Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-04-08
A Sketch OF the Peace Cause

IhEtlSE Nfihj 10 w NAp et"s'
the custom of War. 1t does not IN
quire how murder, or any ofencrs
against society shall be punished ;
how force shall be used for the sup
preston of mobs, and other popular
outbreaks; by what specific means
government shall enforce its laws and
support its rightiul and Indispensable
authority; to what extent an individ-
ual may protect himself or his family
bv violence against murderous as
saults; how people, deprived of
their right, shall regain and preserve
them, or in what way any contro-
versy between a government and its
own subjects shall be adjusted. With
such questions, however important,
the cause of Peace is not concerned.
1t does not embrace even all kinds Of
peace, such rs that Of individuals,
families of neighborhoods, but con
Germs itself solely with the intercourse
of nations for the single purpose of
abOlishing their practice Of War. 1t
is peace in this sen>e alone that it
seeks and only this kind Of war which
it aims to do away, and thus labors
to abolish merely the practice of
nations settling their disputes by the
sword.
In accordance with these views,
the Peace Society in its constitution
SAYS, Its object shall be to illustrate
the Inconsistency Of War with
Christianity, to show its baleful in
hucnce on all the great interests Of
mankind, and to devise means for
securing universal and permanent
Peace" Such is its sole aim the
constitution provides that sits .object
shall never be changed y and all per
sons willing to labor for this objert
whatever their views respecting was,
strictly defensive, if there be any
such, it invites to cooperation and
membership.
GENERAL MEANS To BE Used
The gospel is Gods remedy for war !;
but this remedy, like every other,
must be rightly applied in order 20
effect a cure, How can it be? Not
by applying it solely to individuals !;
for t is not individuals, as such, but
governments alone, or individuals
acting as governments, that make
war; and hence we must reach the
latter before we can get any mastery
over this terrible evil. No preach
ing of the gospel merely in the ab-
stract will suffice; for it has been
thus preached eighteen hundred
years without abolishing war in any
land. There must be such an ap-
plication as shall reach this particu
lar evil. We must 50 apply the gos-
pei to governments as to bring them
under The control Of its pacific prlnci-
pies in the settlement OF their dis
putes. How shall We do this ? We
must change the public opinion on
which war, like every other custom,
depends for its support. Here Is the
only necessity for war, a moral necessi-
ty like that for inttmperanee or
duelling, a necessity springing solely
from the wrong choice Of men; and
whenever YOU can change that choice,
and make the people as body re-
solve that war shall cease, it must
come ere long to an end forever
Public opinion decides in fact, if not
in form, every such question, not on
ly under a popular government like
our own, hut even under a monarchy
or dcspotism; and hence, il this
mighty power should really require
the adoption of other expedients than
the sword for the adjustment of
national difficulties, rulers under
every form of government would De
forced to comply with its demands,
and thus come at length into the
practice of settling all their disputes
by peaceful means.