The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-10-14
From the ". Y. Tribune, Nay 29M, 1916,
6hhorred Be War.

Gu 1O " al
The humane, rejecting reader of man $
history, is sickened by tie constantly re-
curing details Of battles and butchery-
by accounts Of the happiness sacrificed,
the privatiops endured by thousands after
thousands in gathering from remote cor
.ners Of the earth to naim and slaughter
each other.
Mere depravity, however grest, is not
enough to account for THIS =, No, devils
could be found sillyenough thus TO torment
themselves first, then one another. Sheer
m"dness is the very least explanation that
is adequate. '' :i'T org ~.
Looking. closely aud steadily at the
matter, we detect the cause IF this horri-
bic janglc, nr at least a sure clue to it,.
War rarages nations, affiicts and destroys
people, bat Strengthens governments, ex-
alts rulers, and enables them to enrich
their f;svqritCs with the spoils Of plumber
cred millions. '' d" ;- ,,+b a'rae
The lodging Of the conmissary or con-
tractor is rapidly transformed into a baro-
NAL castle; his suddenly acquired estate IS
fattcned with, the gore If .countess sol
dlers, thu tears of innumerable Widows
and orphans; and while thousands are
shiverihg and freezing for want of the
! humble dwellings which war has destroy
ed, his family rests secure III lordly halls
and revel in luxury. y"'oi TO-!
Burke, we believe, said Of this class,
that BY means ,ofiwar "their eqnipagcs
shine like meteors; their palaces rise Ike
exhalations." Well can they afford to
prate Of patriotism right or wrong, and
brlbe venal orators with some share Of
their plumber to ihfame the passions of
the duped nultitudes, aud fool them into
enlistlng TO be shot at for some beggarly
shilling or so a day, and that often unpaid.
", VIII the people never become wise
enough to detect and scout this swindllng
game Of murder? .'.;- 3- . n a1''
Suppose a government to be weak or
profigate-a case by no means unsuppo.
sa 'lc-and therefore in danger of incur!
ring popular odium or contempt. 1t de-
sires to be strong in the public confidence,
but without virtue or capacity TO deserve
that confidence. 1t has one unfailihg re.
sort-to pick q quarrel with some other
government. That 'at once withdraws
public attention from its own crimes or
vices; gives it hold on the popular feel!
ingi enables its satellites to call upon the
people to "support the country''-that is,
to rally around and support, the executive
in Whatevef'he may propose. 'r:| r..
:'Ail inquiry is sopped-all watchful-
ness set neutrality-suspicious. are made
by millions aud the purse and sword put
unreseryedly into the hands Of the chief
magistrate to be. welded at his pleasure
the latter against his enemies, the former
in behalf of hisifriends. p'.at rar cas-
All who question the policy or the JUS
tice of his course, are at once denounced
as traitors and enemies of the country.
! Thus thousands are bribcd by office and
gold to cry up the war; all murniurs are
stifed as reasonable; and when ut last
disaster or utter exhaustion of resources
compels return to peace, countless
host of pensioners, cripples, place.mcn
and fund holders are provided to eat up
the ayails: of honest labor for fifty Or
hundred years to come. '..#,
The poor mans children must go to
rest hungry, and grow up in ignorance,
in order that the favortes of rulers may
glitter in "orders" and riot on the spoils
of the people. Such is war 2"a| e.
Such is small portion of the cost of
the infamous cheat, styled Glory.