The mountain Democrat., 1864-06-04
AbhOrred he War.

SS
The following Appeared as an editorial
in the New York Tribune, on the Goth Of
May; 1s46, when we were at war with
Mexico. Its tone is quite different from
that of Mr.. Greeiey's editorials Of to-day.
Then VIC were fighting foreign country,
now VIC arc devastating the fields and up.
plying the torch to the homes Of our own
people, allowing them no alternative but
unconditional submission to total dis
franchisCment or determination. Crimes
that would disgrace the kpaches are per-
petrated against whole communities, Ma
jor Generals grow rich on spOils wrung
from the poor, widows and orphans are
multiplied and reduced to want and mis-.
cry, the whole country is peopled with
cripplcs, and million new made graves
bear evidence to the horrors of this wicked
war, and yet Greeley claps his hands in
glee because it strengthens the govern
mcnt, cxalts rulers and enables them to
enrich their favolites with the spoil ol
plundCred millions" But hear Greeley
as "pcacc man.:
The humane, rejecting reader of man S
history is Sickened bv the constantly re.
curing details Of battles ard butchery-
by accounts Of the happiness sacrificed,
the privations endured. bv thousands af-
ter thousands in gathering from remote
corners Of the earth to main and slaugh.
ter each other.
Mere depravity, however great, is not
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 eXplana.
ton that is adequate.
Looking closely and steadily at the
matter, We detect the cause of this horli.
BILE jangle, or at least sure clue to it,
War ravageS nations. aillicts and DESTROYS
people, but strengthens governments, cx.
altS rulers and enables them to enrich
their favorites with the spoil Of pundervd
millions.
The lodging Of the commissary or con,
tractor is rapidly transformed into bar.
ronial castle this suddenly acquired state
is fattCned with the gore of countless sol.
dierS. the tears of innumcraGle widows
and orphans; and while thousands are
shivering and freezing for want Of the
humble dwellings which war has DESTROY
ed, his family rest secure in lordly halls
and revel in luxury.
Burke, we believe, said Of this class
that by means of war "their enuipages
shine like mcteorS their palaces rise like
exhalationS." Well can they afford to
prate OF patriotism, fright or wrong"
and bribe vCnal orators with some share
Of their pluIder to intlame the passion of
the duped multitudrs, and fool them into
cnii>tlnS to be Shot at for some beggarly
shilling or SO a day, aud that often un-
paid.
Will the mass never become wise
enough to detect and scout this swinding
game Of war:
Suppose government be weak or prof
ligate-a case by no means unSuppoSable
and, therefore, in danger of ncurring
popular odium or contempt. II desires
to he strong in the public confidence, but
without the virtue or capacity to deserve
that confidence. 1t has one unfailing re.
sort-to pick a quarrel with some other
government. That at once withdrawS
public attention from. its own crimes or
vices gives it hold on the popular feel.
ingS; 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 st0ppvd-all watchful
ness set ide-appropriationS are made
by millions, and the purse and sword put
unrcscrvcdly into the hands Of the chief
magistrate to be welded at his pleasure
the latter against his enemies, the form
er in behalf of his friends.
All vino question the policy or the jus.
tee OF his course are at once denounced
as traitors and enemies to the country.
Thus thousands are bribed by office
and gold to cy up the war; all murmurS
are stilied as reasonable; and, when at
last disaster or utter exhaustion of re
sources compclS a return to peace,
countless host Of pensioners, crippl,s,
place men, and Gnnd.holIcrs are provided
to eat up the avails Of honest labor for
fifty or u hundred years to come.
The poor mans children must GO to rest
hungry and grow up in ignorance, in or.
der that the favoritcs Of rulers may gilt.
ter in :" orders and stars, and riot on the
spoils Of people. Such is war.
Such is a small portion Of the cost OF
the Infamous cheat styled glory.