The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-09-14
WHOLE NO. 413.
From the N 2. Tribune, May %, 1s46.
Adhered be War.

| From the N 7. Tribune, May %, 1S46.
Abhorred bs War.
The humane, rejecting reader Of man.
history, is sickened by the constantly re
curing details of battle and butchery-bJ
accounts Of the happiness sacrificed, tn
prvations endured, by thousands afte,
thousands in gathering from remote Cor
ners Of the earth to MAIN and slaughter
each other.
Mere depravity, however great, is moi
enough to account for this. No devils
could be found silly enough thus to tor.
ment themselves first, then one another
Sheer madness is the very least explanation
that is adequate.
Looking closely and steadily at the mat
ter, we detect the cause Of this horrible
jangle, or at least sure clue TO it. War
ravages nations, aff1icts and destroys peo-
Piles, but strengthens governments, exalts
rulers and enables them to enrich their
favorites with the spoils of plundered mil
lions.
The lodging Of the commissary or con.
tractor is rapidly transformed into baro-
NAL castle; his suddenly acquired estate is
fattened with the gore Of countless soldiers,
the tears of innumerable widows and Or
phans and while thousands are shivering
and freezing for want of 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 equippages shine
like meteors; their palaces rise like exhala-
tions." Well can they afford to pirate of
fright or wrong" and bribe
venal orators with some share Of their
plunder to inflamc the passions Of the dup.
ed multitudes, and fool them into cnlisting
to be shot for some beggarly shilling or so
a day, and that often unpaid.
Will the people never become wise
enough to detect and scout this swindling
game Of murder?
Suppose government to be weak or
profiigate-a case by no means unsuppos.
able-and, therefore, in danger Of incur
ring popular odum or contempt. 1t de-
sires to be strong in the public confidence,
but without the virtue or capacity to de.
serve that confidence. It has one unfail.
ing resort-to pick quarrel with some
other government. That at once with.
draws public attention from its 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 watchfulness
set aside appropriations are made by mil
ions, and the purse and sword put unre-
servedly into the hands of the chief magis-
trate to be welded at his pleasure-the
latter against his enemies, the former in
behalf Of his friends.
All who question the policy or the JUS
lice Of his course, are at once denounced
IS traitors and enemies of the country.
Thus thousands are bribed by office and
gold to cry up the war; all murmurs. are
stitled as reasonable and, when at last
disaster or utter exhaustion of resources
;ompcls return to peace, countless host
If pensioners, cripples. place men and
'und holders are provided to eat up the
walls of honest labor for fifty or hund.
ed years to come.
The poor mans children must 20 to rest
hungry and grow up in ignorance, in order
hat the favorites of rulers may glitter in
orders" and riot on the spoils of the peo.
,le. Such is war.
Such is small portion of the cost of
he Infamous cheat. styled Glory.