The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-24
The American Revolution.
Br JOHN IiEMMENWAT.

ia JtIlN II En- W ~ IL
[ have said that some of the best ot
the American people were conscienti-
ously opposed TO the war. They hon
Icstlv believed the var to lie unwise,
aid they had certainly as high Il re-
gard to their own welfare and of thcil
/ childrcn's and Of their country as
l those who favored the war, and they
felt that they had from God Il perfect
tight to pronounce the war unneces'
sary and unjust, and yet they were
cruelty abused by the Whig party and
some of them We're driven from home
and native land. War allows no lib
erty of property or Of speech, nor OF
person, nor of life. War is virtually
licensed and organized cannibalism.
with the ferocity of the tiger. Shall
not war give place to peace? Chris
tains, here is work for your prayers,
philanthropists for your tears, speak
ers for your voices, philosophers FOR
your pens, and all of you, rich and
poor, for your money.
Let all men and women look to the
God Of peace who is the & I'd of love,
and meekly invoking the untcd pew
crs of reason and common phllAIthro-
DIV and the Christian religion, say to
the people and nations OF the earth,
"You can and you must beat your
swords into plowshares, by the power
of philanthropic arbitration, and
| learn war no more.
But perceive I am digressing from
my especial subject at the present
time, which is brief review o. the
expediency, justice and consequences
of the American Revolutionary War.
AS to the bad consequences OF the
war, they have been many and
mighty, and, alas their measure Is
not full. They will stretch through
time and live in eternity. When man
takes the sword to accomplish gooo
purpose the best apology he can give
must be this, 81 intend to do evil that
good may come" which is base and
bold insult to Christianity.
1t is generally admitted by all intel
ligent readers of history that the
American Revolution, if not the
main producing cause of the French
Revolution, had powerful influence
in widening its extent and in i'll
increasing the intensity of its flaming
ferocity. Goodrich, the historian, says
"The revolution in France commenced
about the year 1889. 1t seems to haNe
been fastened or brought on by the
new ideas of freedom which had been
imbibed by the French army in the
United States, and thence disseminat'
ed among the people Of France"
The French Revolution as is well
known gave birth to Napolean Bona
parte, who by his power as man Of
war overthrow or shook to their cen
ters all thrones and governments OF
continental Europe. From the dread
; full desolations of that horrible drama
of destruction, suffering slaughter, and
crime Europe has not yet recovered
and when she will, if ever, is known
only to Him who sees the end OF al
things, past, present, and TO come.
How wretched is the condition of the
greater part Of Europe now compared
) to what it was before the barbarous
bloodshedding and destruction. which
began in Paris with the French Rev
olution in 1889 and closed at Waterloo
in 1915.
T will quote from that eminent Eng
: lish historian, Allison, as to the NOR
al and political condition of Europe
. lust before the difficulties of the Amer
lean people with the government, Of
Great Britain previous to the Revolu'
tionary War.
! Allison. in his history of modern
), Europe, says: "A spirit of gentleness
prevaded the political world, the effect
} of increasing knowledge and long con.
tinued prosperity, Even the most
despotic empires were ruled with q
! lenity unknown in former times
Ever since the termination of the gen
eral war of 1853 a growing spirit OF
improvement had prevaded the Euro,
pean States, and repeatedly called forth
= the praise of contemporary annallsts.
Agriculture had risen into universal
esteem. kings were setting the exam
pIe of cultivating the soil, and large
portion of the nobility were every
where lending their aid to improve
This first and best Of human pursuits.
The haughtiness and pride of aristo-
cratic birth was gradually yielding TO
the influence of extending wants and
an enlarged commerce.; and in many
of the European States the highest
offices under government were held by
persons of plebian birth. federation
all over Europe had spread to a degree
unknown in former times. All the
remaining vestiges of that fierce spirit
which sullied with barbarism the lofty
and romantic courtesy of ancient
manners were gradually softening
away and the flames of religious
zeal, which for two centuries had SO
often kindled the torch of civil dis
cord, were sunk into ashes. Every
succeeding generation was of char
acter milder and gentlcr than the last.
There was diffusion of liberality that
was beginning to pervadc the mass OF
mankind. The diversified classes of
society harmonized with each other in
a way hitherto unknown; and what
ever might be the peculiaritics of par
ticular constitutions sweeter blood
seemed in all to circulate through
every member of the political body.
! The lowest of the people under govern
mcnts the most dcspOtic no longer
held their countenanccs prone to the
earth, but were taught to erect them
with 4 becoming sense OF their own
nature. and the brow of authority,
instead of an austcre frown, wore 4
more inviting air of cOmplacency and
amcnity." -,
Now, let it not be forgotten that all
these pleasing conditions and prospects
were dissipated by the savage power of
the French Revolution and the Euro
pean wars caused thereby. which revo-
luton and wars We're produced, in the
course of events, if not solely yet in Il
great measure, by the American Rev
olutionary War.