On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
Peace or War . Just as we were flattering" ourselves with the hope of tasting- the blessings of peace , the cup is threatened to be dashed from our lips . The late ionff-cotitinued war created a large party , whose interests are connected with hostilities , and who are averse to peace , because it lakes away
their livelihood , or diminishes their chances of gain . The language of this party , as uttered by the ministerial newspapers , and particularly by the Times , the most immoral and unchristian journal that ever dishonoured the press , is * war—war with Buonaparte , war with the French . But before the people of England suffer themselves to he drawn into this sanguinary cry , let them reflect , —
That a new war may last for another ten years ; and are they prepared to look with satisfaction upon , the waste of blood and treasure , that must take place in such a contest 5 will they welcome back the income tax-, the impressment of seamen , the militia ballot , and the poors' rates , charged with the maintenance of one-third of the population of England ?
That the war would be a war against Buonaparte ^ an d for the Bourbons , and would therefore be of a more savage , exterminating character than common wars ; and are the Bourbons so much the delight of human nature , that for them hecatombs
of human beings should be sacrificed , and that an effort should be made to force upon the French people , with the bayonet and from the cannon ^ s mouth , a belief , which they do not possess , of the superlative frortfi of this unhappy family ?
That the Continent will not move towards France , except so far as they are instigated by British gold j and in the present state of our affairs , unable , as we are , to provide for a peace establishment , does any mau dare to reckon upon our being able to raise subsidies for all Europe , besides providing- millions upon millions a year , for our separate charges in the conflict ?
That a war with France , will probably draw after it a war with America ^ America flushed with success , now become a military and naval power , aided by the resources of France , and having the whole . line of the French coast as one continued harbour for her privateers ; and in such a war , what is to become of our looms and forges , of our merchants and traders , and , of our hundreds of thousands of
manufacturers ? That a war of such a character , which may end in a war by ourselves with all the "world , wilt probably raise the price of provisions above the poor man ' s reach ; and if mere apprehension of the effect ? of the corn bill have excited such a fever iu the country , who can answer in thifc event , for
Untitled Article
the conduct of a whole people driven t desperation , or assure himself that his r > i ° perty or his life will be safe ? ° " But there is set up the plea of nece&gjt •—there can be no necessity , howev er h self-destruction , our own preservation is a law and duty paramount to all others
As yet the tone of France is moderate the aggression is on the part of the con ! gress at Vienna , ( if indeed the declaration purporting to be their ' s be not a forgery ) that congress which has been justly < fe . scribed in the House of Commons as a wicked combination against the rights of independent states .
The French may claim Belgium ; the Dutch , or rather the government of the self appointed King of Holland , do claim it , ag * ainst the interests and wishes of the Belgians : neither party has any right in this fine country : let the Belgians be left to themselves . They may be wronged and oppressed ; as Norway , as Poland , has
been , and as Genoa , as Saxony , was to have been : but this event , though it mar well excite our pity or our indignation , will be no good reason why unsolicited m should carry devastation into their fertile country , when , if we may judge from past
experience , our succours to an uninviting , unwilling people , will only waste tleir land and leave them in a desolate state , subject to a harder bondage , than they would otherwise have experienced .
With the people of England it rests to decide the question of peace or war . According * to our happy constitution , the crown can make only conditional engagements with foreign powers . If engagaments be made which it would ruin us to fulfil , we must interpose by our representatives , and stay the impending destruction . We must warn the ministers of the
sovereign , that we cannot consent to measures which will shake the land and tit throne together . There is a point at wlikh self-interest stifles passion—we seem *> have reached it , and here we must make our stand , and resolve temperately , but firmly , and as one man , that in pursuit of mere antipathies and resentments , will not endanger our dearest rights , and the
inheritance of our children . The demand of peace will , we trust , be heard from every part of the empire-Requisitions for public meetings are already signing to declare and ad < l * e * 5 ™ r peace , and before our next number app ^ i « - -w — - — - — - ^ m - «* v V ^ ^ - »^^ * N- ^ ^ fcw ^ ^ ^^ ^* - ^— ^ - ^ ^ - » ^ ¦ <¦ ^^ ~ " ' — ^~ ^ I be
we hope that it will be found to w opinion of the people of England , tlia blood enough has been shed in the quarrels of Kings , and their will that this favour ^ land shall not be again disturbed in tD < possession of the bounties of the Benebcen
Kuler of nations . , , Ministers of religion ! Discip les o 1 «« Prince of Peace ! Ut your Chriitfan l # n «
Untitled Article
1 § 6 Intelligence * *^—Peace or Ww \
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1815, page 196, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1758/page/68/
-