The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-04-05
Ingredients in THE War
Party.

It is pleasant to know that the war par
ty of the United States includes the Qua
keis, whose principles are antagonistic to
every species of yioleuce-the Peace So
eiety men--who teach not only that war
is wrong, but that force even to compel
obedience to the law is forbidden in the
Gospel the, clergy who insist that to
roblige themto she'd blood and fight with
material weapons is a degradationof their
Office, and deadly insult to the divine
master whom they professionally repre-
sent; the Philantrepists of Man, who. NOT
only deprecate the forcible taking of
| life, but every inferior species of personal
injury and compuision; the -Shirks-4who
dread the sight of musket as hurt
wild duck does Che report Of astteulve.
rim" the delicately neryed, the deeply
sympathetic: the preternaturaily tender:
the enthusiastically devoted; in short,
all in whom nervous susceptibility is mis-
taken for piety. and cowardice usurps the
place of conscience. 80. -! s oa,s -
I" Dnlce ct decoru1s est pro pafria naori,i
some body has said" it is agreeable and
reputable to die for ones country" Such
maxims are usually elaborated by those
who never try the experiment; and are
perhaps best relished by such as have no
hopes Of bringing it to practical test in
their own persons. The classes We have
enumerated above have evidently mo dis
tinct and decided procliFity for immolat-
ing themselves upon the altar Of their
country. In fact, their strong point ap-
pears to be extreme dread of the termi-
nation of their mortal privilege. If there
is any pleasure, or any praise attached to
dying in the public behalf, nothing can
equal their Willingness to allow it to ,bo
Ienjoyed by anybody rather than them
selves. They are polite beyond example.
They stand defantly out of the way
4 They point placidly to others to step for
!, ward and walk the dark path which they
decline to pursue. 1t is sweet and glos
rious, they say, to die for ones country;
who isready to try it? They regret, but
they are not exactly prepared :. 80
! These people are hopefully pious.--
They have made their peace with God,
and are on terms of intimacy with him.
They are al professedfy longing for the
time when this mortal shall put on inn
mortality, and they shall enter into the
full fruition of those joys which are pre-
pared for the righteous in the New Jeru-
salem. They go to meeting and sing
p "How long, dear Savior, Q, how long
Shall that bright hour delay f n 4
Fly swifter round ye wheels OF time,
And bring the welcome day"
!, Many of them believe that these wars
and tribulations Enthusiastically Indicate
that we are living in the very last days of
the world" and are hourly expecting the
time to arrive when nature will collapse,
: and the earth and all it contains will be
burned up. For this event they hope and
pray, for it will be the signal Of their
!, entrance into glory, from whence they
can look down and enjoy the sight Of the
wicked in their punishment. And yei
they do not incline to do that which may,
6 by brief day or two, expedite tho day
! of their departure. While this poel
worn-ou. earth endures, they cling to it.
: and are as resoluts to keep out Of the
! way of peril themselves as they are to
. thrust others icto it. Fondly as they
: anticipate the smiles of God and the
pleasures of Heaven, they are in no hurr
: ry to enter upon them. Holy sufferers
. How patiently they wait and yet how
! impatiently ssa .ss..q
There is probably not philanthropist
, in the United States who would not be
!, entirely willing to have negro compelled
: to go to war in his place or who would
: be disturbed for single moment by the
news that he had persisted. From Jere.
miah Broadbrim and Aminidab Sleek, to
!, Brownson, Beecher and Phillips, the val4
: or to expose others to the fatigues and
: perils of war is contingent upon q sense
: of perfect safety to themselves. We may
in our folly, confer what titles we please
upon that which they would fain MAKE
the world believe is religion and patriot
Q ism in their sublimest manifestations
but whatever we call it, it will remain tn,
same--nothing more nor less than bigo
! try, hypocrisy, malice, cruelty, combines
% with most contemplate cowardice. =