people of England. And no doubt the same class will assail with the same weapons all our efforts to substitute right for might in the intercourse of nations, and to abolish the unutterable wickedness and folly of war. But we trust that not for all this, and much more than this, will the humblest member of the Peace Society forsake his post, or desert his banners. For, if we may borrow our imagery from the camp of our opponents, peace hath her conflicts no less severe, and her victories far more renowned, than those of war. But they are conflicts undertaken for no selfish purpose, and waged with no carnal weapons. They are victories followed by no wail of agony, blotted with no stain of blood. Still the struggle must no doubt be long and strenuous, and to each who engages in this holy war, may be addressed the language of the poet, written on a battle field, contrasting the moral with the material warfare. Pointing to those sleeping below, he says: "Soon rested those who fought; but thou Yet, nerve thy spirit to the proof, And blench not at thy chosen lot; The timid good may stand aloof, The sage may frown-yet faint thou not. Nor heed the shaft too surely cast, The foul and hissing bolt of scorn; THE TESTIMONIES OF ILLUSTRIOUS MEN AGAINST WAR. General Washington wrote thus, "It is time for mad heroism to be at an end." Dr. Franklin said, soon after the close of the American Revolution "There never was a good war, or a bad peace."—"All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous." President Jefferson wrote thus: "War is entirely inefficient towards redressing wrong."-" War multiplies instead of indemnifying losses." Lord Brougham said, "I hold war the greatest of human crimes." M. Necker said, "War suspends every idea of justice and humanity." Dr. Channing said, "The true principle for a nation is to suffer wrong, rather than to do it." OFFICERS.* FRANCIS WAYLAND, D. D., LL.D., PRESIDENT. VICE PRESIDENTS. Hon. S. Fessenden, LL.D., Portland, Me. William B. Crosby, Esq., New York. 66 S. K. Whipple, Esq., Samuel Greele, Baron Stowe, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. S. K. Whipple, G. C. Beckwith, J. W. Parker, JOHN FIELD, Treasurer. G. C. BECKWITH, Corresponding Secretary. W. C. BROWN, Recording Secretary. ABSTRACT OF THE TREASURER'S REPORT. John Field, AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY in account with JOHN FIELD, Treasurer. For rent and care of office, postage, stationery, meetings, &c.,.. For stereotyping, paper, printing, binding, engraving, and other expenses rela tive to publication,.. For services of agents, and their travelling expenses,. Investment of legacies in part,.. Interest on loan,... Balance to new account,. BOSTON, MAY 28, 1860.-I have this day examined the above account of JOHN FIELD, Esq, Treasurer of the American Peace Society, and find the same correctly cast and JULIUS A. PALMER, Auditor. vouched. * See p. 87. As no meeting of the Society could be held before the issue of this Advocate, the last year's list of officers is necessarily published here, though two or three declined a re-election, whose places are o be supplied.-ED. ADV. .115 Improvement in the Army,.. ......117 Civil War in Venezuela,.. Preparations for War,...... .118 R. I. Peace Society,.. Recruiting Service,..... .121 Receipts,...... Peace Operations in England,. War Policy towards China.. Reliance of Missions on the Sword,..116 Population of the Grave,.. Late Italian war... Evils from the Italian War,. ...126 127 .128 .128 ....128 ......129 .130 130 130 ..131 .......117 Oppression in the Italian States,........129 Cost of War-Preparations in Europe,..119 Death of Friends of Peace,. Result of the Crimean War on Turkey,.. 122 See last page of cover. BOSTON: AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY. CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY BUILDING, CHAUNCEY STREET. THE ADVOCATE ADVOCATE OF PEACE. SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1860. THE FLUCTUATIONS OF REFORM. The friends of Peace, like those of every other reform, must expect, as a matter of course, occasional drawbacks. The great sea of minds moved by it, will have now and then its fluctuations, its high and low tides; and even when the general progress of the cause is clear and unquestionable, it may seem for a time to stand still, or even to drift backward. Such is the case alike in individuals and communities. We see it everywhere, and in all history; and, whether we can account for it or not, the fact is patent enough to all thoughtful observers. The grand, all-embracing reform for the world through all ages, started from the cross more than eighteen centuries ago, is itself a standing and startling illustration of this law; and all minor reforms, from that of the Reformation under Luther to those which have in subsequent times sought the removal or abatement of social abuses and wrongs in different countries, will be found to have followed the same law of general progress accompanied with occasional fluctuations. Such fluctuations are inseparable from all reforms; but in the cause of Peace they have been fewer and less serious than in almost any other. Where can we find one more steady or more uniform in its progress? Efforts for the suppression of the slave-trade, for the abolition of slavery itself, or for doing away intemperance, or other great social evils, have been attended with more frequent and often more discouraging drawbacks. Through how many disastrous failures have |