Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-06-05

Chatham, Camden and other great men of
England are familiar to every schoolboy,
while the great preacher John Wesley,
from one end OF Britain to the other, de-
nounced the king and ministers for the
unholy war.
The war upon the nation begun by the
shots at Sumter has never been justified
by any impartial jurist. However much
the ruling classes in some foreign mon
arches hoped and intrigued for our down
fall, foreign jurists and peoples could see
no justifiable ground for the rebellion.
Both wars were horribly destructive.
The first entailed poverty and indeed
bankruptcy for many years. The wounds
and scars Of the second are still visible.
The one was endured to preserve liberty
through independence. The other was
endured to preserve liberty through
peace The day set apart for the COM
memoration OF the former is now COM
monty celebrated with joyous, even juve-
nile exuberance and exultation, with fes-
Invites. and fanfarronade Of oratory,
color and noise. The day set apart for the
commemoration OF the latter is still, and
and hope long will be, celebrated soberly,
thoughtfuiiy, IN sympathy Win our ief
low-citizens OF the Grano Army OF tne
Republic, VINO. Win tnelr comraoes,
faced the horrid 'front.' OF that war, ana
with whom we annually meet to show
respect and honor 10 tneh iameh1eo oeau.
Therefore at the close OF this memorial
dav the honors due the lamented dead
having been lovingly para, am moved 70
SPEAK, not dangerously OF our county
might IN war, out seriously Oh tne Gan
gers TO It's peace. True we nave con-
querea, out, as written py milton in ms
sonnet to Cromwen: iet mucn re-
mains to conquer sun; peace Win ner
victories no less renowned than war
1t would seem 10 those OF US VINO nave
ersonai memories OF the awIuiness Oh
the war OF the hepeiiion, tnat never
again, except IN direst need, IN oeienee OF
existence Itself, would our people resort 70
war with all Its attendant slaughter, pes
thence, destruction ana misery. ltnor-
oughly believe that we VIII never again
have need TO wage war, even war Oh
self-defense; that we can obtain all we
ought in law and morals to OBTAIN ny ap-
peais TO the reason ana FAIRNESS OF man
kind. II we are not ourselves aggressive;
II we carefully conserve the rights OF
other peoples, and DO not Cypress our own
people, there will be no war MADE upon
within. believe that our future wars, II
any we have, will be OF our own seeking,
or at least wars for which we ourselves
will be responsible.
What, then, is the danger to peace!
think there is danger, iessenlng one,
1 fondly believe, but still danger, ana
Nom an enemy that remains to conquer
still''. grleve to say the spirit OF mil
tarism is still rife in our people. A new
generation has come, with little personal
experience, and but little comprehension
OF the hellishness OF modern war. There
is a resdrgence OF the primitive, savage,
yainglorious fighting instinct. II Is this
instinct that has caused wars IN the past,
and, unless controlled, will cause needless
wars in the future. Indeed, most wars
can BE- traced to this as the primal cause.
II is now seen tnat Dut TOT the Vsineiori-
Gus boastings OF the British army Officers
to the effect that the colonial militia
would never stand against British troops,
there would have been no war upon the
colonies. / think it can be safely said
that but for similar vainglorious belief in
the South, that one southerner was the
equal OF three northerners, there would
have been no war OF the Rebellion.
You men OF the Grand Army know the
awful consequences OF giving way to this
impulse; but "they jest at scars who
never felt Q wound. l fear that many,
even the majority, OF the present genera
ton would be willing to plunge the coun-
try into war again, to avenge what they
would think an insult, or to vindicate
some claim they would not dare to sub
init to disinterested arbitration, or even
for mere conquest.
The Late war with Spain is an example
and n WARMING One dav there WAS n de-