an appeal to common sense

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World Affairs Institute AN APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE Author(s): J. W. HIBBS Source: Advocate of Peace (1847-1884), New Series, Vol. 3, No. 41 (MAY, 1872), p. 179 Published by: World Affairs Institute Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27905297 . Accessed: 14/06/2014 19:59 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . World Affairs Institute and Heldref Publications are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Advocate of Peace (1847-1884). http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 188.72.126.181 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 19:59:21 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

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Page 1: AN APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE

World Affairs Institute

AN APPEAL TO COMMON SENSEAuthor(s): J. W. HIBBSSource: Advocate of Peace (1847-1884), New Series, Vol. 3, No. 41 (MAY, 1872), p. 179Published by: World Affairs InstituteStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27905297 .

Accessed: 14/06/2014 19:59

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

World Affairs Institute and Heldref Publications are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extendaccess to Advocate of Peace (1847-1884).

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 188.72.126.181 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 19:59:21 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 2: AN APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE

THE ADVOCATE OF PEACE. 179

than half the heaven of humanity is already illuminated with the light of that revelation, and the diy is coming fist when it will shine with equal lustre from pole to pole. We cannot say if the same light has yet brightened the heavens of all other

peopled worlds; but this we know, that the Only begotten of God leads and heads all created beings, in all worlds, when he

says " Our Father;" and that no soul in the wide universe can

drift out of the circumference of that relation. Our-Fatherhood has " the eternal years of God," without

beginning or end. Yet to human eyes it had but a feeble dawn out of the darkness of forty centuries. It was born into the world as a sense with human brotherhood in the cradle of the infant of Bethlehem. Childhood is the father of Brother hood ; and when Christ took it upon him, he lifted the whole of humanity up to the level of the sublime adoption, and re vealed to it the immortal and universal Fatherhood of God.

What day, then, in all the years our sun, or any other sun, has measured off to created beings, is more worthy of human

songs, or angel songs, than the anniversary of his birth? These latter, in all the rapture of their melody were heard over his baby cradle, in anticipation of what he was to be and do for mankind. If the angels sung such songs then in man's behalf, why should not the wide world sing its gladdest anthems now in view of all he has done for it in these eighteen centuries gone ? The light of all other days converges into this. It is the great joy-day of the world. It is the only possible anni versary for all the nations and r^ces of mankind ; and till time's end this and this alone will they hold in common and glad celebration. Nor principalities nor powers, nor things present or to come on earth can put away this and put another univer sal joy-day in its stead. Some of the best men that ever lived tried to put it down, or to ban its annual memory. They did what they could to keep it out of this New World, and thought they were doing God service the while. They made their hearts stout against the Christmas songs and memories of their Motherland. The chirping blaze of the yule log, the emerald sheen of the snow-flecked holly, and pendent festoons of its fire-red-berries, with the piping carols of robin red-breast, tried the stern faith of New England's forefathers, but' they and their descendants for generations stood firm against the soft

appeal ; but these later generations have yielded. One reli

gious sect after another has softened to sympathy with the Children's Day which Christmas has given to the world. Its anthems, merry wishes and greetings follow the sun all round the globe. The Christmas tree is becoming indigenous in eve

ry land ; and bears the very same fruits in savor, if not in name, to children of every tribe and tongue within the Christ mas zone. At first it was but a small scion planted on the small family table, and hung with the offerings of family affec tion. But both the tree and the table have grown, like the two concentric bows we have noticed. From five feet to

twenty the gift-hung evergreen has grown. Ii; has become a

congregational tree, and towers up in our churches ten feet above the pulpit, with all its emerald arms laden with love

offerings to hundreds of happy children, who sing their carols under its illumined branches.

"Our Father," and the Children's Day, like a voice from heaven and its human echo, are marching on around the world, drawing into their joint movement all races of men.

AN APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE. BT J. W. HIBBS.

The evils of war are so enormous that to describe them

fully would be no easy task, and this is not necessary as they are known to some extent by all intelligent persons, but to en able all more fully to appreciate them, we may take the follow

ing view of the subject. Suppose two nations to have a dis

pute, they resort to war without any certainty of deciding which is in the right. Each exerts its whole power to inflict

misery on the other. The contest may be continued and ex tended indefinitely. Now in view of the fact that all the human race are one community, the spectacle would be appalling be

yond any other evil, and who could see the time to stop ? If it was reasonable or prudent to begin, would it not be proper by the same rule to continue the contest after manifold provo

cations ? Thus the conflict might be prolonged till all the men

able to fight were killed or maimed for life. Would not all this be in accordance with the principles adopted by the advo cates of war. From these considerations it appears that war is a stupendous folly, as well as ?n atrocious crime. We learn from history that the primitive Christians did not

engage in war for the first three hundred years. They might have had some differences or even warm disputes, but they always settled them by rational means without resorting to arms. Would that that trait of primitive piety had continued to the present century.

WOMAN AND WAR. ,c For my brethren's and companions' sakes I will now say Peace be

within thy borders."

Not only for our own sakes do we hope that peace may be

established, but for our brethren's and companions1 sakes we most earnestly desire it. It is true that when war with its des

olating scourge is despoiling our country or families, and our

homes, we the weaker sex, have our part to bear of this dread ful calamity. While the bodies of our brothers are being muti

lated, our hearts are going through a similar process, and I have thought almost as mercilessly as on the field of carnage. Oh, the restless, heart-throbbing anxiety for the safety of the loved ones, when the times come that brothers must fight and sisters must pray at home. And when the joyful news of a vic

tory comes and with it the list of killed and wounded, what mother or sister robbed of son and brother, what maiden be reaved of her noble, manly lover, what wife left with her fa therless and dependent children, would feel like joining in the

general cheer ? They feel that the sacrifice is too great ; and there is sorrow in each circle, there is sorrow on each brow, and we realize that "such draughts of woe and bitterness we never drank till now." I am a lover of Peace, not bondage. I love it not written upon the fetters of the slave, nor upon the crushed form of American liberties. I believe Iam wholly a patriotic woman. But I do not believe in war, I love no

peace which is not fellowship, and which includes not many, any more than do those enthusiasts who call aloud for restitu tion at the point of the sword. But by that holy name in which we trust, by that blood-stained banner and spirit-sword, i s here not some other way in which to settle questions of na tional strife ? If I did not believe there was, I would not be lieve that the Messiah had yet come ! I would be waiting for the Prince of Peace to establish his kingdom on the earth. I do not wonder that they who deny Christ should believe in war and bloodshed. But it is wonderful that any one profes sing the holy name of Jesus, should thinkit consistent to ad vocate the principles. Jane B.

A revision of the treaties between Japan and various for

eign powers is to take place some time next year, Already the representatives of Great Britain, France, Germany and the

United States are investigating existing treaty stipulations and

acquireing the information necessary to form a satisfactory and

enduring agreement between their respective governments and

Japan. The main point aimed at is to open the whole coun

try for purposes of residence and trade to foreigners. The

treaty made by Commodore Perry, in 1854, is the foundation of all the treaties at present in force. By this agreement two

ports were opened to America ships, and trade, under such restrictions as mifiht be imposed by the Japanese government, was permitted. Since then?by Japan commercial inter course, by the education of a number of the children of its

ruling families in this country, and by the liberal character of the Mikado?has become impregnated with many modern

ideai, In consequence of this change, the Japanese them selves are discussing the prospective treaties in an intelligent and candid way, and a new mission, to be composed of some of the most influential Japanese officers, is talked of as about to be sent to America and Europe Everything seem to indicate that before another Christmas day Japan will be

brought entirely into the family of civilized nations so far as its dealings with foreign countries are concerned."?Peopled Journal.

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