War

.—Of all things in this world, it seems to me most strange, that men, large parties of men, perfectly indifferent to, and ignorant of the merits of ths dispute, should voluntarily enter into the service of a sanguinary tyrant, and, as far as in them lay, to massacre and destroy their fellow-creatures who are opposed to them, and who are as innocent and as ignorant as they, of the whole subject and occasion of quarrel. Is it that the sound of fife and drum, the trumpet and bugle-horn, or any other martial music, possesseth such a savage charm? I am a man, but it has no such an effect on me. Is it that the garish splendor of a camp, the emblematic vestment of the soldier, the glittering of aems, the roar of cannon, the display of gaudy colours, or any other military trappings, possess such a savage charm? I am a man, but they have no such effect on me. Is it that the leisurable, easeful life of the military, the mildness of their manners, possesseth such a savage charm? I am a man, but I confess thse things have no such effect on me. Or, is it that these men are sectarists, and have doctrines, creeds, and opinions peculiar to themselves; that love war, bloodshed and rapine, and internecion in the abstract? I am a man, subject to frailty in common with other men, but I could never yet convince myself, that the destruction of the human species was a lovely and desirable occupation, so that a man could listlessly enter into it, as into a trade, by way of getting a livelihood. Whence then this fond desire, this madness after slaughter? is it any consolation or solace when wounded, to see your enemy by your side extended breathless on the plain? Oh soldiers, soldiers! lay not the flattering unction to your souls, that you are heroes! You are nothing but murderers; butchers. When you began to be soldiers, you ceased to be men! Do you delight in blood, and in the sweet tuneful groans of dying animals? set up the trade of butchers at once; there must be such men in civilized society. But do not murder man for gold. If ye are soldiers, ye cannot be virtuous men. You are more abandoned and depraved even than the priests. Let them then gain the summit of their wishes and their ambition, viz. the ascendant in human depravity, the acme of human wickedness, the climax of mortal guilt. Bow to them with humility, leave to then the crimson palm, they are your superiors in invention, and would be in action if they dared! Still I am bewildered how to account for this universal and brutal rage for massacre, which seems to have stagnated and palsied every human sentiment, and stopped at once all the noble workings of nature which once glowed in your bosoms! I have only one way more to account for your unjustifiable dereliction from all principle of virtue, only one cause more that could possibly induce you to such a dreadful effect, and that cause is, want. If this be the cause of your joining a lawless band of hired assassins, then you are exonerated from a load of guilt; still however burthened with a load of remaining guilt, for you cannot be virtuous if you are soldiers. It is then to you, O iniquitous Governments! that mankind is indebted for this awful calamity! You starve your people, and then the loud calls of Nature force them into a compliance and concurrence with you in plunder and murder! You take away their earnings, and destroy their commerce, and then inlist them under your bloody banners! You depopulate the world, and then hie to your corrupted churches, to pay your filthy adoration to an all-benevolent God, to thank him for what he has done, as if he was a cruel and vindictive being like yourselves! Why don’t you ordain your priests to drink hot blood at the altar, and devour human carcases, by way of celebrating the Lord’s supper? You will want but little of imagination then to believe in transubstantiation! They’ll do’t if you order them. It will inspire your troops with the true bloodhound vigor; and you may then, with some effect,

“Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of War.”