The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-04-07
PEACE

Grant ended his famous message with
the words: Let us have peace!"
Some of the papers that reach our
exchange table are reprinting the
foundation documents of the peace
movement, and we do not know that
we can do anything better, for good
Sunday reading, than to do likewise.
For example, Dr. Noah Worcester,
in an article away back yonder in
1914, entitled, "A Solemn Review Of
the Custom of War" said:
I'VE regard with horror the custom
of the ancient heather in offering
their children in sacrifice to idols. We
are shocked with the customs of the
Hindoos, in prostrating themselves be-
fore the car of an idol to be crushed
to death, in burning women alive on
the funeral piles of their husbands, in
offering monthly sacrifice by casting
living children into the Gauges to be
drowned We read with astOnishr
ment of the sacrifices made in the pa
pal crusades, and in the Mohamedan
and Hindoo pilgrimages.. We wonder
at the blindness of Christian nations,
who have esteemed it right and hon
orable to buy and sell Africans as
property and reduce them to bondage
for life. But that which is fashiona-
BILE and popular in any country is es-
teemed right and honorable, whatever
may be it's nature in the views of men
better informed.
But while we look back, with
mixture of wonder, indignation and
pity on many of the customs of for
mer ages, are we careful to inquire
whether some customs which we deem
honorable are not the effect of popular
delusion. and whether they will not be
so regarded by future generations? Is
it not fact that one of the most hor
rible customs of savage men is now
popular in every nation Of Christen-
dom? What custom of the most bar
barous nations is more repugnant to
the feelings of piety, humanity and
justice than that of deciding contro-
versies between nations by the edge
of the sword, by powder and ball or
the point of the bayonet? What other
savage custom has occasioned half the
desolation and misery to the human
race? And what but grossest infatua-
ton could render such custom pop
ular among rational beings?'
The exordium to one OF Channing's
sermons on Peace was as follows:
1T is said that without war to ex-
cite and invigorate the human mind,
some Of its mobiles energies will slum-
Der, and its highest qualities-cour-
age, magnanimity, fortitude-wil per
ish. To this l answer that, if war is
to be encouraged among nations be-
cause it nourishes energy and hero
ism on the same principle war in our
families and war between neighbor-
hoods, villages and cities ought to be
encouraged; for such contests would
equally tend to promote heroic daring
and contempt Of death Why shall
not different provinces of the same
empire annually meet with the weap-
ons of death, to keep alive their cour-
age? We shrink at this suggestion
with horror; but why shall contests
Of nations, rather than OF priyinces or
families. find shelter under this bar
barous argument?
IF war be a blessing because it
awakens energy and courage. then the
savage state is peculiarly privileged;
for every savage is . soldier and his
whole modes OF life tend TO form him
TO invincible resolution. On the same
principle those early periods of So
ciety were happy when men were call
ed to contend not only with one am
other but with beasts OF prey; for to
these excitements We owe the herosm
of Hercules and TnesUs On the same
principle the feudal ages We're more
favored than the present; for then ev-
cry barn was military chief. every
castle frowned defiance and every
yassal was trained to arms. Do we
really wish that the earth should
again be overrun with monsters or
abandoned to savage or feudal VIC
lence, in order that heroes may be
multiplied? If not. let US cease to vim
dictate war as affording excitement to
energy and courage.
I'VE do not need war to awaken hui
man energy. There is at least equal
scope for courage and magnanimity in
blessing as in destroying mankind
The condition of the human race Of
fers inexhaustible objects for enter
prise and fortitude and magnanimity
In relieving the countless wants and
sorrows of the world, in exploring I'M
known regions. in carrying the art and
virtues of civilization tO unimnroyed