The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-22
THE AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY.

1riend5.
( THE AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY.
I This Society was established in May, 1928,
nearly forty years ago, and what has it accom-
plished? Its object, as stated in the constltu-
tion, is "to illustrate the inconsistency of war
with Christianity, to show its balefLl influence
on all the great interests of mankind, and de-
wise means for securing universal and perma-
nent peace" "For this purpose it seeks TO
form public opinion in favor of superseding
war by peaceful expedients more effectual than
war, for the great ends of international securi-
ty and justice, such as Occasional Reference,
Stipulated Arbitration, and Congress of Ma
tions.' Thinking it might not be Improbable
to look at the war with pair of peace specta-
cles, we have just read the address delivered
at the Anniversary of the American Peace So
ciety, held May 10, 1867, in Boston, by An
DREW P. PEABODY, D. D., LII. D., Professor OF
Christian Morals in Harvard University. His
subject is "Lessons from our late Rebellion"
The orator appeared conscious Of the anom-
alous position he and his society are oc-
cupying, when he said: "What can be more aD-
surd than to hold anniversary meetings Of
society under whose eye the evil which 1t
sought TO remove has only assumed more 81
gantic and portentous magnitude,-to galvan-
ize into an annual semblance of life corpse
which men delay to bury out of their sight only
because it is too dry to become offensive!' AS
an offset to this apparently unanswerable in
terrogatory, the speaker very modestly claims
that tho influence of the society twice averted
war from the country, when it was imminent,
and but for the labors of these organized paci-
fcators, would have burst forth; with France
about the indemnity for the spoliations of our
commerce; and again in the dispute with Great
Britain about our northeastern boundary. He
furthermore claims that the labors of the
Peace Society have exercised an important in
Auence on the conduct Of European affairs,
having done much toward the establishment
throughout Christendom Of arbitration as the
preferred alternative to an appeal to arms"
The Gear of Prussia, we are Informed, is an
honorary member Of the Society; but from DR..
PEABoDY's silence on the subject we much fear
that several of the crowned heads in Europe
and some uncrowned civilians still belong to
the vast horde of the unconyerted--LoUIs Ma
roLEoN for example, King WILLIAM and Bis
MARcK. s-tl'f-h .sa ~
:" But our own war; what says the orator Of it?
Ho has potent anodync ready for the scnsi-
tive conscicnccs of his hearers: GAS to our own
recent civil war, on the part of the North it
had none of the moral characteristics Of q war
It was rather vast police-moyement for the
suppre ssion and punishment Of multitudinous
crime, justified by the same law Of self-preser-
walton which would arm the ministers of the
State against body of brigands. 1t was asad
necessity. 1t was the inevitable result of ante
cedent public crimes and wrongs" etc., etc.
Is this self.delusion, or is it downright con-
soious hypocrisy; whether moro knave or fool,
we are unable to determine. Further on he
says: "War may be inevitable, and where it
is SO, those who are forced into it are blame
less, ''tu6 TcUclllUu mdo lOiSVut WV, eNSASA"A
ws are blameless" BY such himsy sophistry,
the spiritual guides Of the Northern people
pronounce q justification and sweeping absolu-
ton Of all crimes committed on their side dur
ing the past six years; for al the men killed,
wounded, and allowed to sLarve in prisons; for
oil the robberies, the houses and barns burned,
crops destroyed, watches, spoons, pianos, cot
ton, and every other kind Of yaluables stolen;
in short for the exercise, during more than
four years, Of all the most depraved passions OF
human nature. OF course the Reverend gentle
man comes armed with the Bible: "No foul
fend that takes prolonged possession of q man
or nation can be expelled without rending
and lacerating its tenement" Slavery was
this fond. The lesson he derives from this part
of his subject is that ''we must hereafter put
better men into our Offices Of trust and respon-
sibility." The second lesson taught by our late
war, is the uselessness of standing armies.
Here the speaker is at home, and at once
launches into the evil of large estanding armies;
subject that his predecessors, the former
anniversary peace orators, have long since
worn threadbare.
Lesson No. comes home to all his hearers
and readers: "The chronic burden which war
imposes on the victorious party" "We should
bear it with reverend submission; for the cost
of this terrible war is sin offering for our
great public wrong and crime"
The 4th Lesson he says, taught by war, is
that 'the age of military glory has gone by"
His heroes are sour martyred President, alb
horrent of fratricidal blood" and all the men
who avoided drafting by going into the SAM
tary and Christian Commissions. Tho heroes
must give way to the saints Here the speaker
had fine opportunity to pay graceful tribute
to SToNEwALL JACKSON, whose piety shone
brightly, who was "faithful to the end" But
no, DR.. PEABODY knew his audience too well.
He dared not name any rebel, dead or alive, in
terms of appreciation or respect.
ASTRO GY.