The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-05-11
T From the New York Tribune, May 20, 1851
ssAhhOrred be War;

OO B"A"f
The humane, rejecting reader of mans his
tory, is sickened by the constantly recurring
details of battles and butchery-by accounts
of the happiness sacrificed, the privations en-
dured by thousands after thousands In gather
ing from the remote corners of the earth to
MAIN and slaughter each other.
Mere de2ravity, however great, is not
enough to account for this. No devils could
be found silly enough thus to torment them
selves first, then one another. Sheer madness
is the very least explanation that is at all ade-
quate.
Looking closely and steadily at the matter,
we detect the cause of this horrible Jangle, OF
at least a sure clue to it. War ravages nations,
~affiicts and destroys peoples, but strengthens
governments, exalts rulers, and enables them
to enrich their favoriles with the spoil OF
plundered millions.
The lodging of the commissarY or contrac-
tor is rapidly transformed into a baronial cas-
tie; his suddenly acquired estate is fattened
with the gore of countless soldiers, the tears
of innumerable widows and orphans, and
while thousands are shivering and freezing
for want of the humble dwellings which war
has destroyed, his family rest secure in lordly
halls and revel in luxury.
Burke, we believe, said of this class, that
by means Of war "their equipages shine like
meteors; their palaces rise like exhalations."
Well can they afford to prate Of patriotism,
"richt or wrong" and bride venal orators with
some share of their plumber to infame the
passions of the duped multitudcs, and fool
them into enlisting to be shot at for some
beggarly shilling or so a day, and that often
unpaid.
Will the mass never become wise enough
to detect and scout this %swindling game OF
murder?
Suppose a government be too weak or prof
ligate-a case by no means unsupposable-
and, therefore, in danger of incurr1ns popu-
lar odium of contempt. 1t desires TO be strong
in the public confidence, but without virtue
or capacity to deserve that cor fdence 1t has
one unfailing resort-to pick a quarrel with
some other government. That at once with
draws public attention from lis own crimes or
vices: gives it a hold On the popular feelings:
enables its satellites to call upon the people to
support the "country'-that is to rally around
and uphold the executive in whatever he may
propose.
All inquiry is stopped-all watchfnlness set
neutrality-suspicious. are made by millions,
and the purse and the sword put rnreservedly
into the hands of the chief magistrate to be
welded at his pleasure-the latter against his
enemies, the former in behalf Of his friends.
All who question the policy or justice OF
his course, are at once denounced as traitors
and euemies of the country.
Thus thousands are bribed by office aud
gold to cry up the war; all murmurs are stiAed
as reasonable; and when at last disaster or
utter exhaustion of resources compels L return
to peace, a countless host of pensioners, Grip
plies, place-men, and fund holders are provided
to eat up the avails of honest labor for fifty
or a hundred years to come.
The poor mans children must go to rest
hungry and grow up in Ignorance, in order
that the favorites of rulers may glitter in
"'ordsrs" and riot on the spoils Of the people
Such is war.
Such a small portion of the cost of the in
famous cheat, styled Glory.