The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-08-10
From the Indiana Free Democrat.
ON WAR.

cation less interesting. E. M.
From the Indiana Free Democrat.
ON WAR.
Having in my last communication proved,
as conceive, that war is Contrary to the
spirit of Christianity will now take up the
subject in its political bearings. I might
stop here and say to those who plead that
war is sometimes necessary, Christianity is
our standard of moral action. Whatever
Christianity incuicates is right; whatever
it condemns is wrong. Christianity an
war are directly opposed to each other. In
noae of its forms can war be made to har-
monze with the spirit of the Gospel. There
fore war is wrong; and if so it is never
necessary-because the necessity of doing
wrong is an absurdity.
But I will argue the case on other grounds.
It is often urged that those nations who lay
aside the sword aud refuse to fight, will be
imposed upon and conquered by other ma
tions. To this I reply, 1st. That more
nations have lost, than have gained their in
dependence by war. 2. That those nations
who cultivate peaceable spirit are not like
ly TO be imposed upon. Look at the early
history of Pennsylvania. William Penn,
by treating the Indians kindly, secured their
good will, and protected his little colony
from the horrors of Indian warfare. These
peaceable QuakeFs were better off by far
than the fighting New Englanders. Well,
If kindness has SO strong an Influence over
sayages. whose trade and whose glory is
war, will it not, ask, have as strong an in
f1uence over civilized nations? Other cases
similar to the early history of Pennsylva-
MIA occur in history. and these, so far as l
can learn, have almost invariably been at
tended with similar results. The same rule
will generally apply to nations, as applies to
individuals, SO far as the influence of kind
ness is concerned. Here is an individual
who follows out the spirit Of Christ-in
whose actions love beams out continually,
like rays of light from the sun. The most
savage will hot harm that person. even if he
is completely in their power. His heavenly
disposition disarms them of their vindictive-
ness, and awes them into respect before
him. So those nations who exercise spir-
it of peace and uprightness and love will be
far more likely to secure the good will and
protection, than the enmity, of surrounding
nations.
| But we are told that Governments are
sometimes under the necessity of employing
troops to execute their own laws
Ansacer. 1 am not speaking in this com
munication of the execution of municipal
law, even when troops are employed, but oil
war between nations. l will say, however,
on this point, that laws which outrage hu-
manity, like the Fugitive Slave Act. cannot
be enforced to any greet extent. even by an
a, my as great as that of the Allied Powers.
But on the other hand, if Governments will
pass laws which commend themselves to the
reason and virtuous feelings of the people,
and officers will exercise a spirit of mildness
instead of arrogance in the discharge OF
their duties, the civil authority will hardly
ever be resisted to SO great degree that
the interference of the military power will
be necessary.
Again. we are told that MISREPRESENTATION
is the first law of nature"
Ans. Are you sure that self-preservatioD
ever renders 1t necessary to draw the sword
Are you sure that safety is to be secured by
this means? How often is it that those
who draw the sword, perish by the sword.
Far oftener is this the case than otherwise.
Examine history, and you will find that the
peaceable have generally been passed by in
the conqueror's path, while on the waslike
the ravages Of war have fallen. Is not self
preservation more likely to be secured by
following out the spirit of Christianity-or
in other words, by discharging our duty to
God-than it is by pursuing the contrary
course Are We not more safe in God's
hands, than We would be if supported by
millions of soldiers
| Let US now take into consideration some
OF the causes that tend to keep up this war
spirit that prevails around US.
l. In the first place. military heroes are
ldolIzed. Gunpowder popularity is one of
the surest roads to emnence. Individuals
have been raised to the Presidential chair,
who were distinguished for nothing but
their military achievements. Let an indI-
vidual signalize himself in war, and he is at
once lauded TO the skies.
2. In our books and periodicals. and ora
tons, war is generally held up as a brilliant,
| glorious thing. while its revolving realities
are passed over in silence. Here is fash
ionable company of both sexes who are dis
cusslng the news of the day. Intelligence
has just been received from the seat of war,
and one of the company is reading an ac-
count OF great victory. The writer goes
on to describe the splendid appearance of
the troops; the mastery generaship of tie
commander-in-chief; the skillfu maneuver-
lngs which preceded the battle the brilliant
charge; the deeds of heroism which were
displayed and finally the glorious triumph
What enthusiasm pervades that company 1!
Gentlemen and ladies' mingle their applauses
together, and talk of the battle as though
there was nothing but glory about it. Do
they think of the CHASTITY slain. the bloody
field, the groans of tbs widows, and orphans
tears In all probability these things are
lost sight of. and the splendid side of the
picture only is contemplated. This is the
way that the mass of mankind look at war
Its shocking consequences are thrown COM
pletely in the background
3. Military trainings have an influence in
keeping up war. The drum. the fife, the
bugle. the prancing steed. the gilded epau-
lettes and SNOWY uniform. the gaily painted
banner and other training equipage, all
'nese are Calculated to fascinate the inexpe-