Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-04-24

LOUIS KOSSUTH
To the Society Of Friends in Great
Britain.


Friends: You have sent me your
christian Appeal" pleading peace at
any price, not because you hold the
present war unnecessary, impolitic, or
directed towards q wrong issue; but be.
cause you hold all war to be unlawful un.
der the Gospel dispensation.
have considered your argument at
tentiyely Bear with me for meeting you
with conscientious sincerity on yonr own
ground. by public answer to your public
appeal.
The Gospel Is your authority. II is
the Gospel that 7 appeal to against Your
false doctrine. I call on you to submit
to the words of Him whom you invoke;
when We shall hear Of wars and COM
motions, be not terrified; for these things
MUST come to pass. but the end is not BY
and-bv. Nation shall rise against nation.
and kingdom against kingdom.
Thus saith the Lord. Submit TO his
decree.
And, "think not that come to send
peace on earth; came not TO send peace,
but n sword"
Thus saith the Lord, whom We call "the
Prince Of Peace" And His words are
wisdom, Justice and truth-Freedom on
= ic fl,a n
which mani ind is called. We have a
Father" in Heaven. That is word of
immense meaning, and full OF love. A
father cannot have doomed his children
to thraldom, oppression and perdition.-
To believe the country is plasp
But the end sis not by-and d-by." Like MS
We see in geology, that the work of crea-
ton is still going on, hour by hour inces-
sanity, Just so we see a revelation OF His
will necessarily propounded in history
Know We of one single people delivered
from thraldom bv some other means than
the .wordl There is none, and none
ever has been. Therefore is it that the
Lord has said. "these things must first
come to pass" 1t is, therefore, the Lord
says, al came not to send peace, but
sword"
Respect the word OF the Lord; do not
revolt against the revelation Of the will
Of our Father in Heaven.
To allow iniquity to bear the sway when
the sword could have arrested ito rivet
the chains Of oppression over nations by
treaties, when the sword could have
severed the chans-is a work of niquity,
and not Of peace.
To plead for immunity to tyrants, for
their encroaching upon their neit hbor's
house, or for oppressing. neecing and
iorturing nations, is so much as to plead
immunity to the wolves, for devouring
the sheep.
Does il not strike you that 10 call
iniquity and oppression hv the sweet name
Of neace is profanation ,blasphemy'
You preach Peace to tyrants. and good
will TO opprtssors; does not your con-
science tell YOU that bv so doing you are
preaching against the rights of man, and
Ill will to humanity
II the thief breaks into your house,
and robs YOU of your silver, do YOU give
him your gold to boot for the sake of
peace: or do YOU call on the policeman 10
bring the thief TO Justice that he may be
punished, and your property restoredl
Which do you dol
And where is the tribunal 10 which o.
pressed nations may appeal agairs, the
crowned robbers Of their peace and happi
ness, If il be not the sword'
Every tree that bringe,h not forth
good fruit is 10 be hewn down and cast
into the fire." SAYS the Lord. Is there a
tree worse than injustice and tyranny7-
Yet YOU plead peace TO the bad tree. that
mankind be forced to eat its poisonous
'ruit-oppression. Is that charity
For yourself, who thanks to CromwelPs
sword have no oppression 10 suffer, j; is
very well to say: Don't war; let Us
have peace, that we may in tranquility
devote our energies TO the peaceful pur
suits of commerce and industry, and thus
continue 20 thrive"
But Europe is oppressed. Thrive, and
be blessed. I will not say 70 you, clay
not up for yourselves treasures upon the
earth. because you cannot serve God and
Mamunon" Will not say So unto you,
because YOU are conspicuous bv meek
social virtue and by private charity. I
would cnly ask yon. Do you mean that
your religion commands you 10 be
charitable ouly towards the passing pri.
vate sufferiags OF men, and forbid. you 20
be charitable toward the lasting sufferitgs
Of nations7-of humanity If such he
your religion, then bear with me for
telling you. that either YOU are not
Christians, or your Christianity is like
the prayer of the Pharisees. sounding
brass and tinkling cymbals."
l am full of defects and fragilities: !
know il. But am deeply attached to
the religion Of my fathers. There was a
period in my life when l had to make a
choice between danger 70 nv life and my