The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-07-22
THE .1NO.MoRE-W Va
DEMONSTRATION

In view Of the "No-More-War' de-
monstration. to be held a few days
hence. we publish the following extract,
taken from book published in 1854,
written BY one Of the greatest men Am
erica has ever produced. Rev. William
E. Charming, D. d., and that ought u
interest every American who has the
true interest Of the people at hart:
The abolition Of war is no longer
to be set down as a creation Of fancy,
a dream of enthusiastic philanthropy,
War rests on opinion; and opinion is
more and more Withdrawing It's support.
War rests on contempt Of human naz
ture; on the long mournful habit Of re-
garding the mass Of human beings as
machines, or as animals; having no
higher use than to be shot at and MUIR
dered for the glory of a chief, for the
seating of this or that family on a
throne, for the petty interests and sell
fish rivaIries which have inflamed
states to conflict. Let the worth of
a human being be felt, and main pill
lar will fall.
To one who reflects, there is some
thing very shocking in the decorations
Of war. If men must fight, let them
wear the badges which become their
craft. 1t would shock US to see hang
man dressed out in skarf and epaulets
and marching with merry music to the
place Of punishment The soldier has
a sadder work than the hangman. His
office is not to dispatch occasionally
single criminal; he goes to the
slaughter Of thousands as free from
crime as himself. The sword is worn
as an ornament; and yet its use is to
pierce the heart of fellow creature
AS we'll might the butcher parade be-
fore us his knife or the executioner his
axe or halter. Allow war to be neces-
sary-still it is horrible necessity, a
work to fill good man with anguish Of
spirit. Shall it be turned into an occa-
sion Of pomp and merrimentp
One Of the tremendous evils Of the
world is the monstrous accumulation Of
power in few hands. Half a dozen
men may, at this moment, light the
fires Of war through the world, may
convulse all civilized nations, sweep
earth and sea with armed hosts, spread
desoIation thru the fields and bank
ruptcy thru cities and make themselves
felt by some form Of suffering thru
every household in Christendom.
! cannot now, as | once did, talk
lightly, thoughtIessly. of fighting with
this or that nation. That nation is no
longer an abstraction to me. 1t is no
longer a vague mass. 1t spreads out
before me into individuals in thou
sand interesting forms and relations.
1t consists of husbands and wives, par
ents and children, who love one another
as | love my own home. 1t consists
of affectionate women and sweet chill
dren. 1t consists Of Christians united
with me to the common Savior and in
whose spirit recognize the likeness Of
his divine virtue. 1t consists of vast
multitude of Iaborers at the pillow and in
the workshop, whose tolls sympathize
with, whose burden | should rejoice to
tighten and for whose elevation have
pleaded. 1t consists of men of science,
taste, genius, whose writings have be-
guiled my solitary hours and given life
to my intellect and best affections.
Here is the nation which am called to
fight, into whose families must. send
mourning, whose fall or humiliation
must seek thru blood. cannot do il
without clear commission from God,
The dress of Europe, not many cen
turtles ago, was fashioned very much
after what may be called the harlequin
style; that is, it affected strong color;
and strong contrasts. This taste be.
longs to rude ages and has passec
! away very much with the progress d
civilization. The military dress alone
has escaped the reform. The military
imam is the only harlequin left US from
ancient time.