The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-21
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
,ysn7rSn1V MoRNIIo pFCFMaEa q, ls5s
WAR. -TltE SpEGuLATORS. THE
TlFr tf,G SOCIETIES.


a clash of arms as has not been heard sihee
the downfall of Napoleon.
There arc good macy different p"i"'s VI
view from which War may be Observer
The soldier sees in it excitement dls''"e''''
and glory. The field OF battle to hi!si - ", ~,
vest of renown waiting for his SICKLE. Inc
same Geld ia To the farmer who owns II, n We
~ different object. lie sees only hIs crops
tredden down and his burns i'll flames. ihe
people behold in it A fresh hurthen OF taxa
ton Nor hss i; much attractions for the dy-
ing wretch, who, mangled and bleeding locks
his last upon the sun. The safest ana most
agreeable point Of view is when an ocean
rolls between, and neither the war nor the re-
suits of the WA. can affect ones own country
or kindred.
Human seIsishncss lover appears III ar moro
revolving form than in war. lt Is horrible
and sickeniag idea, that kings and rulers,
merely to obtain Iitlo more territory or
wipe of some im gined stain upon their ho-
nor, should deliberately sacrifice thousands
of human lives 30 their pride and ambition.
There is nothing more savage and disgusting
than this, nay, we doubt ii there is ANYTHING
"a ntellrab.y wicked, III the humsnsacrihceS
offered by some heathcns to ihrjr gods They
at least have the extenua,ion OF acting from
religious ana conscientious motive, but it
is unmiSed and unmitisated seiiishness alone
which lies at the bottom OF most Of the wars
OF the world.
But there is sclfshnoss which is even
more intense than this; more Lideous, base
and inexcusable. The prince who begins an
unnecessary war is often a man OF courage
and generous qualities, and is willing to share
himself the p,rilS to which he leads his sub
jects. The soldier who in pursuit OF the emp
~ phantom OF glory, exposes his columns to s
lnurdcrous fire, is but obeying orders and
bares his own brave breast, equally with that
of his companions to the leaden hurricane.
But there is one character with more than the
selhshneSs and none of the redecming virtues
of these persons. This is the Spectator in
-four and grain, who, comfortably housed on
this side ottEe Atlantic halls with rapture the
prospect Of battle because it will increase his
miserable gains. There are men, CT creatures
who have the name of men, who desire to see
general war in Europe, that it may raise the
value of their wheat crop; who hail with de-
light every symptom of Il war, and are haris-
sed 10y low spirits whenever there is u pros
pect OF peace,-not because of any advanta-
ges to the cause OF free principles CT Of any
principles which they anticipate from war,
but simply because it VIII pat q few more
dollars in their pockets. t3r this purpose
they would willingly see the blood OF millions
OF their race deiugiDg the plains OF Europe,
and all the crimes and miseries which war
brings in its train. No matter what suffering
abroad, 10 matter how consumers suffer at
home, so that the price of -four rises and they
make lew more coppers 10y the operation.
They are wreckers, who enrich themselves
without conjunction with the spOiS of no.
bic vessel, which has gone to pieces on the
breakers, and amid the roar OF the surf, and
the cry of the shipwrecked mariners, are only
intent upon filing their pockets with i'll got
ten booty. They are reptiles, engendered by
corruption and fattenng upon decay, and de-
serve to be shaken ofTw scorn and loathing
too base eventolive. Theyare yultures hover
ing over the battlefield, and banqueting on
the blood ofnObler beings Without the amhi-
ton Of the prince or the courage Of the SOL
der, they exhibit a spectacle Of the most un-
mitigated sclfshness on which the sun shines.
1t is pity that such wretches could not be
thrown naked into the very centre of the fur
mace of battle, and die with the consciousness
that kindred spirits are rejoicing in their death
as the means ofraising the price offiour.
From the present prospects in Europe, il i:
eyiden. that the Peace Societies have &
good dealto Go before they accomplish then
mission. The millennium sun has not Yet risen
Those occasional streaks of light which have
been taken for its auroral beams, are mer,
moonshine. The or, tors of the Peace Con
gross speak eloquent words and prophecy
smooth things, but the lion has not vet laid
down with the lamb, nor the spear been chan
ged into pruning hook. We do not denv
tlat men have become more civilized, refined
and humane, but underlying the smooth sur.
face of our polished civilization, is g. deem chr
rent, which 10 plummet has ever fathomed
o. savage and ferocious passions. The olive
and the vine flourish upon the soil that covers
volcanic fires, Man has been described nv
one OF the philosophers as an intellectual ii.
ger. He has at all events terrible claws he.
meath the velvet, and it is not difficult to
make him show them
More than eighteen centuries have passed
siace the mild genius OF Christianity dawnai
upon the world, but its peaceful influence ha,
fallen upon the obdurute nature of our rae,
like the shining Of q distant star upon the bo
som Of a frozen lake. 1t is to be feared tha
nothing but the last grand conaagration wi,
thaw the ice and render the cold DEPTHS warn
and genial.
NAMES OF MEMpERS-Our friend of III
Petersburg Express, in an article on tn
House Of Delegates, has the following anus
ing paragraph upon the names Of members
'lf there be anything in Names we think tn. ,,,.
sent House is entitled 10 great consideration M. >
ID Prince among Them, democratic Us the hodv
said 10 be. The county of Jefferson has shown IN
she is worth Button; ard FIsnkiln ia the q, l.cn
of her representative, has 10 do act made "A son
CAoiee Accomsc, being III the iish interest," has Ser