The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-05-27

impossible for more good than evil to
come from it, that it is contrary to Chris
tian love, ard is therefore wrong from
it's very nature. There are men also in
other denominations who preach the
doctrine Of non-resistance, that is, that it
is never right for one to allow himself to
use force, no matter what the prOVoca-
ton may be. For example, if we should
send food and clothing to the suffering
Armenians, and these should be inter
copied by the Turks and used for their
own benefit, and the messengers of mercy
should be killed, we should take no
notice OF this, but simply keep sending
more until our money is all gone or our
people all killed. This reminds one of
the parable of Christ regarding the wick
ed husbandmen. The owner Of the vine
yard sent many messengers who were
killed, but after a time patience ceased to
be a virtue and Christ said that the lord
OF the vineyard would miserably destroy
those wicked husbandmen. Christ said
that when we were smitten on the one
cheek we should turn the other also
! that is, cultivate spirit of forgiveness S
rather than revenge-but he does not
say that we should suffer insult indef-
nitely. And our text plainly states that
it ia right to use force at times, for we
are told that Christ did not hesitate,
when men were protaning the temple, to
make a scourge of small cords and drive
| them out. This was force, he made war
upon them. He did not invite them into
the inner temple, which was more sacred,
that their condolences might be touched,
nor did he merely pray for them OF
preach to them or demonstrate, he made
8 scourge of small cords and drove them
out. Christ did not teach the principle
of non-resistenCe, then, but he taught
love, that is, that we should always
act in such a way as to
BRING THE MOST GOOD TO ALL CON
CERNED,
or IN other words the greatest good tc
the greatest number. 1t was best fol-
the dignity of the temple and the good OF
all concerned that these profaners of the
temple should be driven out with g
scourge, and so it was done. This same
test of right and wrong must be applied
also to war in its larger aspects. The
question whether war is ever right OF
not, and whether it will ever cease, are
problems of no little interest and impor'
lance. 1t has certainly been gratifying
to hear so much said in opposition tC
war in the recent discussions concerning
it. There has been much proof that the
hearts of people have become softened
and sympathy deepened, that there il
more respect for life, and more horror
at the dreaded calamities of war than
there once was. There are those who
seem DESTROYS of inviting war for it's oWr
sake, but back of that there Is a deeper
feeling, not of cowardice but of humani
ty. A sympathy for the aching hearts
that must be, tear for the orphans anG
widows, the fathers and mothers, dreaC
also for the suffering, the loss of limt
and hopeless disease. And so there are
the two sides to the question, plenty tt
stand on either side when the county Ii
hating on the verge of war. The one
party is eager to rush into war, either
from pecuniary advantages, or desire
for revenge or for justice, or love foI
adventure and excitement, or the
FEELING OF PATRIOTISM AND A SENSE OF
DUTY,
On the other hand there are those who
would draw back, either from cowardice
ard fear, or a tender sympathy and
dread of suffering, or from religious
scruples. But here as elsewhere a man
is to decide thoughtfully, judiciously and
courageously, with the fear and love OF
God in his heart, and always desire
for the greatest good to humanity,
There are times in the life of every man
when he must come to himself, must
stop andsquestion within himself whether
he 10 Sacting from prejudice or reason,
and whether his heart is filed with
malice and hatred, or a calm determine
ton to act for the cause of truth and
justice whatever the cost may be. And
so it must be decided first whether wal
is right at all or not and in the second
place whether 1t is In this particular
case. Ali the arguments which can be
brought mp against war would seem &c
be almost innumerable and over.
whelming. We have said that there are
those who favor war for mercenary rea-
sons, but let It always be remembered