Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-09-05

sITIEs-THE LESSONS OF HIsToRY.--
In that grand sonnet, addressed TO "the
Lord General Cromwell" by John
Milton. whose piercing intellect. sus-
tanned by as brave spirit as the earth
has known, penetrated shams and tore
them into shreds, occur these memoir
able thoughts:
-"Yet much remains
To conquer still; peace with her victor
les,
No less renowned than war; new foes
arise
Threatening to bind our souls with secular
chains:
Help US to save free conscience from the
OF hireling wolves, whose Gospel is their
maw.''
II "peace has victories no less re-
nowned than war;" it is an equal truth
that it has disasters no less great, and
evils quite as gigantic as those of war.
Many patched up peace has been
fruitful of many wars, when a single
war, properly conducted and concluded,
might have made an enduring peace
Many a peace-maker has been a war
creator. In all the struggles of nations,
there have ever been ready tongues to
cry peace. peace, when there was not
an element upon which secure peace
could be founded. One of the fierce
powers. seen by Daniel in prophetic
vision, "caused deceit to prosper in his
hand through policy; and by peace he
was 10 destroy many" There were
false prophets in Israel "who made the
people err--that bit with their teeth and
cried peace" Let US not fall into the
jaws of wolves by listening to the COO
ing of doves. 1t is a matter of great
moment to peaceful people TO be en-
broiled in a war; but, after being
forced into one, it is of the deepest i'm
port to determine when and how to end
it. We cannot be too careful in avoid
ing the snares Of the fowler; we cannot
be too jealous of the ways Of the
prowIer. The pages of history are
filed with examples that show that the
victor in the war was the victim of the
peace. There is no more perfect sale
guard than TO know at the beginning,
the cause of the war, and to determine
what must and shall be its objects, and
to resolve what must and shall be its
definite results. Through the twenty
years war that Pitt waged against the
colossal power of France, in alternate
victory and defeat, in gloom and sun
shine, in hope and fear, one vital prin-
ciple stood out clear, conspicuous, and
determined before the English people,
as Pitt uttered it:-there was to be no
peace that was not broadly based on
'INDEMNITY FOR THE PAST AND SECURITY
FOR THE FUTURE" In all the weary
years OF that great contest, sometimes
hopeful, sometimes despairing, occa-
sionally prosperous, often dreary, the
living current that animated the British
heart was the overflow of Pitts mind,
as we have Just given it. This was the
scale; this the compass by which peace
was to be measured.
In that long, terrible war, initiated
by Frederick the Great, he resolved
that he would never purchase peace al
the sacrifice OF single village, and, in
the lowest depths of the misfortunes o.
the war, in the deepest midnight dark
ness that settled often upon bis career
he never wavered for one moment from
that point. All historians who have
touched upon this period of Prussiar
existence have fondly dwelt upon the
courage and constancy and sacrifices o
the people Of Prussia. The King haC
not seen the capital Of his kingdom foI
six years, 1900 Prussians had fallen
of their enemies four hundred and sixty
thousand had fallen in battle. Pesti
lence had swept off many Thousands
engaged in peaceful pursuits, "whol'
districts, especially in Brandenburg ant
Pomerania, were turned to wastes; al
the best dwellings laid in ashes; th'
very seed-corn in part devoured, ant
none but women and children left to fol
low the plough" An officer, in riding
) through seven villages Of Hesse, foun'
but single human being. clergyman
, who was boiling horse-beans for hi
dinner. But" says Lord Mahon, "n
dangers could vanquish, no suffering
exhaust the patriotic spirit of the Prus
SLAMS. Seeing the independence ofthei
country at stake, they scarcely eve
murmured or complained; they showe'
, themselves ready in such a cause t
. encounter the severest perils with IN
shrinking courage, and endure th
worst hardsbips with msgnanimous pa
: tience. How few are th
! nations that, like the Prussians, hav
stood firm against foreign invaders wit
the utmost energy and utmost modera
ton combined never relenting i
: their Just hostility. and never ventiny
, it, like some Southern races. in deed
of tumult and assassination; proud c
t their martial renown, yet not blindl
7 relying upon it, and always vindioatln