Maryland free press., 1862-11-28
RoBBERIES OF WAR.

i. Common robberies are induced by want but
war commits them by choice, and often robs only
to ravage. A man who PUSHES to the highway to
rob, maddened by the sight of a famished family,
may plead pow erful temptation. But armies rob-
burn and destroy in the coolest malice. See
file of men, we'll fed and well clothed by great
and powerful nation, proceed on q foraging party,
Thew enter retired vale, where peaceful old
man, by hard handed toll, supports bis humble
family. The officer coolly points with bis sword
to the few stacks of hay and grain, laid up for
winter. Remonstrances are vaiu-tears are vain.
They bear of his only supply take bis COW, his
pet lamb add insult to oppression, and leave tie
ruined family to an almshouse or starvation -
Aye, but the poor old man was M enemy, .he
war bhrass is, and the baughty sodiery claim
merit for forbearanee, because they did not con-
clude with burning down his house. -
Phe seizure or destruction of public stores, is
not less robbery. nation has no more right to
steal from nation, than an individual has to
steal from an individual. In principle, the act is
the same in magnitude, the sin is greater. All
the priva3e robberies in a thousand years are not
a tithe of the robberies of one war. Next to kill
ling, it is tie very beet of each party to burR
and destroy by sea, and ravsge and lay waste on
land. 1t is malgn and inexcusable barbarity,
and constitutes stupendous mass of theft.
In one of the Puuic wars, Carthage, with '1oQ,=
900 houses was burnt and destroyed so that rot e
house remained. The plunder carried away by
the Romans in precious metals and jewels alone,
is reported to have been equalto fre mstisns Of
pounds of silps-. Who can compute the number
of similar events, from the destruction of Jeru-
salem to that Of Moscow Arson, that is the
setting fire to an inhabited dwelling, is in most
countries, punish able by death. Bnt more Of this
has been done in some single wars, than has been
committed privately, since the world began.---
When some villain sets fire to house and con.
brysgs il Il, Msat public indignation what zea to
buildings are fred, what general panic Yet hSSs
email the distress, compared to that which follows
the burning of On entire city. In one ease, the
houseless still fud shelter, the laborer obtains
work, the children have food But oh, the hor-
rors of a general ruin Eartl quake is no worse,
1t should not be overlooked, that a great par
of the private robberies in Christendom, may be
traced to the deterioration of morals, caused by
war. Thousands of pirates received Their infs-
nous education in national ships. Thousands of
thieves were disbanded soldiers. War taught
these men to disregard the rights OF property
to trampe upon justice ana reuse mercy. Even
If disposed to honest labor, which military lite
always tends to render uupaletable, the disband-
ed soldier often fnds bimsef unable to 6pd EN-,
ployment. The industry of his country has beer
paraly zed by the war, and the demand for labor
slowly recurs. The discharged veteran therefore
is often compelled to steal or stars.
Thus war, by its own operati ons, involves con-
tinua and stupendous thefts, and by it's unaveida-
BILE tendencies, multiplies offenders who in time
of peace prey upon community.-Dr. Malcom.