other sovereigns of Europe. But even this authoritative assurance does not absolve the people of this country from the duty of giving emphatic utterance to their own opinions, were it only to strengthen the hands of Her Majesty in the wise and patriotic cause she has avowed her determinanation to pursue." Here is patent and decisive proof of the power which the friends of peace have already acquired over the people and the government of England. From time immemorial she has been a most notorious intermeddler in the quarrels on the Continent; and this public announcement of a new and far wiser policy is chiefly traceable to the persistent efforts of our co-workers there on the subject. If they had never done anything more, this alone, in its far reaching results, would be worth, a thousand times over, all the labor and money thus far expended in our cause. It is clear that the leaven of our views is slowly yet surely working even underneath the war system of the Old World. THE WAR SPIRIT AND PRINCIPLE STILL AT WORK.-But, while it is thus gratifying to find so general a concurrence as to the duty of England to follow the strict policy of non-intervention, the Committee cannot but regard, with the deepest regret and apprehension, the efforts that are made by exaggerated alarms and increased military preparations, to foment a warlike temper among the people of this country. General declarations of neutrality will be of little avail, if at the very moment they are uttered, we are sedulously cultivating the spirit and assuming the attitude of hostility towards other nations. The Committee must in an especial manner express their unfeigned sorrow at the notice lately issued by the Government of its intention to encourage the formation of Rifle-clubs, a measure which in their judgment cannot fail to exercise a disastrous influence in many ways, diffusing through the community a love of arms, to which, happily, our countrymen have been hitherto strangers; luring the young into habits of idleness and dissipation which, as all experience proves, almost invariably attend these forms of amateur soldiership; fostering warlike tastes, and feelings of national arrogance and emulation, that will be found most perilous to the interests of peace, and encouraging the still further development of those military institutions, the enormous over-growth of which already constitutes the greatest curse and calamity of Europe. PROGRESS OF PEACE VIEWS.-In conclusion, the Committee would repeat their solemn belief, which everything they witness around them tends only to confirm, that the principles they hold are not only most in accordance with the spirit of Christianity, but with the dictates of reason, the claims of justice, the instinct of natural conscience, the interests of humanity, and the progress of civilization. It is impossible, indeed, not to feel that a slow perception of this truth is gradually forcing itself upon some of those who have been wont to point at us, and our labors, the slow, unmoving finger of scorn. The world has been astonished of late to find not only the doctrines, but the arguments, the illustrations, the very language of the Peace Society, flowing from the lips of its bitterest revilers. Those measures which we have so long advocated, amid every kind of obloquy and insult, of stipulated arbitration, an international congress, a simultaneous reduction of armaments, and non-intervention in the affairs of other states, are beginning to be admitted into good society. It is impossible indeed not to regret that these powerful organs of public opinion did not earlier receive the light that is now tardily dawning upon them. If the statesmen and publicists of Europe, those who mould the character and direct the destinies of an age, had forty years ago, instead of frowning upon them in cold disdain, or assailing them with cavil and invective, calmly inquired into the reasonableness of those views propounded by the Peace Society, and then united their infiuence to give effect to such of them as were thought practical in the customs of states and the constitution of political society, how much of misery might have been spared to mankind; how much sacrifice of life; how much waste of wealth; how much agony of human hearts; how much of mutual suspicion, terror and hatred to the nations of Christendom; how much of demoralization to society; how much of scandal to religion; how much of irreparable damage done to the progress of truth, liberty and civilization. very probable that these late converts may still continue to cast reproach and ridicule upon those who were the earliest and most consistent advocates of the principles which they are now disposed to adopt. Be it so. That is of very small moment as compared with the progress of the principles. It matters little who gains the honor, so the work be accomplished. It The little insects that build up the beautiful islands which stud the face of the Southern seas work for ages, we are told, in the "dark unfathomed caves of ocean," myriads of them perishing in obscurity long before their graceful architecture even begins to peep above the surface of the waters, but each content to contribute its tiny labors to hasten on the final consummation, when its isle of beauty shall stand complete, glittering like a gem on the bosom of the deep, crowned with verdure and fertility, and teeming with life and abundance. So it is with those who labor, under the guidance of Providence, for the accomplishment of some remote good. They may be destined to work on for generations in obscurity and contempt, conscious only that they are working in harmony with the plans of God, and that they are helping, in however feeble a degree, in bringing to pass those scenes of blessedness and peace, upon which humanity, even in its darkest moments, has loved to repose in hope; "Those scenes surpassing fable, and yet true, Scenes of accomplished bliss, which who can see, RESOLUTIONS. 1. That this meeting cannot but regard the war that has just broken forth in the south of Europe, between three professedly Christian nations, as a reproach to civilization, and a scandal to Christianity; and, while acknowledging with gratitude the strenuous and prolonged efforts of our own Government to adjust the matter in dispute by mediation, records its solemn conviction, in accordance with that already so generally expressed by the country, that it is both the interest and duty of England to observe a strict policy of non-intervention, and to abstain, not merely from overt and immediate acts of war, but from all entangling engagements and alliances which may endanger our being ultimately involved in the conflict, and from such menacing demonstrations of force as must tend, by stimulating warlike passions at home, and exciting suspicion and animosity abroad, to bring about the very evil which the nation so earnestly, and unanimously deprecates. 2. That this meeting cannot fail to recognise in the deplorable events by which Europe is now distracted, a solemn and instructive illustration and confirmation of the views always held and promulgated by the Peace Society, as to the im policy and tanger of great standing armaments, the maintenance of which ha grown into a system of chronic rivalry between the professedly Christian Powers of Europe. This meeting is of opinion that the peace of Europe has been sacrificed, and the nations exposed to all the horrors of a desolating and sanguinary war, not because of political difficulties incapable of pacific solution, but because of the existence of these vast armaments continually thrust forward by rival dynasties to threaten and coerce each other, to obstruct and counteract diplomacy, and to claim ultimately for the umpirage of brute force, a result which could only be satisfactorily obtained under the guidance of reason, forbearance and conscience. OFFICERS. FRANCIS WAYLAND, D.D., LL. D., PRESIDENT. VICE PRESIDENTS. Hon. Theo. Frelinghuysen, LL.D., New Hon. S. Fessenden, LL.D., Portland, Me. Brunswick, N. J. Hon. Charles Sumner, Boston, Mass. John Tappan, Esq., 66 46 Rev. Baron Stowe, D.D., " Jos. E. Worcester, LL.D., Cambridge, Mass. 66 Rev. T. C. Upham, D.D., Brunswick, Me. 66 66 James T. Leavitt, Boston, Mass. Galen James, Esq. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. S. K. Whipple, G. C. Beckwith, JOHN FIELD, Treasurer.. G. C. BECKWITH, Corresponding Secretary. 66 64 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 ABSTRACT OF THE TREASURER'S REPORT. John Field, AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY in account with JOHN FIELD, Treasurer. Receipts acknowledged at sundry times in the Advocate of Peace. paper, printing, binding, stereotyping, editing, and other expenses relative to publications... "services of agents, and their travelling expenses.................................、 $ 93 18 4,600 20 90.00 $4,783 38 $ 267 44 1,838 29 1,463 70 50.00 1,000 00 163 95 $4,783 38 I have this day examined the above account of JOHN FIELD, Treasurer of the American Peace Society, and find the same well vouched and correctly cast. JULIUS A. PALMER, Auditor. BOSTON, MAY 23, 1859. |