The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-11
NAnr.


We refer to this subject, always, with pain
War 10 not our policy. IL can only breed diff.
culties, which will do more TO unsettle law, ane
loosen the foundations Of our Constitution
nan all other causes put together.
The HiOHied losses, Occasioned by war, are
great; but this We consider, as We believe our
people, gener ally, consider it, secondary mat
tsr-not idle or unimPOrtsnt-but yet subordi-
nate. There are other evils Of greater msgni-
Iude. And first among these, is, that war tends
directly to make and keep up false distinctions,
70 establish class interests, 10 elevate and
strengthen the fer. What is the policy Of our
government Wherein and on what does its
whole spirit rest On this, that every being
born among us has the right to the free pursuit
Of whatever may advance his true interest. Ii
was-it ought 10 be nOw-its sole object, to
make life secure, and liberty stable, and to put
happiness, as far as may be, within the reach
Of all
War reVerses all this. The poor man who
lsbOrs hard and honestly, all his life, who brings
up family, amid temptation and difficulty,
"Nnf "hS - - nv hAeWh
the good he does, may die and rot, without re-
csiying cheer as he struggles on, or a word OF
general sorrow when he passes away. Yet the
soldier, by one act, by simple display Of physl-
cal power, even when his whole life shall have
been reckless violation Of the laws of God
and man, may win a nations praise, and be a
hero! The masses who uphold this injustice
endanger, thereby, their rights. and in the end,
will sacrifice them.
Admitting our citizen soldiery, one and all
10 be in feeling, just brsve-still, war, and,
especially, such a war as that now waging
against Mexico, if continued, must familiarize
them, and the nation, TO cruelty, tyranny, and
every wrong. Does liberty Of speech exist
where our sOIdiery stsnd2 Not a paper is pub
lished in the city Of Mexico without first under
going the supervision Of eur officers. Are the
social rights Of that invaded land regarded 1t
is not in the power Of all the officers Of the
army 10 prevent their fragrant violation. The
eye, the ear, and the heart, may thus become so
used 70 injustice, TO blunt that quick sense of
right which bushes at wrong, and dreams not
Of brOoking ii, teaching both sOldiery and people
10 90, or submit to it.
The pslpsbe danger Of our land-so free,
80 rich in resource, so full Of opportunity
70 all, is, that our ambition, Individually, 10 be
uPpermost may consume itself by the very
ferceness Of its owR flame. II is this thought,
it is the fear Of abuses and wrongs likely to
flow from this cause, which lies, pbilOsophicaIly,
at the bottom Of the creed Of the Democracy
The political opposition to mOnopolies Of every
kind, to banking institutions, to money shavers,
10 speculation and spectators, to tariffs, and all
measures which seem even TO bolster up the
feW. and put the many at discomfort or disad-
vantage, begins and ends here. But what can
this war do-what other effect can wars of con-
qBest produce-than TO rivet closer, and stronger,
every feeling, every influence, every interest,
on which this ambitiOn-On which these class
distinctions, and class interests, lock and rely
or support
The money-changer, who finds poor labor
er ins strait, loans him money, and takes as
security therefor his chest Of tools worth three
times the amount The close calculating Dos
SCISSOR Of larger means meets an snterprsing citi-
zen suddenly involved in embarrassment, and
emPties for him his bags, charging extra inter
est, but making good the whole by safe mort
cages. Pay day comes. The chest of tools goes
for song: Thersal estate brings third Of its
value. LabOrer and mastsr-directOr fall a hope
less sacrifice; both are left without means or
tOols &c work; and a. regards these, and all SINH