The New York herald., 1870-09-05
ART IN TIME OF WAR.


[From the London Builder, August 2O.]
War at all times, whether it be for the most
righteous cause or the most indefensible, is
calamity. Who knows the limits Of such war as
that now commenced, and the loss civilization and
mankind will sustain by its occurrence? II is the
duty of all 10 speak forth truly, without any subtle
reserve, at the present moment. What loss may
not the savagery Of man and the barbarism Of war
entail upon the universe? Who knows not that
history, in the course Of war, is ever and ever
penting itself? Who knows not that thirst Of
power and despotism are never careful to dscri.
inmate and that to preserve an enemy's monu-
ments would only be to enrich her at the expense
of her assaiant? This is the war view OF the
question. The very same course OF action that
was prosecuted in the days of Alexander and
Cesar was carried out centuries later; and the
same warlike excuses a. were perpetrated In
the Middle Ages were perpetrated bali
century since and are still likely to be initiated,
lecture and the other arts in, therefore, at the
present moment, q rather disc0uraging one for us
all. It is not that forts, bastions and barracks
may be tumbled, and towns and cities undergo
wreck and ruin. Much more than this. Amid
this inevitable destruction and terror the finest
monuments OF human genius and skill will perish !;
sanity and superb piles Of architectural grandeur
will be rent and shattered and, while evil pas.
sions and bloody instincts surge rampantly, acts
of violence will be committed that may anix an
eternal stigma upon the nation that gave them
birth. War is q foe to civilization, and whenever
architecture and art cease to progress, mankind
still. Look upon the question in any way we
may, it is clear that war is not only inimical to
mans best interests, but subversive of the very
foundations of society. We are not speaking Of
the war az members Of the Peace Society, but we
ore simply viewing it in q rational way.
I'm viewing the war in an architectural aspect,
and eliminating for the moment Great Britain
from the field still we cannot but feel the most
grave concern for all the interests involved and
jeopardzed on the Continent. If public institu-
tions, libraries, colleges, churches and schools
passed unscathed through the storm, and if even
in the public forum the national galleries. mu-
senms and public statues remained unmOved and
unplaged, sufficient injury, notwithstanding,
would be otherwise accomplished by the con-
unuance OF the war. The whole mechanism Of
society would have been unhinged, and q moral,
intellectual, and commercial collapse would show
itself in every channel OF the countries at war.
Who supposes, or can reasonably suppose, that
injury would not overtake the national monu-
ments or institutions of nation at war with
another! Would Prussia, in her present mood,
if her legions got footing. or entry into
Paris withhold from the work Of devastation
The exclamation that Blucher was reported
to have made while walking through Lon.
don, looking into the wealthy siversmiths'
shops, would be heard, mayhap, on the
boulevard des Italiens :-"Mein Gott =! what city
to sack ~ Added to the danger that always ex-
lists from the recurrence Of a war and its con-
tnuance to the injury and destruction OF art aud
monuments, there is this second evil War has
ever the baneful effect of weaving or soaring stu
dents ana workmen from their legitimate and
honorable pursuits. And the patron and en-
ployer are if not affected in the same manner,
sure to be affected otherwise by q depression in
business; 40 what acts upon one reacts upon an
other member Of society and thus through endless
variations of the body polite. War is as we haye
| plainly stated, a calamity in whatever manner we
view it and it should never be resorted to until
| every other means were exhausted to effect re-
cOnciliati0n. National honor is, no doubt, a
proud boast, and the preservation of this honor
is worthy Of some sacrifice; but kings nor en-
perors, no more than journalists. should be dcta-
tors Of national or public opinion they may
dare to speak, but still ever hold themselves
amenable to the public will.
Ii this course were always pursued and this
same view taken of public questions, by public
merf who hold sway and have voice in the af-
fairs of the nation Of which they are subjects,
they would be supported by a mutual reciprocity
of common interest on the part of the people that
would end in peace. An era Of peace is always
an era Of improvement; not a siavish peace, an
inert quietude, but state Of wholesome manly
watchfulness, bespeaking conscious recttude in
our ultimate resolves. Under such a state Of
feeling material progress must be made. Civili
zation must exist, and no fear need he enter
tanned that the brain and brow sweat of several
generations has fallen in vain, and that the bar
barsm of man will destroy in q week the art
treasures and architectural triumphs Of centuries