The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-10-05
The Decline Of War.

Tho admirable certainty with
which tho machinery Of war de-
stroys human life, its continuous
advance toward perfection rs an
art, while it ovorwhclms us with
its present horrors shows US
through tho murky smoke of bat
tlo the silver lining beyond, and
tho shining shores Of perpetual
peace awaiting tho civilized world.
Surely tho bloody Testimony now
in progress, Of the folly and crime
Of destroying human lite BY whole
armies, without a shadow Of ex-
cuso in the beglnuiug or a grain
Of rocomponse in tho end, is not
to 10 lost on tho obscure millions
who arc thus made tho victims Of
the sanguinary lust of empcrors
and kings-intolIigcnt a. these
masses become, aud clear sighted
in respect to their individual
rights, and in respect to the alb
snrd pretonse Of crowned bigots
and imperial despots to rule and
ruin. Indeed, no conflict could
have had a happier origin, or have
bccn charnct crized by moro APP
propriato circumstances, il its pur-
pose wore, as we trust it is, III the
order OF Providence, to mako his
torical Il great lesson to mankind,
warning the nations against the do
| signs of soltish rulers, and illuStra-
ting by it's consequences, which arc
likely to consist chiefly Of tho ash
cs Of tho dead, tho most incoucoiv-
able human misery, and most mea-
surcless human shame. AS the
New Orleans Times says, it is no
whcro pretended that Franco or
Prussia required tins war, 1t had
its source in tho evil minds of SOL
fish and ambitious rulers, whose
objects wore personal to them-
selves, marshnlling hundreds Of
thousands Of young and vigorous
men to tho folds Of slaughter that
they may, on tho one hand, per
potuato an individual dynasty, and
on tho othcr achieve personal
famo. Tho first lesson TO be
CLEANED from tho bloody annals
lies in the fact that the great
powers have declared thero shall
be no ACKNOWLEDGMENT on tho one
hand, Or aggrandizoment Of terri
tory Oh tho other, to either nu-
ton, as q consequence Of victory
or doieat. This leads US to an as
suranco of pleasing progress in re-
spect to future wars. II will leave
tyrants without adequate pretexts
for hostilities, and reduce internal
tional conflicts, if thoy still come,
TO the moral paucity Of gladiators.
But after an exhibition Of strife,
SO needless and so snnguinary,
may there not arise among the
leading powers Of Europe, n sense
Of responsibility higher and grand
or than that Of fixing consequent
ces? May not humanity so far
vindicatc its nature and it's God
AS to inspire them with an impulse
rather to direct tho prevention Of
wars than TO deny belIigerents
the rewards Of merit when over ?
1t may be well TO say to those:
"Iou may fight, but we, the con-
scrvatives Of European integrity
and Of the general peace. deny
you other consequences than mn
tual bloodshod." But it would
aSsurcdly be better TO say "FIght
not at ALL" How simple and how
grand spectacle might 10 made
to electrify the world and inspire
delight wherever the sensitive
heart Of man thrills in response
to emotions of JOY, or throbs in
painful sy mpathy TO q cry Of pain,
by means Of an international con.
vcntion Of powers or States, met
TO institute Il codo Of solemn laws,
to be enforced in adjusting all dis.
putcs between nations, prcscrib-
ing forever the bloody, and, in the
present perfection of constructive
art and advancement OF military
science, desperate recourse TO
arms2