Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-03
comfy ONE DEGREE REMOVED
FROM WAR"


FROM WAR"
At the banquet given last week at Liver
pool in honor of our minister, Reyerdy john
son, Lord Stanley, referring to the condition
of Europe as produced by large standing ar
mics, and chronic expectations of conflicts,
more or less extensive, described it as "intro-
sducing in time of peace social condition only
one degree removed from war" The South-
erm Home Journal says this was pregnant
phrase, and reflection Of profound historical
scholarship. Those who have read history
thoughtfully and with profit, will seize the
sense of Lord Stanley remark, that the hor-
rors of war may approximately exist, where
there is no actual clash of arms, and that the
deplorable consequences of that condition OF
things in which war is threatened, the equiv
ocation and peril Of such condition, its per-
nicious effects on business, credit and enter
prise, and even that moral and social reckless
ness inspired by a menace of uncertainty are
only degree less than the calamities of ac-
tual war.
The English Foreign Secretary of State
has described aptly the condition OF Europe,
suffering constantly from the immlnence OF
war and the uncertainty of its affairs. But
his remark is capable of wider application,
and is universal in its philosophy. He indl-
Gates the state of nation, when it may mea-
surably experience the hardships of war, and
vet war be not actually fragrant. 1t sees mill
tary preparations as constant menace to its
peace, (which Cypress with taxation, dcpress
industry, and draw heavily upon the resources
of the future" It suffers not only the anti
cipations af war, but many of its realities; it
is not actually in assstate war, yet is very far
removed from state of peace and while it
groans or languishes in this condition it is
alike insulting to its own sensibilities and
monstrous in reason to proclaim that it is at
peace, simply from the physical circumstance
that arms have not been crossed, although all
other instruments and elements of war are
flaming.
The speech of Lord Stanley really supplies
novel analogy for America and furnishes a
new point of view of the condition of the
South. 1t is precisely that which is one
degree removed from war;" The Radical
party calls it peace, but it is war in everything
but its measure of bluod-war in its loss of
property, war in its standard of taxation, war
in its destruction of enterprises and credit,
war in its atmosphere of doubt, distrust and
immortality. " Let US have peace" says Gen.
Grant; and yet the idea given of it by the
party nominating him for President is not
the peace, the object of the country's hopes
and aspirations, but deformed and desolate
peace that lives on the margins of war, and
shares its vicissitudeS and horrors.
1t is certain that the South can never have
peace, until the rule of Radicalisru is lifted
from it. When nearly half of our common
country writhes under this rule; when OPP
preston and uncertainty are its daily, prac-
tical experiences when the prospect of wa-
swims constantly in the mind, there is no
calm but that of despair, no peace but that OF
the desert and solitary place. The first want
in all governments is certainty of condition !;
it is this which is the life of industry and at
once the germ and shelter of prosperity
Destroy this, and society becomes moribund !;
and though it may be spared the wounds and
mutilations of war, it partakes all its other
evils and illustrates all its social and moral
vices. These are the plain lessons of history,
and they are repeated before our eyes in the
present condition of the South, its disorders,
its doubts, its fears, its exasperations, its
|, losses, its wearing anxieties-the painful,
tremuous condition of people brought TO
the brink of ruin, and suspended there by a
mocking and derisive cruelty. When will
the Radical party appreciate the simple truth
that to end war we must lay down its
passions as we'll as its arms, dismantle its
resentments as we'll as its cquipages-that
there is properly no middle ground where the
sword only may be sbeathed and there be yet
kept flaming all the other instruments and
evils of war.