San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-04-24


mingham.
We now come to another question.
and that is the question Of the habit
which the people of this country have
had for a long time past, and especially
just lately. of entering into cruel ware,
I believe all wars arc savage and cruel;
but I mean harsh and cruel wars on
uncivilized or half-oivilized men.
When l read Of transactions of that
kind something always puts to me the
question: What is it that makes. if
anything makes, this needless and ter.
rible slaughter, different in its nature
from those transactions which we call
murder? We call one set of transac
tions war, which has a totally different
sound to what we term murder, and do
not appear to esquire when thousands
are guilty what it was that brought it
on, and why it was that we should in.
fliot that terrible slaughter, while we
are all excited to the last degree ifsome
individual, by the vindiotive act Of
somebody else, is put to death, and
that act is called murder. Take the
wars with the Zulus and the Afghans.
We know we have had excuses made
for them, and excuses which were not
justified by the faets-excuses that the
Zulus attacked Natal. which is abso-
lutely and VIGOROUSLY and entirely
false. We have had statements with
regard to the Afghans very much Of
the same character,t that they were 60.
ing to throw their influence with
another and . northern Power. and
that they insulted outrageously the en-.
voy sent to negotiate with them-all Of
which believe there is nota particle
of foundation for. These are excuses
offered by persons who commit crimes,
iu order that they may say these acts
we're not crimes, but necessary acts Of
statesmanship. Well. at most, in re.
gard to either of these powers, the case
was one of suspicion, but suspicion
which the most experienced persons
said there was no ground for. But is
it right upon mere suspicion. that
country like this should send, in the
one case 10000 and in the other 10000
troops to invade territories and put to
death not less than 10000 men engaged
in the defence Of their own country
which. in our case. we consider honor.
able and needful?
We may be quite sure that in some
shape. if we, the people Of England,
tolerate the bloody and sanguinary
crimes which are committed in ouI
country's name. if they are so commit.
ted. and we do not demonstrate and
condemn. We shall have no acquittal al
the tribunal by which the actions, moi
Of individuals only. but of nations and
peoples are finally Judged. Now. tha,
i, my view. Perhaps l have spoken toe
strongly. and perhaps with with q
warmth. and an earnestoess which somt
Of you may think unnecessary. [Crie'
of No. mol 1 believe tkatit il not pos
sibIe to too strongly condemn a policy
by which the hard earned treasure o.
our people Is wasted. BY which thu
blood of our brethren and those e
whom We are to call our foes is shed
To-dsy is the anniversary of the battl'
Of I,sndula. I do not know how man.
lives was sacrificed in it. but Their
we're !. 1.500lives lost on the British side
namely, officers. soldiers and natiy
troops. and I knoz not hoy many o
the Zulus we're slaughtered in a va
which has never been proved to be ns
eessry. Sad dsyl Can anyone shot
us the Justification for the action "