War

The authors of war, whether of ancient or modern tirnes, however onjat, have labored hard to find an excuse by way of justiñcalion. The mass of the people, whote rrleans are quired for prosecuting it, must.be in some wuy or ollier, impresued witli ihe necessity of ! ging war. A false concepticu of national or - the establishment ot a particular cieed of Religión - the necessity ef instituting a ben e cnt form of government- extending the arua oí Freedom - all have in tbeir turn been used as a justificaron, or palliation, for the wholesale destruction of a portion of the human race. The ambition of Napoleon had its eulogists, and his excesses found ready supporters rfo long as the corrupt propensnies yt mankind are allowed to predomínate, just so Ion wijl there be iound those who are ready to particípate in, or defend.the heart-rern.'ing and bloody excesses of the battlo field. All war is wrong, and innumerable evils accompanv its prosecution. The divine command - ■■'.' Thou shalt .not k i! 1" - applies with solomn force to mie or the other of the partiea engaged in mortal conflict - both cannot be riglit. The conduct of governments should be charactenzed by as dolicate a sense of moral right as that of individuáis; and unless such be the case, it is irnpossible for nations lo escape the penalty ariy more than individuals.