New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-19
SERMONS BIZ DE-. EUL5..

SERMONS BE DE-. EUL5..
The Rev. John Bull has devoted the last six
months to plying with ehostly admonitons and
cody exhortations bis giddy young relative,
Jonathan, with regard to the unutterabe folly,
atrOcity, and iniquity OF War. "Look here,
Jonathan !" he has been accustomed affection
tionately to urge, " | am older than yOu, and
"bave had more experience in the ways oi
"tbis wicked world, and i assure you that
"War is a criminal mistake. With far-6way
"heathen, who can't be reasoned with nor
"taught anything save at the mouth of the
cannon, the point of the bayonet, it may be
Unnecessary 10 argue difficult questions with
"lopg forty -twos; but with rational, civilized,
Christian meD, your own klth and kiD,
"never Jonathan, my boy | ain really
ashamed of you! Look at my big debt !
See how j have to tax and burden myself
"to pay the long score of my past iIdiscre-
tons Take warning b. Roe, profit b. my
experience, and lei war severely alone ~
But, Doctor" was the mid rejoinder, I"
"know all you can tel me OF the mscbiefs and
"miseries Of war. | hate war, and would
A." gladly escape from it if l could. But, bad
as war is, it seems 10 NE that there are even
worse calanlities have borne and forbOrne
to avoid the contest now forced upon me-
" nave seen State after State plunged into cause
LESS rebellion by desperate bat secretly organ
" lied, active, aud utterly INSCRIPTIONS minor
" ity of ncr people, terrorizing the majority
" into acquiescence, or at least into silence.
q" stood still until my custom.bouses were seized
4" and set to collecting revenue for tie rebels-
" until my mints aud sub-,reasures were
" wrested from me, and their contents turned
" over 10 the uses Of the rebeillon-until my
" forts, arscnals, arnorics, were IN like man
" ner stolen aud their guns pointed against me
" until my armies, employed only Tor the de-
u" Tense OF frontier States and Territories
" az ainst plundering savnges, were betrayed by
" officers in secret league with the rebels into
d" the enemy's hands, the soldiers made prison
ers Of war and all their armr, munitions and
stores turned ever to the uses of treason.
&C. And still forbore until almost my last for.
"miles. which was harming no one, threaten.
% Ing 10 one, was bombarded and captured by
an overwhelming force, upon no other pre-
text than that | medtated sending provisions
a." to It's starving garrison. 1t seems to me
/" that the most Christian meckness-even
Il" yours-coud not have held out longer than
that; and unless / was ready to admit
/" that had no authority IN my own house,
"no right to my own property, l had 10
"choice but to fight"
40 there are always excuses for fighting"
ia the evangelical Doctors ready reply, but
80 there are always ways to avoid fighting for
" those that really seek them. Take my advice
" and let those fiery Southrons have their own
"head. The worst peace is better than the
"most triumphant war. You may shake your
" head at this but knop."
But all at once the Reverend Doctor is
startled, in the midst of his projections, by
word that one of our cruisers has taken four
notorious avowed traitors, proceeding on an
errand of dangerous hostility to the United
States, out of British mail packet and he
stops sermonizing as though he had been shot,
4" Halloo every body where are my cannon, my
" rifles, my ships of war, my shells, round
" shot, chain.shot, and all manner OF deadly
" implements and missiles Unless the Yaskees
4" at once give up Mason, Slidell < Co. and
&" apologize for taking them, III burn New
Z" York, shell Boston, and pour death and de-
Z" structon all over the loyal States Get
" ready, boys and blaze away"
"But stop, Doctor" mildly interposes Jona-
than; "let us argue the point You think you
ARE right, doubtless; but you are altogether
I" too hasty. You haven't heard our side Of
O. the matter. We will prove that you have
L" acted toward us and others under Ike cir
q" cumstaDces Just as we have done in the case
:" Of your Trent and her precious load, only u
4" great deal more sternly. We will prove by
your own highest legal authorities that what
..we have done with regard to Mason and
Slidell is fully justified by your standard
4" Interpretation of the laws Of war and the
rights of begerents."
81 won't argue with you l won't hear
:" you" shrieks John in bis shriest key;
" surrender and apologize or 6ght!-that is all
81 have to say"
The transition from the peacc-preaching to
the war. threatening Bull is very sudden, and,
in spite of bis fury, gives him rather ludi'
crous aspect. 1t is the old story OF tho par.
son who was perpetually lecturng his good
wife on her hasty temper. and eutreatiug her