Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-13
PcacemWhen shall it be Advocated?

Our neighbor of the UaiuerSalit Haclmqn takes up
and applies to himself an allusion which we made two
or three weeks since, to a "Rev. editor within our
knowledge who desrous of publishing series Of
articles upon the evils Of war, but deemed it exped-
ent to wait until the present war should be over"
This he does not from any positive knowledge that we
referred to him, bat from the fact that he enerains
and has repeatedly expressed such views. 1t is i'm
material, therefore, whether Or not we alluded to
friend Ballou for if did, he was correctly repre-
sented, rs he now admits; and if we did not, he Of
course would not suffer from the suspicion of harbo-
ing such sentiments inasmuch he now frankly &C
knowlcdgcs them to have been entertained and often
expressed. What ground, then for his somewhatpet-
ulant remark, that the "Freeman fit, as VIC sup
pose, to parade private remark of ours before its
readers, designed doubt to place in bit of an
unenyiable position before its readers" Whatever
may have been our design in publishing the senti-
ment we certainly "paraded" NO author before the
public That has been done by Mr.. Ballou himself
by voluntarily acknowledging the fl ofMe coat.
Friend Balou proceeds to occupy more than half
column Of his paper in defending his notion that the
present is not the time to disseminate Peace doctrines
among the people The old maxinl--"n time of
peace prepare for wars reversed, and rendered
n time OF peace prepare for peace" 1t is urged that
any agitation the peace question: now that our coun
try is engaged in war with Mexico, would be con-
strued by the Mexican people into sympathy with
their cause, and encourage them to proract the con-
fict With our arms; that the public mind is in state
Of teTcrish excitement and wholly unprepared to
coolly weigh and appreciate peace arguments; that
any presentation Of such arguments al the present
time would be considered by the friends of the admin
israton and the war, political crusade for par
tizan ends &c. &c
We entirely dissent from this reasoning and this
conclusion. The same arguments will as well apply
10 the other great evils Of intempeance slavery, and
crime i'll general, as to war. Would you wait until
these were all abandoned and the world regcnerated
before lifting up your voice against them? This was
not the example set by Jesus Christ and the reformers
of his time They cried out against every sin Of
which the human family were guilty In the midst Of
sin, and before the face Of sinners, they lifted up thc
standard, instead of conenting themselves with est
flying against niquity i'll general terms and quailine
before the face Of the guilty author lest he shoult
make personal application Of their rebukcs. Annie
the din and carnage OF the devastating wars that pre-
vailed in his me Savior gave fearless utterancc
to the sublime doctrine of Loving our enemies doing
good to those that dcspeully treat us; if our enemy
hunger feed him; if he thirst give him drink; if lie be
Naked clothe him, &c. But now, after the experience
of nearly two thousand years have attested the heaven
ly origin and tendency of these doctrines, those who
claim to be the ambassadors of the Prince of Peace
dare not reiterate his sentiments, even in genera
terms, lest they should be considered as applying t.
the disgaceful war in which we are now engaged ant
give 'ad and comfort to the enemy, and offence K
the was-hawks and partizan dcmagogues of our owl
country. Faithful messengers Glorious progress
How long ere the mission of our Savior will have beef
accomplished
We agree that the calm and rejecting days of re
pose from war should be diligently used to incuca
the doctrine of universal peace and good will; bu
does it follow that the advocate of peace should de
sert his post etter his lips the moment reckless an
unprincipled partizans
"Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of WARP"
Were he 10 do SO, and allow the public mind to become
dazzled and intoxicated with the glitter & glare ofsan
gunary war, where rests the responsibility? If tn
sublime principles of universal peace, love and broth
erhood, destined to subdue all opposing principle
and become established in the earth, why should the
he deserted and disgraced at every out-burst of tn
evil spirit of war, hate and revenge? Moral courag
is an essential element in moral refomer; & we be
lleve that the great error of those who now stand
tho place, and bear the name, and ought to do tn
york. Of reformors, is they study how to sail smooth
down the current avoiding the shoals and quicksant
If opposition, misrepresentation reprouch and pers
cution instead of striking valienty for the Right wi
dauntcss heart and sinewy arm--endeayoring
leave impression upon the age in which they liv
"Foot-prints in the sands of Time"
Ito strengthen the heart Of the careworn and fair
ing reformer that shall come after them. The bio
of such martyrs will never become the seed of t
church, of any reform that shall bless the world