Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-10-21
Z'EEs3 C.iISE OF F'E.sCE-- Ig'EFI' .1'O
.uORA l'ET .ECCO.EPEESFsED.

1t las accomplished much moro than is
generally supposed. True, it is far from
having done away the custom Of war; but
it has fairly started this great Christian re-
form with good prospects of ultimate sue
cess.
l. Consider, then, how much it has al
ready done. 1t has brought distinctly be-
fore Christcndom the possibility, duty and
Importance OF suporseding that war system
fhcrs which requires for its support, even
in peace, four or five million men, and u
Thousand million dollars year. No small
gain.
>. II has, also, organized and set at work
system OF means well adapted to secure
this object by Christianizing public opin-
ion on the subject. Here is the hinge ON
which the whole question turns for the
war system, like every other custom, must
continue as long, and cease just rs soon, as
public opinion shall demand it. On this
pivot Of their cause the friends Of peace
have been spending their energies for more
than fifty years in n variety Of ways. They
use the living voice, and are sending forth
popular lecturers. They employ the press,
aud are circulating periodicals, pamphlets
and tracts by thousands and tens Of thous-
aids. Some Of their volumes, written with
great ability, have gone to the libraries of
tho learned, TO the halls of legislation and
the palaces of kings. They are thus Great
ing new literature, the Literature Of
Peace. The pulpit, too, they are waking
sufEJ-vfsat to-'its duty ON the subject, and
the periodical press, that engine Of vast
ubiquitous power over popular opinion, is
beginning to discuss in oarpcst this master
theme Of the world. They have brought it
before ecclesiastical bodies. before semna-
rlcs of learning, and before all the prnci-
pal governments of Christendom, showing
thcm how they might super,edo war BY
peaceful substitutes, aud urging them to
adopt such substitutes rs their common,
settled policy.
3. What already is the result? Wars
arc much less frequent now than iormerly;
and when they do arise, they last not Il
fifth or tenth part as long. Difficulties that
once would have led to fierce, protracted
wars, are coming to be adjusted with scarce
thought of appealing to arms. Negotia-
tion, arbitration, and other pacific eXpedi-
ents are actually taking the place of the
sword and this policy, once become gem
oral and permanent, must in time super
sedo the whole war system. Thus is this
great reform auspiciously begun and al
ready do we reap some of its blessed fruits.
The general peace Of Europe from Water
loo to the Crimea, nearly forty years, a
longer rest from war than she had ever
known before, was as fairly attributable to
efforts in this cause as the partial spread of
Christianity among the heathen is to the
missionary enterprise. In comparison with
the means used, IL has been much more
successful for while scarce thousandth
part rs much has been done for IL, yet it
has accomplished in dfty years larger
share of its object than the cause of mis-
sions has of its great work in other words,
the former has already brought ChrIs;on-
dom nearer to the abolition of her war sys-
tenn, than the latter has the unovangelizod
world to a saving reception of the gospel