The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-25
RHODE ISLAND PEACE SOCIETY.

a oonvsntISn IL Held at WooAaocket-A
Radacal Peace Platform LAID bsWhs
Z EVHSIsa EHIHsRAPH sBEOLAL coRREsPoNDEFoH.
WooNsooKRT, r. l.. Nov. lb, 1867.
The ''Rhode Island Radical Peace Society
held q meeting in this place, at Temperance
Hall, Yesterday, commencing at tlOt O'CLOCK a,
H., and continuing through the afternoon Auu
evening. L. h. Joslin, of ProVldenee, opensN
the meeting by presenting the iono"ms piOPO,
sitiona, which he sustalneo ih 'P'NOA "
marked ability and clearness'-
MI, Thot The right of man TO life is inalen-
able. ,,-.
sscond. That this right, in eur own State, is
80 .ocorded to robbers and murderers; but
s,r1or the existing war system we have consented
A. hsve many hundreds of innocent men killed,
~ wbom many were forced to the slaughter
without their consent.
Third. That we deem the age barbarOus. and
the peOple benighted and cruel, that tortured
and killed men for religion. But tO torture and
iii men for politics is, 10 its nature, as wicked
and barparOuB as 1t is to do the same thing for
religion.
petuate war, it would better accord with their
professions of love and mercy TO kill men expe-
dltiously, and not to torture and maim thou.
sands for LIE, as is the present practice.
Fifth. That it is the undoubted right of all
men to refuse to be soldiers, and to learn the
Sixth.-yrhat the working man is especially
interested in this question OF peace, as in war
he has to sacrifice his home, do the fighting.
suffer the wounds, and pay the cost while the
men who concoct the mischief gain fortune and
honor from his misery.
Henry G. Knight, long distinguished as an
able and worthy advocate OF all radical reforms,
offered the following resolutions which he sus-
tanned in a characteristic speech:-
/. That AS friends OF radical peace, we heartily
and earnestly adopt the following propositions,
as expressive Of our views, and we will do what
mus lies to disseminate them among our fell.
lOW.bengs, and to induce them to practise
them.
2 That in no conceivable case are we au-
thorized to kill or III any way iniure Others
because they have injured or attempted TO in
jure us.
8. That it is our right, our privilege, and our
duty to adopt and carry out, in our daily lives
the principle of radical peace, which teaches
rather than kill.
4. That human nature approves and accepts
truth.
s. That to adopt and act upon this principle
would most effectually insure others against all
wrong and injury from us, by taking from us
the will and the means to harm them.
6. That the principle that would insure others
against all harm from us would most effectually
insure us against al harm from them.
z. That the war principle, which says kill
rather than die, and the military system based
",
property, are the source of all danger to these,
and all human rights. lH tf
3. That what is theft, robbery, or murder in
one man, acting alone and as an Individual, IS
the same IN millions acting together, as State
or nation, 49,.
8. That If he is an assassin who hires one man
70 kill Others at his bidding and for mis- benefit,
shen are millions acting as government
assassinS who hire thousands to kin men
women, and children at their bidding aid for
their benefit .
10. That whatever epithet can be Justly ap-
piled to a man who hires himself to one indi-
Vidual to slaughter human beings at his bid
ding and tor his benefit, should be applied to
those who engage in the service of millions,
acting as State or nation, TO do the same
bloody deeds tor their benefit, and at their dis
cretlon,
IL. that a man engaged in the emDlov ofany
Government to shell, sack, and burn towns and
cities, to lay waste and desolate country, and
drive innocent men, women, and children from
their homes, to perish with hunger and cold, is,
peIore God, IN the same position, and deserves
the same condemnation, as he does who is en-
gagged in the service of one individual to do
those cruel and murderous deeds.
An invitation having been extended to all
persons present to participate in the discussion
Mr. j. O. R,oh to!icS1 @ S3 Win Win claim that man,
possessing an animal nature, which includes
com batiVeness and destructiveness, is naturally
q fighting animal, and that his whole nature
should be developed and cultivated That war
ing too populous, and consequently too cor
rupt, and that war helps to ciVllize man and
beauty the earth.
He was replied to by Fl. 9. Wright and L. K.
Joslin and the discussion was continued in
very spirited manner by these two and by Mr..
Rich.
The afternoon meeting was opened by L. K.
Joslin, in a speech on the character of war and
its influences. He would not except the late
war He said, "There are hundreds and thou
sands Of soldiers Of our Northern army who are
practising to-day the cruelty which they learned
IN war. Our prisons, all over the North, are
filled with criminals who have been soldiers.n
Isaac Ballou, of Cumberland spoke in defense
of the principles of peace.
The discussion was continued until the close
Of the session by II. G. Wright, l.. K. Joslin,
]. @. Rich, Mrs, Scott, Of Blackstone, Mrs.
Weetcott, of Woonsocket, and ZebulOn P.
White, OF Pawtuckst.
in the evening the question was still further
dscussed-Mr. Griffin, of New Bedford, and Mr..
La Pore of Woonsoeket, defending war, and
Mr.. Smith, of WOonsocket assisting by question
all of whom were replied to by H. O. Wright,
l., 4. Joslin, and q. P. White.
The meeting adjourned to meet in Providence,
Che Huno An ha harauftar