The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-07-24
WAR UNNECESSARY.

more time ia framing apologies for II
than in laboring for its abolition. But
with all due Difference To the opinions
of these millions, we claim that war is
| not necessary.
1. Because preparations for war are
among its principal causes. and these
preparations can certainly be suspend
ed. The maxim "In time Of peace pre-
pare for war;" is a mischieyons one.
! aud has caused more bloodshed than
almost any other. Individuals the
least prepared TO fight, quarrel and
fight the least. IL is safer to go un-
armed than armed, even on the out
skirts OF civilization, and where vicious
aud desperate men abound. The man
who goes armed.i is apt to be overbear-
ing and insulting. and is constantly
liable To get into difficulty. SO il is
with nations. One nation drills aud
arms its citizens, builds forts and
equip navies, that il may be able TO re-
sist the attack of another or avenge n
fancied insult. Its neighbor across the
river or mountain, seeing these warlike
preparations, makes the same, that 10
may be able TO repel invasion or wreak
revenge. The one on this side, the
boundary then. adds 10 its parapherna-
liza of war, that il may he superior 10
its neighbor, and the one on that side
does the same that 1t may at least be
equal. BY and by, when both parties
have expended immense sums, in or
der that they may be able 10 attack or
resist, they begin to think that 1t is
pity that this machinery, which cost so
much, should remain unused. aud
some trivial cause Of war is seized mp
on as a pretence for letting loose the
engines Of destruction. Then follows
the mad clash Of arms. Then scenes
are acted which devils delight To wit
ness, but which angels weep over.
And when the war is over there remain.
the standing armies and navies, and
forts and arsenals, which are standing
menace and n constant provocative OF
other wars. Let us then. II we would
have peace, abandon our military pre-
parations. II we disarm, other nations
will disarm also, and We shall be much
less likely either 10 give or take offence
than II our forts were bristling with
, bayonets and our iron clads sweeping
the ocean.
2 Because it takes two nations as
well as two individuals 70 fight, and
\ there can be no such thing a. war
where one party steadily refuses to
( be drawn into il. There may be Nrong
aud outrage-it is barely possible that
there may be invasion and pillage,
but there will be no war. And the
wronged Inhabitants will not suffer one
hundredth part as much as il they re-
paid wrong aud wrong, with endeavor-
ell 10 repel force 10y force. We do not
say that pacific principles will prevent
all violence and wrong. but If they will
do more than their opposite, we claim
Tor them tue prominence And what
have warlike principles and practices
accomplished during the GO00 years of
the worlds history? They have kept
the planet on which we live drenched
IN blood. They have sacrificed hun
dreds of millions Of human beings To
the Moloch OF war. They have devas-
tated, as with the bosom OF destruction
some OF the fairest countries on the
globe They have arrayed men, who
should have been friends, against each
other in deadly hate. They have re-
tarded the progress Of civilization and
christianity, so that after the lapse OF
eighteen centuries. the map OF the
world presents but few bright spots
where christianity exerts even partial
influence. while all around is covered
with the pail OF darkness and barbar-
ism. Such are the results Of the war
system. "By their fruits ye shall
know them
3. Because IL is not necessary TO do
wrong and war is always wrorg. We
nee¬ stop TO prove this now, for il
has been demonstrated thousands of
times. And God never places us IN
circumstances where il is necessary 20
do wrong. We may some times have
TO suffer from our refusal 10 do so, but
We had better suffer the loss OF all
things earthly. even life itself, than
disobey God. and he has said "'rLou
shalt not kill
1. Because IL is safe 20 do right
and peace is always right "Do right
though the heavens fall" Is good
motto. but II we do right the heavens
will not fall on us. Pacific principles
are not only right but they are safe.
God has promised 90 protect those
who DO right and has assured MS that
We shall not be harmed "if We be fol-
lowers Of that which is good. Those
who have relied on this promise have
found II verified They may have suf-
fered some, but far less than their
neighbors who have attempted To repel
force 10y force. The Quakers Of North
Carolina, who steadfasily refused to
be drawn into the rebellion of 81. sui.
fered from the depredations Of both
armies, but far less than their neigl-
bOrs Who went into the rebellion with
alacrity aud consented b. he led 90 the
hot = NNsl.t IL II. a a.
The early Quaker settlers of Pennsyl.
vania lived safely In the midst Of the
most war-like tribes on the continent,
while the inhabitants Of all the other
colonies acting on the principle,of arm.
ed self-defence were involved almost
incessantly ia bloody conflicts with the
Indians
.. Because there Is other power in
this world besides physical force.
There - power in truth, Ia right, ia
gentleness, IN love, in example, in per
suasion. Men do not like 20 be driven
aud II you undertake 90 force them
they retel at once. But even a savage
can be controlled by kindness and love.
Esop in one Of his fables gives an ac-
count Of a contest between the sun and
the Wind 10 see which should the soon.
est disrobe a certain traveller Of his
cloak. The wind blew aud the traveller
wrapped his cloak more closely about
hint blew still harder but he only
held ~ with trmCr RTasp-the hercer
the assault the more determined the re.
sistance. The sun took an opposite
course 90 betrayed no symptoms Of
wrath, no purpose Of violence, but
spread over hill and vale the warmth
OF his greatest, purest radiance. The
traveller smiled, and at once yielded 20
persuasion, what he had denied 90
force. Such is the disposition Of both
individuals and nations.
a. Because there are other and bet
ter means OF settling national difficult
les than by resort to the sword
These are negotiations, arbitration aud
a congress Of nations. Individuals set
tie their difficulties without fighting
with pistols and swords, and why not
nations? They can do so, and the plea
I for war on account OF its supposed ne
cessity Is an insufficient one. Let ma
tlons cease their war preparations-let
them refuse 10 fight, let them remem-
ber that 10 is not necessary 10 do wrong
I while u il always safe 10 do right-let
I them use other power than physical
/ force. and let them avail themselves Of
I negotiations, arbitration etc. aud they
will soon learn that war is no more
necessary between nations than be-
tween private indiyidualR