Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-05-20
From The Christian Reflector.
The GlOrieS of the Warrior,

The world has ever been mad upon its military idols.
They stand thickly along the path of history objects
before which all classes have bowed and offered Law
ish incense. Yes, the murderers have been more hon
ored far, than the benefactors, of men. The Cyruses,
the Alexanders, the Hanibals, the Caesars, the Tanner
lanes, the Attillas, the Charlemagnes, the Buonapartes,
are the men who figure most conspicuously in the an
nails of our race. They are the heroes whom earth
has most delighted to honor.
We have dwelt with pleasing anticipations around
the proofs of a coming period when the peaceful glo-
ries of Christianity should culminate in our world. So
great has been the march of civilization within the
last few centuries, so marked the aspects of Provid-
ence, that we have almost felt ourselves to have well
nigh passed through the isthmus that connects the
bloody past with a holier future. But we are disap-
pointed, The present attitude Of the two mightiest
Christian nations Oil the globe, ecipses for the time
being, our hopes. The promises Of Jehovah yet await
their ~fulflment. Our business, it is true, as the sub
jects of Him about whose throne are gathered clouds
and Darkness is to see light beyond the gloom, and to
hear ever a voice from the distant skies saying, BE
still and know that | am God | will be exalted in the
heavens, | will be exalted in EARTH
The example which our nation is at this moment
presenting, OF a gross adulatlon Of military chieftain-
ship, is one ofthe most fearful signs of the times. We
cannot turn away from it in the omlnous lessons which
it teaches us. A war has been entered upon which
nine tenths of the free states have, from the beginning,
deprecated. 1t is a war, not of defence, but OF con-
quest. As such, it involves the first great departure
from the supposed established policy of our govern
ment. 1t is at this moment introducing a new element
into the character of our institutions. One party, es-
pecially, has elaine to view it with almost unmixed
execration. And yet the man belonging to this party,
who has most s~killfuily prosecuted this war, who has
shown himself most valiant in demolishing the sanctu-
airy of human life, is all at once by much of the journ-
alism and popular movement of this party, made the
greatest man of the country. lie has already been
enthusiastically nominated in various quarters for the
Presidency, and in no place with more reclamation
than in the city founded by William Penn The
standard of greatness, as here set up by multitudes, is
seen to be most successfully realized in him who sa-
%crifces human life, with most of skill and valor.-
Neither religion nor philanthropy, nor the most emin-
ent civil services, can secure that passport to popular
fame, which is at once made sure to the distinguished
%chieftain. To feed ten thousand hungry ones by op-
ening new sources of production and supply, would
surround the individual whom such a company would
call blessed with far fewer plaudits, than to be instru-
mental in destroying the lives ofas many.
We have before us a string of resolutions passed al
a recent wing convention in New York, which are
laudatory in the highest degree, of Gen. Taylor. They
I declare that he possesses in an eminent degree, the
same great military qualities which distinguished the
illustrious Washington for forty years of service in
the Army of the United States, entities HIM TO the
privilege of reposing upon his hard earned laurels.'-
The concluding resolution is one of singular import
! It declares the duty and mission of our government
and institutions to be eminently Pacific, especially
hostile to wars of Conquest, and pronounces the wal
ugly and venomous.' Suppose, then, that the senti-
ment of these resolutions, which we take to be the ex.
pressions Oft great multitude, be thus alphabetically
stated. The policy of our government is, or should
be, pecifc, opposed to all war, and especially wars oil
conquest. The present is a war Of this kind, and is
h ugly and ~uenOmos Gen. Taylor has prosecuted this
war most successfully. Therefore, Gen. T.. is the fit
test man in all the country to be elevated to the high
est trust in the gift of the people!
How have we reprobated France which yielded her
highest honors to Napoleon, who for a season most