Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-09-02
The Cry for Peace.

Re. men love war lunatelF or follow
the profession Of arms because they love
the hatchery of their brother man, yet,
says u. DeQoequeville.
4" War is nevertheless an occurrence to
which all nations are fuhjeet, democratic
nations as well as others. Whatever taste
they may have for peace. they must hold
themselye, in readiness to rcpel asgres
SION OF il other words, they must have an
array
Claiming in hi. essays on war, says
though he was one Of the most earnest, as
well as one of the most consistent
peace men OF any country, :" will allow
that government has the right of war.
In like manner though
government be authorized to make war in
self defence. it still contracts the guilt of
murder, il it proclaim war from policy,
ambition or rerenge."
Il was not government, but the act OF
individuals i'll defiance Of government that
shed tie first blood in the civil war of our
country and that blood was shed to de-
s-roy the nation and the government
Tie men who initiated such a war must
be guilty Of an unparalleled crime. 1t is
akin 20 a murder committed on portion
Of those sharing the bounties and blessings
Of the same family board. Nothing can
eztenuate or palliatc such guilt. 1t is an
aggravated case of fratricide, admitting OF
no excuse and demanding no weak exercise
of mercy. That is the leading members
of the rebel army are in this category.
Has any thing taken place since the fire
on the glorious old flag at Fort Sumter, to
cause the Union men to look with less
loathing on these disturhers of the national
quiet and peace 7 Have these national
rioters so conducted, as to commend them
selves and cause TO the good and true men
of the country The history of the re-
billion, THIS far, says no. The starving
of Union soldiers, and the incarccrating
them in loathsomc dungeons gives the
negative to this. The foul murder of our
soldiers, white and colored, at Fort Pillow,
/ says no
Was not the commencement of the war,
unjustifable, and has not our government
acted on the defensive all the while, keep
ing itself clearly within the narrow rule Of
DR.. Claiming. of "ecting in self de
/ fence" or in the words Of DeTocqueyille.
L" repelling invasions!'
Peace we all desire none more so than
the mourning ones WHO have wept over
/ fallen heroes who have fought their last
! battle, and whose bodies now slumber i'll
the dust but these are those who rcgulat-
Ell life, aud lfe's duties, by a principle,
and are not easily carried away by every
wind Of doctrine. They want peace, bnt
an honorable and lasting peace. No
patched up compromises, 10 smoothing
over of the ugly and dangerous cause Of
all our troubles, will suit them or the tenn
per of the nation.
fit were right in the first instance to
stand mp for the integrity of the Union,
and 70 buckle on thcsword topunish treason
and traitors, it is still our duty to-day. II
the Union and the administration at the
first fierce onset had the sympathy and the
heart, cooperation of the good men and
the true, 80 60 they to-day need, and de-
sesveeli their interest. Why should they
not have it The work is not fully ae-
eomplished, it viii be acknowledge. for
which it entered upon. 1t had perfect
right.-nay it was an enjoined duty to
enter rpon the work Of subduing the re-
bcllien. Then why does any one cry
peace Why forsooth, net because We
are wrong in carrying on war, bnt be-
cause VIC have MOI, been as successful as