The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-20

o. o n
further considered-Indications of a Final Tri-
umph.
In all countries and ages we think the remark
generally holds true, that war is not the Peoples
game they are enticed into it by ambitious rulers,
corrupt demagogues, or designing men. Thus,
/" for lack of knowledge, often is nation de-
stroyedo
IT, then, mutual ignorance and misunderstand-
ing be the prime obstacle in cementing the ma
tions of civilized men into an indissoluble broth
erhood, IA conclusion warranted by the reasoning
of our last article) no formidable difficulty need
be apprehended from the existence ofs variety OF
distinct races. And whilst diversity OF creeds
and religions undoubtedly forms a bar TO a FIJI
interchange of national sympathy, we see no
reason why il should be made ground for justi-
flying the present Independent, distrustful, bel
ligerent attitude of those nations between which
such diversity exists for all stand upon the plat
form of common humanity, where they can
unite in maintaining certain great and common
interests Abstractly II is at least highly proba-
BILE that all civilized Governments, how diverse
soever their religious creeds, might be induced to
adopt few principles Of general utility, and to
carry forward in concert plan which proposes
by affording protection to each, to secure the
rights and welfare Of all DO not say that such
a movement presupposes the entire abandonment
of selfshness on the part Of nations; result
which, however desirable, could be accomplished
by nothing short Of supernatural agency In
ternational Unity upon the basis of sovereign
Law, would be no more miraculous than Civil
Government both are established by the same
method, and perpetuated by the same means; nor
is the former less feasible than the latter. What
is Civil Government but a triumph Of enlightened
reason, over the blind animal prospensities Of
the racel Doubtless some ten hundred years
ago, that triumph seemed IMPOSSIBLE TO the indie
pendent and warlike Barons, whom ALFRED the
Great was persusding TO adopt what are now the
common principles Of social intercourse, TO which
we, and our ancestors during many generations,
have been accustomed TO attach all the sacred
ness and majesty Of law. II Feudsl lords could
unite under Constitution, and become peaceable
citizens Of political States, then Is our problem
solved independent States may confederate upon
the basis of international law, even though they
retain in measure, their distinctive peculiari-
ties and national predictions.
War. 30 far IA Il obtains is dissolution Of the
compact ordained by God and cemensed by unit
versal reason and resolution OF society into iss
original disoordant elements. Only let reason
achieve one more triumph, let civilization but
advance one step further and war becomes az I'M
necessary and abhorrent 10 the public mind, as
are civil dissensions and domestic rebellions In
our own Confederacy.
Besides, who IL 30 dull a. to have overlooked
the obvious, though gradual, tendencies TO unity
among the nations7 Under the Influences OF
this Ninteenth Century, stern barriers OF nation
atty, that have for ages separated mankind INTO
hostile sections, are slowly crumbling away Light
has dffused itself abroad, and the hearts OF men
are beginning to flow together. Within rev
| years past grand demonstrations have been maze
Ia this country, in England, In Belgium, ana IN
| France, with the Wow Of removing the preJodices
which ALLEVIATE Christian Governments, ana OF
establishing fraternal bonds between them AZ
Brussels In ls4s, ut Paris 10 1919, and At Frank,
fort In 1850 Congresses were assembled, composed
of phlanthropists from various countries, belong
ing TO distinct races, speaking variety OF IAN
| guages, holding different political and religious
opinions, and united only by their common real
for humanity and q higher civilization, whose
deliberations have most powerfully impressed the
y-blic mind in both hemispLeres with sentiments
! orable TO the general disarmament OF states,
| to the introduction OF the reign OF interna-
tional Justice Commerce Is establishing itself on
broader basis-the principles OF Free irsde are
| gaining ground - mercantile union has ALREADY
acquired % great degree Of strength, that II may
safely be calculated upon as an efficient cause 10
preventing wars
Old Msmmop, the god OF gold, with his
hundred hands, 10 cessslessly sending across the
boundaries Of States invisible cords OF innocnce
| He proposes TO weave web large enough 70
envelope both IIemispheres, whose golden mssnet
neither the brine Of old Ocean can ever cor.
rode, nor the swords Of future generations cn'
ssunder