Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-17

Spanish tyranny the American war OF
and the first wars of the
French Revolution. Even our own I'M
successful war is not fruitless of great and
precious lessons. But causeless and I'M
unsuitable wars are doubtless the highest
crimes against humanity and produce the
most terrible wars that the earth can wit
ness. Even Gods direct visitatlons are
less terrible than "man's inhumanlty |
10 man." David. offered by the Prophet
his choice between three months OF war
or three days of pestilence, exclaimed III
tho anguish of his soul: Let me fall now
into the hands of the Lord, for very great
are his mercies but let me not fall into
the hands of man."
The immense majority of wars which
have desolated the earth have been dynas-
tic wars, in which the people had nc in
terest whatever, and were driven like sheep
In the shambles to further the selfish and
ambitious vie VS. of their rulers. TO go
no further back than til g seventeenth cen
tury, when the European nations began to
consolidate into the present system, nearly
caused by dynastic interests alone.
| It is curious and interesting to recapitu-
late truly the most important of these
wars.
War of the Netherlands. lasting eighty
years, and including the great Armada
expedition against England, to force the
yoke of Phillip III of Spain upon people
of different blood, language and religion
The Thirty years war;" partly religious
it is true, but due mainly to the dynastic
ambition of the Emperors of Germany
wars of the English Revolution, forced
upon the people by the absolutlsm OF the
Stuarts wars of Louis XIV, particularly
of the Spanish succession, (l7O2-I4),
purely for family interests wars OF
Charles XVI, forced on by the unscrupu-
lous ambition of the Emperor of Russia.
the King of Denmark and the Elector OF
Saxony wars of Frederic IL, including
the 1st and I'd Silesian wars and the seven
years war partition Of Poland wars OF
Russia against Turkey war OF
American independence, forced upon
the colonies. not by the British nation,
but by an oligarchic and dynastic interest.
The wars of the French revolution, forced
upon France by the dynastic interest Of
all the European monarchs who sustained
the French dynasty against the will Of
their own people. After they had beer
) whipped into peace and recognition Of
the Republic, came the wars of Napoleon
for the establishment OF his dyn asty and
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of his family. Their
: the civil wars in Spain, covering space o
. twenty yeArs-in the interest of varicn
pretenders. Wars in Portugal for the SAM
causes. Wars in Italy and Hungary for tn
interests of the House Of Hapsburgh an'
all its connections. War of the Crimea
l forced by the dynastic ambition OF tn
Czar. War in Mexico against the will o
= the French people to further the dynasti
, interests of Louis Napoleon. Wars o
Schleswig- Holstein, and Austro Prussial
. war for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the Hous
of Brandenburg. Finally, the Franco
Prussian war, undertaken for the oonsoli
!. dation of the Napoleonio dynasty-nos g.
much by Napoleon himself, as by tn
: sycophants and courtiers who desired tn
perpetuation of regime in which the
" found their profit. Though this last wa
u seems at the first glance to have been NOR
national than most others. yet it voul'
never have taken place. had both nation
o been fairly consulted. Il is now fully as
: contained that the French people were de
l. liberately deceived by the report of gros
l. insult to their Ambassador which was mar
70 ufactured to infame the popular m1no
Is inst as Lincoln fred the Northern mind b
J. forcing the conflict at Sumter in 1861.
Now, casting glance upon this bloc
- catalogue, we may well ask In those wal
= which cost civilized countries incalculab
treasures and millions upon millions {
lives, how many were desired by the Ii
:. tions who were dragged into them Ho
- many would have been sanctioned or to
Grated if the people had been consulted
Would ever the bigoted Spaniards OF Il
=. XVIth century have marched to the de
truction of the Netherlands MOI
:. that terrible war was fought by the Spa
ish Monarchs with meroenaries bong
! with the gold they squeezed from their o
. pressed people. Was it British 0ol"'tee
~ who tried to subjugate America ? Mob
- hired regulars and hapless Hessians, bong
- at so much head, Was it the desi
~ of the people of Europe to cru
~ the young Republic of France OF 179:
~ Was it the wish of the French nation
- send their armies to Spain and to Belglr
~ in 1872? Did ever the peaceful peasant
of the Danube start of their own acco
10 to trample down italian independence
~ Motley have all, Germans, Frent
Cor Spaniards. Italians end British. been
g. dupes and the tools of crowned brigar
and titled cut throats, who think that
tons are their focks and herds, to
- sheared and slaughtered at their will
~ virtue OF their so-called divine Righ
~ 1t is monarchy that has caused all t
81 hideous butchery by its irresponsible p