New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-15
"TYE CAMP AND COUNTRY"
LECTURE BY HENRY WARD BEEcmER.

with the above title from the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, addressed 10 the New-York Young Mems
Christian Association. A large portion of the audi
ence was composed Of ladies, many of whom occu-
pied seats upon the platform. At few minutes past
o'clock Mr.. Beceter appeared upon the platform,
and was loudly applauded.
The meeting was opened by Mr.. Vernon, Presi-
den. Of the New-York Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation, who Introduced 81. Geeeher.
Mr.. Beecher sai6: There is in Religion an element
Of love an an element Of justice. 1t ia part OF
Ii. istian duty at certain times to recognize the
divine element Of justice, although always IN the
spirit Of love. The times in which we live are
sublime inspiration of justice applied 6y the bands
Of free and intelligent people. This is the day OF
JUSTICE and although it may have seemed to hnger,
/. has fingered only that when the time should
its work may be more perfectly done. What do we
behold The revolution from an industrial people
TO warlike one of thirty millions Of inhabitants.
The spectacle thus presented is memorable, not
merely from its rapdity, not merely from the mani
feat superiority of the people to the best Gov
eminent in the world-for il cannot be denied
that though the Government Ia the best, it has
always been tagging behind the people. The best
Government the world eyer saw Is that which Ia at
Washington; and yet il has scarcely kept pace with
the people behind it and beneath IT,. But the proof
which is presented at this time is, that good Gov
ernment based upon an intelligent and free people,
l. the submest spectacle Of Government that the
world can witness No Government OF strong
neople can long be weak. II it had been monar.
cbieal Government it would have been dead aud
buried long ago. If it had been an Austrian Gov
ernment. 20 low had it been reduced by corruption
that doubt whether it could have stood; it would
have been overthrown. But our people are stronger
than ever before. Applause In the very mo-
ment when Europe looked for dissolution here
behold such military power as was never known
before on the globel There have been greater
armies. though doubt, il You count both sdes-and
the whole country belongs TO US yet cheersl-
whether you can find better material for an army.
A million of men stand in arms, and We may count
with confidence on FIVE hundred thousand Of them
Nor are our people educated as European people.
OF that half million Of men may be said-what per-
haps could Eever have been said befoge-there is not
one conscIipt not drafted man, not one enforced
soldier Not only they all free, but they are not
men who volunteer for their bread, but they have
got noble occupation. Speaking characteristically
OF our army, they were men who did business men
who had an interest in the struggle not alone Oh ac-
count of their families but who felt that the Gov
eminent must be sustained. II is scarcely seven
months since the call made and where before in
monarchy, spying out weakness in republic,
we're such signs Of stupendous weakness seenl
What is the cause of this great change which has
reyolutionized peaceful people, They had been
engrossed in industrial occupations for fifty years
without the material or ammunition Of war. 1t was
thought by many that such people could not easily
take the form Of great national army; it has been
done in half a year. What Is the cause of the
change in such people, educated to industry, pre-
ferring civil life to military life-a people who had
been accustomed to think that gew-gawed officer
was about the most useless thing in the wordf Our
industries are changed our FORCES and our founder
les are at work day and night and all men are con-
tribuiing their personal service TO the Of free
people. Il IL that cities have been sacked-that
our revenues have been taken from us 2 1t is that
Slavery has declared that there shall be no Govern
ment over these United States unless it controls it,
and the teople have declared there shall be a Gov
eminent, and Liberty shall control It. Appliance !
But at this uncture we are met by the most earnest
protestalion in favor OF fraternity, Of peace from
Christians who shocked that great people should
go violate Christian morality as to go to war.
agree that Christianity intends universal peace;
but il permits war. Whether il is right or wrong,
depends upon whether the end is night, and the spirit
in which it is waged is right. III the end is right
and we administer it with right spirit, it il right;
/ IL not, IL il all wrong. Will any man say physical
force may not be used for moral purposes What if
we cannot AVOID evil and procure good by using
moral influence What If we cannot do good by
moral suasionl Is there anything in the use Of
physical violence that IL wrong We do not heal.
tate to use physical force upon Nature by agrica.
ture, by manufactures, by art, in all their
forms we do not hesitate to control the
elements, and make them work for Chris
tian faith. II Is only where physical
force is employed on human beings that
they object. But if the boy makes war in the
family, the father instantly makes war on him
Suppose the child, when convicted Of falsehood
should reply to his parent, who had been arguing
that IL was wicked to use force A" Father thought
you was opposed TO using phytical force. May we
not employ il as police force What should we
think OF the policeman who, when he caught a thief
should pull out the Bible and read him the ten COM
mandments 1t would be much more pertinent to
use the Locust. Ii il wrong 10 have wars for ava
RI a M " I'm rli.b
wars; il is wrong TO have wars in which the ami
mating spirit is cruelty; wars Of national vanity
which are called wars Of honor: whenever il is TO
augment terrtory-all these wrong, not because
the of force is wrong in the hands OF Government
but because the use Of force with selfish ends is
wrong. You have no right 10 procure good end by
instruments employed with "A wicked motive. Self
defense is right, but malignant selfdefense il not
right. Defense of your nation is right, but savage
and ferocious spirit in the defense OF your nation is
not worthy of your manhood or Christianity. In
short all wars in the interest of the animal faculties
are wicked; but when the end is right, and when
the inspiration is Just and humane, then wars are
lust. provided they are the last resort The top of
the head has a right to go to war, but the bottom
never. But doesn't Christianity teach peace Ii |
teaches peace by forbiddng the exercise of the pas
sions--not the remedy for them. You shall have
peace when you have justice, but never till then. /,
But what, after ALL have been the operations of
peace SOCIETIES They have permitted the rayages OF
the worst passions without rebuke. England could
make war on China to make them chew the hateful
cud they would spit ont, and no peace protest be
raised. Europe sees Poland crushed-no redress;
Hungary spoiled-no redress vile and infamous
dungeons, and little influence exered to stop THESE
unlegalized monarch'es, and very little is done by
peace societies. IL you want peace, you must have
Justice. Cheers. To forbid just defensive war Is
to give arms TO tyrants, and take them away from
victims. You must stop injustice, or stop offensive
war. II IL very much like attempting to reform
community by turning the doctors aud medicines
out, without turning out the diseases. But
il is objected, "What do you do with the texts of
the New Testament" "Oh texts are the easiest
-, IL. 4 =,