immortaize the
achievements Of the Warrior. In bis behalf the
Senste- house is resonant with leudation; TO bis
glory and not his Creators, the Cathedral thunders
It's often mpious TIE Deums. II current History
were 10 be regarded as a true exhibition OF Mans
career and Destiny the depopulation OF our globe
might seem the chief end Of lofty endeavor, and be
who burnes most 10 bloody and cofinless graves
the greatest benefactor Of his kind.
Yet on the other hand he who insists regarding
the warrior as merelya remorseless butcher and his
vocation always and necessarily scourge and a
blight do him and it gross wrong. In world of
ignorance, sel6shness and oppression, where instl-
tutons and ussges have perpetual tendency 10
take on an incrustation OF and become intoer
abe-where Graft necessarily spins its web anG
stealthily draws within its tolls the earnings and
rights Of the undertaking and the simple--it " as
hardly possible, with the general mind stepped in
dolatry or other merely external religion, obscur-
ing or shutting out the true light OF Heaven, that
wars should not have existed and probably the ave
rage majority of the Human Race was rather i'm
proved than impaired thereby. IT, indeed the per
verted passions and rapacious desires whereof
War is the most open and frank manifestation
could have been subverted or renovated, all this
might have been very different; but, with Man and
his aspirations as they actually have been, War
was not merely inevitable; itmsy have been, on the
whole, beuehcent That the world has escaped n
Chinese stagnation, unconquerabe for centuries
even by the power Of Christianity, may be owing,
under Providence, to the arousing stimulating in.
Auences OF War.
But not from any consideration OF the abstract,
the ultimate utilities of War yet from that IN
fusion Of Cowardice which temPers' more or Iess'
the blood of nearly all mortals, and which renders
dizened coat and holding plume so resistess in
the eyes of most Women springs the ell but univer-
sal idolatry of the Warrior The qualities which
mankind honor in his person are Reality and Self
Sacrifice. la world full OF shows and seemings-
of idle Wanting and empty profession-of frotby
proteststons and Judas kisses-there is natural
admiration felt for that contempt of personal conse
quences in devotion to objects OF general concern,
which the Statesman may profess from the downy
cushions Of Office the Orator proclaim to ap-
plsudng thousands from the forum, but which all
feel 10 be unmistakably exhibited by the brave
man on the field Of battle. He who calmly, dehb-
erately scrutinzes the hostile array, while bullets
thick as hail whistle round his ears, who rushes
sngly upon a of flashing blades to rescue bis
endangered flag is readily recognized and honored
as hero there is no installing misrepresent
- l. ~ ~ Gt.e ,oufs ar
the Citizens equally courageous act Of seltdenisl
is misconceived. doubted, never heard Of All
are aware and will admit that Peace and Private
Life have their herosms and heroes at least equally
worthy OF honor; but how shall the unthinkius
many separate these from the infinitely more nu
meroas instances of sham Patriotism ofhp-love Of
Country Of SelfDenisl which is but more cir
cuitous and hypocritical Self.Seeking shal
we wonder then, that the mass are content &
honor heartily and only those OF whose ManhooC
there can be no denial in whose SelfDevotioi
there can be mistake
Hence numinations Bonires Sautes, Process
sions. Festivities, in honor Of the Warrior and hi
Triumphs hence the popular hslucination which
invests the horrid lneaments Of w ar with sarb o
alurine and deceitiul attractions hence the car o
the Victor rolls onward TO the music of universe
acclsmations-onward to the highest place in tn,
NaItitnde's sfections--onward perhaps, to th
Presidents mansion itself. And IT, at some no
distant day. we should have wars commenced an
battles fought for the sake of the glory thence re
sul,ns and with an eye to the Presidency IN pros
pect what thenl We will think OF this.
Has not the world nearly outsrown the neces
sity. and with il the appetite for fighting and car
mage. Are not the Printing Press and the Ballo
surer and less dangerous weapons for the unrest
ing warfare sgainst darkness oppression and evi
than the sabre and bay onet So we must believe
and vet on a superficial glance the world around u
woald seem to contradict it. Great Britain com
mends Christianity and Opium to the Chinese
Quie, and Order to the region OF the Indies, By
d.nt Of steel and canister; France annexes am
holds Algiers al the point of the bsyonet; Russ
tramples Poland beneath the hoofs Of ner steed
and ravages with FIRE aud sword the gens OF IN,
Caucasus, and We, while Wanting our position a
in the vanguard Of Human Progress, hold Thre'
Millions Of our unoAending Counuymen in chain
and ravags the plsss OF our only neishboring Chris
tian Republic with FIRE and sword, scattering an
slsughtering like sheep those who rally 10 the de
fence Of their independence and their homes. An
it is 10 celebrate aud glorfy our victories won Il
sach coatest that City after City is Redeemed b.
toe glare Of Examinations. outvieing even the con
asTarions which so lately lit up the shattered an'
falling dwellings of devoted Vera Cruz.
Well. let the gansntry Of our brave men wh,
have fought and conquered in Mexico be duly hon
ored We are not OF those who Judge them by q
pursr Christianity than they were ever taught
who would Try them by more exalted mora
standard than they had any idea Of We will no
consent that they be made the scapegOats to bsa
away the sins Of this people into the wilderness
II the victims of this dsplorsble War are mui
dssed, we maintain that the authors of the Wa
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