The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-22
THE AMEn1oAN PEACE SOCIETY.

,a, THE AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY.
This Society was established in May, 1923,
nearly forty years ogo, and what hos il accom-
plishcdP Its object, as stntod in tho constitu-
tion, is "to illustrate the Inconsistency Of wnr
with Christianity, to show IFS bnlefdl influence
on all tho great interests Of mankind, md do
wise means for securing universal and sIG ESSpf o
form public opinion in favor of supcrscding
war by peaceful c1pcdonts moro oGcctual than
wnr, for the great cnds oil international securi-
ty and justice, such ms Occasional Reference,
Stipulated Arbitration, and n Congress Of Ma
lions" Thinking it might not be Improbable
TO look at The war with pair of peace specta-
clcs, wo have just rcnd tho address delivered
Mt tho Anniversary of The American Peace So
oicty, hold 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" j"
The orator appeared conscious Of the anom-
nlous position ho and his society are oc-
cupying, when he sail: ..Wlnt can be moro ab-
sur,l Than 10 hold anniversary meetings of q
society under whose eye tho evil which, il
sought 10 remove has only assumed more gi-
gantic md portcntous magniiudc,-to gnlvan-
izo into an annual sembnnce of life u corpse
which men delay to bury out Of their sight only
becaiiso il is too dry 10 become ofrcnsivef" AS
mn offset 10 this apparently unanswerahlc in
tcrrogaIory, the speaker worry moLcslly claims
Tint Tho influence of the society twice aycrcd
war from tho country, when it wns imminent,
mud but for the lnbors OF these organized paci-
ficaiors, would have burst forth; with Franco
about The indemnity for tho spoliations Of our
commerce; and again in the dispute with Great
Britain nbout our northeastern boundary. lie
furthermore claims that The labors OF the
Pence Society have exercised IN important iu-
iluencc on the conduct of European afrairs,
llnving dono much toward tho establishment
throughout Christen,lom of arbitration ns The
preferred alternative to an appeal 10 arms"
The Cznr of PRUSSIA, We nro informed, is an
honorary member Of the Society,"; but from DIR.
PRApopY's silence ON tl,e subject we much fcar
that several Of tho crowned heats in Europe
and some uncrowned civilians still belong TO
the ynst horde of the unconvcrted-LouIsN Ma
roLEos for example, King WILLIAM md BIS
MAncE.
But our own war; what snys The orator Of it!
lie has n intent anodyne ready for the scnsi-
two conscicnccs Of his henrcrs: "As 10 our own
recent civil war, on the pnrt of tho North it
had none Of the moral characteristics of n war.
II was rnthcr a vast police. movement for the
suppression and punishment Of multiiudinouB
crime, justified by tho same law Of elfprcscr-
yation which would nrm the ministers of tho
State against body of brgands. II was sad
necessity. IL was the inevitable result of ante
eedent public crimes md wrongs" etc., etc.
Is this self-delusion, or is il downright con-
soious hypocrisy; whether more kuave or fool,
we arc unable to determine. Further on he
says: "War may be inevitable, and where il
is 80, those who nre forced into il are blnme-
less, "tho rebellion was forced, etc.; therefore
NO arc ban,elcss." by such flimsy sophislry,
tho spiritual guides Of the Northern people
pronounce o justification and sweeping absolu-
lion Of all crimes committed on their side dur
ing the past six years. for oil the men killed,
wounded, and allowed to starve in prisons; for
all tho robberies, the houses and barns burned,
crops, destroyed, watches, spoons, pianos, cot
ton, md every other kindsof Ynluables stolen;
in short for the exercise, during moro than
four years, Of all the most dcpTnved passions of
human nature. Of course tho Reverend gentle
man comes armed with the Bible: "No foul
fond that Takes prolonged possession of man
OF a nation can be expelled without rending
and laccrating Its tenement" Slavery was
this fcnd. The lesson ne derives from this part
OF his subject is Tint "we must hereafter put
better mon into our Offices of trust and rcspon-
sibiiity." Tho second lesson taught by our late
war, il the uaelcssness OF standing armies
Hero the speaker Is at homo, ahd at once
launches into tho evil Of largo standing armies;
n subject That his predecessors, the former
anniversary pence orators, hnye long since
worn threadbare. ''.E"
Lesson No. comes homo to all his hearers
and renders: "The chronic burden which war
imposes on tho victorious party" '.We should
bear il with reverend submission; for tho cost
of thistorrible war is sin offering for our
3 ,grfflfe flfeH eHlRa9liGa MI s%sssng ssssg and crime"
that "ihe ago ofmilitary glory has gone b,yy:."
His horoos 'nre SOUR martyred President, ab-
horront Of frnlrlcidal blood" and oil tho men
who avoided drafting by going into Tho sani-
tary and Christian Commissions. The heroes
must give way 10 the saints. Hore tho speaker
had fine opportunity 10 pny graceful tribute
10 srosETALL JACKSON, whose piety shono
brightly, who was sfaithful to tho end" But
no, Dr. PEABODY knew his audience too we'll,
lie dared not name any rebel, dead or alive, in
terms Of appreciation or respect.