New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-02
PEACE AND WAR.

A correspondent asks whether We consider
War ever Notwithstanding, OF course, to ask
whether we consider either party to war ever
justified in its prosecution-for he knows that
we believe no war was ever waged wherein one
party was not in the wrong. In other words
Was a nation ever justified in accepting a war
forced upon it by wrong-dOers, and acting the
part Of bellgereUt thereinl
To this question we answer, Yes, we decidedly
d. We believe a nation unwanantably assailed
by another, and thus threatened with dismem-
ment, suIugation, spoEatiOn, has q natural, in
deieasible moral, religious right to defend itself;
for we believe that such defense conduces TO the
wellbeng Of mankind. m
For example: We believe mankind to be this
day wiser, better, happier, than they would have
been had Greece .aluely bowed TO the yoke OF
Xcrxes, instead of hoIoicaly resisting and re.
polling his inDumerable hosts.
We believe that Charles Martc, and those
who fought under him at Tours, defeating and
beating back the locust horde OF Moslems that
threatened TO Overrun and snbjugate Western
Europe and that John SObesk and the com
blned Christian army which, almost century
later, drove the Turks out OF their trenches be-
fore Vienna, and hurled them back, routed,
flying mob into their own dominiOns, did man.
kind good service, and saved the civilized world
from great aud enduring calalaties.
We believe that Washington aud those who
with him fought for and achieved the indepen.
dcnce Of cur cOuatTy rendered signal service not
alone to that country but TO the human race, and
that they are Justly Lonored for this service not
only on earth but in heaven.
We believe that thus to combat and conquer
for Right and Truth is not inconsistent with
Christianity, with the Bible, with the profound
est love TO God, the most ieryent and universal
good viii TO man. 1t may seem 10 be forbidden
by two or three passages of Scripture, but it il
justified and commended by . hundred times
their number and BY the general tenor Of Divine
precept and righteous human law.
Doubtless, good men have believed and taught
another doctrine; but did good man ever act
and live in substantial consistency with such
doctrine! Suppose, for example, nGnresistant
NertStO see rutfan seize and attempt to carry
,f his infant child, aud knew that, IN order to
ave that child from a lie OF Slavery misery aud
moral debasement, he must instantly buock tie
Obber down and thus recover his child, would
le, could he hesitate to do so We hold that |
le could not, and that this answer covers the /
SbOie ground. Even il We are 10 assume that he .
nust love aud care for the robber equally with
lis own child-or if you please, suprcmey--it /
4 still his duty to prevent the commission Of the \
neditatcd crime, if only for the criminals sake.
No doubt War ia great evil and calamity,
nd fearful is the responsibility Of its guilty AL
hors. 1t always might and should DO avoided;
'at it is not always in the power of each party
o avoid il. The misereants who conspred to
Massacre the Massachusetts troops passing qui.
ely and inofensiyely through Baltimore on the
9th ult., are criminals of the deepest dye; but
he soldiers were perfectly justifabIe in defending
heir lives, eyea unto death. II any innocent
erson suffered in consequence his blood is on
he heads OF those who planned, melted, and
Inflated the afTray. SO in st. Louis and else-
here.
But il is said that ihe csr,. aion;s's u-o,nse
eight only ia4 - 1fsf
t:Een acn d.. "a o.. riH .- - 20