Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-04
Highest of all in Leavenng Power-Latest Report
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ABSOLUTELY PURE

ings and the security of peace. War is
cruel, relentless bloody. War means
suffering, agony, want and woe. War
is devastation, desolation, death. War
is veritable hell upon earth. While
peace is blessed and benefcient. Peace
brings plenty and prosperity. Peace
fills the household with JOY and glad
ness. Peace is Heaven upon earth.
| have no sympathy with the insane
desire for war and conquest which
seems just now to animate alleged
statesmen and sensational newspaper
editors. | can see no reason in this
era of the worlds history, why two
christian nations should go to war,
anymore than that two christian men
should resort to tiisticuifs, rather than
the law, to settle dispute. If two
farmers in Otisco, disputing over a
boundary line, should go to fighting
with pitchforks, clubs or revolvers,
one, and perhaps both, OF them, would
land in the county Jail, and rightfully
find proper place there.
There is but one reason why our
country should ever go to war, and
that is to avert national dishonor after
all peacable means have been exhaust
ed. These men, who talk SO glibly
about war, seem TO have forgotten
what war is or else they are dema-
gogues scheming for personal advance
ment.
can remember, not so very long
ago, when there was scarcely house
! hold in this whole land that had not
within it vacant chair-a place never
20 be filled again in this life-the place,
perhaps of the best beloved and dear
est. | see before me today old friends
and acquaintances, who have lost by
she dread hand OF war, sons, brothers
and husbands. They have not forgot
ten, | know, the long hours Of anxiety,
hof suffering and heartache, endured by
Lthem; as. here at home, they waited
breathlessly and heartsore the tidings
from every hattlefeld; or that dark
- pr ,wher, they were becelt' otNthe
Nved one, or the long years of unavail-
ing sorrow which has embittered and
cast IA shadow over their lives. Do
they wish ever TO undergo this anguish
again, or TO entail the same upon those
they love who are to follow them?
One half Of our country was devas-
tated by the tread of ofcontending armies,
and nature nor the hand of man have
not yet obliterated the marks of the
conflict. The country is full of MANNED
and crippled soldiers, and almost every
survivor OF that war shows in the lines
of his face, or the stiffness Of his limbs,
in his limp or halting gait, the effects
of his service. More than million of
the best and bravest of the land perish
ed, and widows and orphans were thick
rs the falling leaves in autumn.
We are paying today, third of a
century after the close of the rebellion,
one hundred and fifty millions of dol
lars in pensions To Union soldiers, and
we are staggering under the burden of
a national debt, which our children's
grandchildren will not live to see
wholly paid.
My fellow citizens, there can be no
more blessed condition in life for any
man to enjoy, than you are enjoying
today under this great free govern
ment in times of peace.
Tonight you lie down to sleep in the
midst of your family in your own
homes, many of you not even caring to
lock your outer doors. You are in
almost perfect security. You are not
alarmed or afraid. There is no fear TO
disturb the soundness or the sweetness
of your slumber You know that your
loved ones are safe under the protect
ing care of your government, and Of
the blessed peace that now prevails.
No marauding army lies encamped or
is marching upon your premises.
There is no enemy to tear down and
burn your fences. destroy your crops,
steal your cattle and horses, or plumber
and ravage your house. You go from
home in the morning to your work,
leaving your wife and family safe and
happy in the household. You are not
molested in your labors, and, at night,
you return to the love and JOY OF home,
to find il, as you left it, the abode Of
peace and comfort.
You have been permitted, not only
to earn something for present or future
need; hut no one can take IL away from
you. IL is yours to have and to hold at
your own pleasure. You are not called
upon To go yourself, nor To send your
sons out to hardship, To sacrifice, to
suffering and death.
These are the bounties OF peace.
This is what the present gives you.
May the future hold in store the same
blessings and privileges-the blessings
I