Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-06-03

We see the face of our globe marked over
with lines, called national boundaries The
great family brotherhood must not be destroyed,
and man made and kept the enemy of man. for
the sake of these. There is nothing in the two
sides of of line of latitude, or the two sides Of
river or mountain, that should destroy love.
One would suppose men to be far below be-
ings possessing any ideas of mutual relation and
dependence, were he to Judge from the terrible
preparations of armies and navies What a sight
is that of two great armies with engines all pre-
pared to work destruction, approaching each 9TH
err! Can we believe that they are all members
of one familyl-that they are all brethren! 1t is
so; but what dreadful and fendsh spirit has TAX
en- the place of brotherly spirit! Does each
soldier seek to do as he would be done by! Do
they not rather say, 'GiUe them heW'
War destroys all sense of brotherly relation a.
mong men. National animosity inspires its vo-
taries. They long for the destruction of those
who oppose their wishes and designs. Not a
note of war is in harmony with the spirit Of love.
Its music is the shout of fendsh madness, min
ged with the thunders of the great bass organ
of destruction Its time is beat by the falling of
thousands upon the field of blood Its emphatic
notes the burstings of bomb-shells, tearing to
atoms myrads of defenceless women and child
rem.
Such is the music of war, as we hear it play
ing its dreadful harmonies of woe through the
wide earth.
We look at navies; and of what possible bene-
fit to the great family of man, can be these many
ships of war! One of them makes us attempt the
inquiry, as it we're, whether the once bottomless
pit has not had a keel-bottom put in it; when we
see how it swims about in the deep waters, and
at times belches forth its madnes in storms of
fire and birthstone
The loud huzzas which drown the groans of
the many who are dying, is such a shout as the
miniStering spirits of heaven could never raise
even when victory is won; for the greatest of
teachers forbade his disciples to rejoice because
even the devils we're subject to them; and allow
ed them to rejoice only because their names were
written in the book of life
What is there in the spirit and progress of an
armed navy, that recognizes our great family re-
lation! In those horrible instruments of death
and destruction, which they bear, what is there
that would not be more in harmony with the cha
racter of maddened demons than of human broth
ers!
Is it the mteres tof man to give the carcass of his
brother TO the ravens: or to glut the earthWorm
with freshly slain victimsl Tell us, you who
look coolly upon the dreadful works of war, are
there shark-gods in the sea, for whom you sacri-
flee human victims by hundreds, and to whom
you give their bodies for food! How you must
care for sharks, more than for your human broth
ers! And again, tell us what peculiar care you
have to feed the ravens with the flesh of your
| hrO rc1 h. H. al 10
prepare food for them; or must you say your
frail human brother, that they may be fed!
A wave of human blood may carry a national
boundary to distance from where it was be-
fore; but what is national boundary! Is it a
god, to whom we owe the greatest sacrifice, even
that of life?
How many are there who would lay down their
lives-give them a sacrifce-for the good OF
mankind How many are there who love their
human brothers enough to lay down their lives
for them? There are myriads who will offer to
die for their country, whether its cause is right
or wrong; but where are those who will do as
much for lOUe-forbrOthThOod? Owhat strange
being is mani And how closely are we related
to him!
The helmed soldier puts off his manhood-he
renounces his brotherhood-he claims affinity
only with the powers of destruction. He takes
to himself lions heart, and casts away his heart
of human flesh. He is then prepared for service
Against all that undertakes man, as man.
causing him to suffer unpltled; against all that
places man at enmity with man; against all that
causes some portions of the great family of bro.
theirs to be oppressed with the CALLING yoke o
slavery; against all the fountains and causes Of
wrong, oppression, and war; we are called upor
by the most sacred considerations, to make I'M
ceasing oppostlon and whether it brings to u'
honor or dishonor, joy or sorrow, ease or suffer
ing, to stand firm and fearless, while by the helE
of the blessing of God we may be able to bear {
part in the greatest work in which mortal mer
are permitted to engage. And may the God o.
Peace grant us Peace. Amen,-Genius O
Christianity.