Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-07-17
death rides upon the sulphury siroc:
Red battle stamps his foot and nations feel Il
chOpl-

death rides upon the suphury siroc:
Red battle stamps his foot and nations feel the
shock.'
Perfect peace has never reigned over this bel
hgerent earth. A temporary armistice in the
East has always been accompanied by fierce con-
fllct at all the other cardinal points. A state of
warfare seems to be the normal condition of
mankind, as the philosopher of Malmesbury,
(Hobbes,) so vigorously maintained. Individ-
ual pugnacity forever keeps neighborhoods in q
brol and the combative- temper of people is al
ways appealing to the arbitrament of arms
Blood, blood, and plentiful deluge of it, seems
to be the only pacifcator, and even that avails
for but brief season; for ere the crimson stains
are washed from the earth by the rains of heav-
en-, again the blast of war hustles upon the con-
vulsed air, calling men to wounds and death.
1t Is wondrOus strange and pitiful to contem-
plate our weak humanity engaging in endless
strltes, that seem to have no object but the In
Fiction of misery. The last war was but the
usher OF this and this is but the prelude to the
next. Violence begets violence with inevitable
certainty in a continuous generation. Its pro-
creative power never fails, and its progeny at
each birth seems more cruel than before Ever
since Cain slew his brother Abel, man has been
arrayed against man in deadly hostility. In
vain has philosophy advocated meekness and
moderation. In vain have laws and treaties
cried hold y In vain, alas, has the divine
voice Of Christ taught mildness and submission,
while chorus Of Angels sung, Peace on earth
and good will towards men. -
The Society of Friends is impotent in the
world, and the apostles of peace make few con-
yerts. The very moment that all men become
Quakers, (if that moment shall ever arrive,)
then will Quakers take to the trade of fighting
'Othello's occupation is never gone, and new,
er will be gone. When men have annihilated
each other, women will all become Amazons,
ready for the field. There was war in Heaven
before earth was created, and there will be war
in the neither regions when our little globe has
melted from existence ss
America has merely wiped her bloody sword,
not having yet sheathed it, when Europe takes
up the merciless game with fresh vigour-
How futile are what we in our folly consider
warnings Warnings? They seem to be allur-
ing examples that tempt men irresistibly to inn
itatlon in spite of all hazards. Mars was in the
ascendant when Adam was made, and all his
descendants have felt the influences of that ma
hgnant and hateful planet As the moth is at
tracted to the devouring fame of the lamp, SO
are human beings drawn into the fierce vortex
of battle. No people are brave enough to keep
the peace, and none so pusilanimous as to shrink
from war.
To-day Austrians, Prussians and Italians have
eagerly rushed to mortal struggle-and for
what? Cm bono? The God of battles can
educe good from the greatest evil, but the mis-
cradle history Of our mad race teaches us, or
should teach us, that war cures no wrongs, de-
cides no principles, and, in addition to its ever
present calamities, always plants the seed of f,-
ture strifes. The right is oftenest overborne in
these barbarous trials of strength Brute force
can only perpetuate brutal passions and ideas,
and neither gods nor men should allow them
selves to look with the slightest favor upon any
but the most absolutely defensive war.-Erana-
tner.