Glimpses opened through them into the dread regions of Slavery gave a harrowing reality to all that conjecture or imagination had pictured.
Editor's note · Context
Sumner reflects on the harsh realities of slavery and its impact on society.
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It is true, doubtless, that there are various races of men; but there is but one great Human Family, in which Caucasian, Ethiopian, Chinese, and Indian are all brothers, children of one Father, and heirs to one happiness.
Nay, more,--if it would be criminal in these several clusters of States to reëstablish the Institution of War as Arbiter of Justice, then is it criminal in the Commonwealth of Nations to continue it.
They belong to a system so essentially irrational, that all the admitted virtues of many of its agents cannot save it from judgment.
Again I repeat, so long as the War System prevails under the sanction of International Law, these painful incongruities will be apparent.





