Charles Sumner

Not by War, not by the hand of man, were these solid structures levelled, and all these delights changed to desolation.

Where the horse of Attila had been a blade of grass would not grow; but in the footprints of pestilence, famine, and earthquake the kindly charities spring into life.

The business of War cannot be other than the trade of barbarians, cannot be other than a damnable profession; and War itself is certainly Hell on earth.

War is the trade of barbarians," exclaimed Napoleon, in a moment of truthful remorse, prompted by his bloodiest field.

Religion, reason, humanity, first penetrate the individual, next larger bodies, and, widening in influence, slowly leaven nations.

Yes! the barbarous, brutal relations which once prevailed between individuals, which prevailed still longer between communities composing nations, are not yet banished from the great Christian Commonwealth.

In amazement at this strange, unnatural contest, away from country and home, where there is no country or home to defend, we ask again, Wherefore this dismal scene?

Not as brothers, not as friends, not as wayfarers of the common ocean, do they come together, but as enemies.

More revolting than mangled victims, gashed limbs, lifeless trunks, spattering brains, are the lawless passions which sweep, tempest-like, through the fiendish tumult.

The havoc rages; the ground is soaked with commingling blood; the air is rent by commingling cries; horse and rider are stretched together on the earth.

The soul is penetrated by the sharp moan of mothers, sisters, and daughters, of fathers, brothers, and sons, who, in the bitterness of bereavement, refuse to be comforted.

We see the desolation and death keeping step with the bloody track; we look upon sacked towns, ravaged territories, violated homes; we behold all the sweet charities of life changed to wormwood and gall.

Would that now I could impart to all who hear me something of my own conviction!

Would that with tongue or pen I could adequately expose the enormity of this system, involving, as it does, the precepts of religion, the dictates of common sense, the suggestions of economy, and the most precious sympathies of humanity!

The whole complex system of the Law of Nations, overarching all the Christian nations, has but one distinct object,--the administration of justice between nations.

If the judicial combat was impious, monstrous, and unchristian, then is War impious, monstrous, and unchristian.

In the development of civilization how can the literature of War expect more honor than that of the Duel?

The absurdity of Trial by Battle may be learned from the instances where it was invoked.

At last, this system, so wasteful of life, so barbarous in character, so vain and inefficient as Arbiter of Justice, yielded to judicial tribunals.

The Church, to its honor, early perceived the wickedness of this system.

Thus do violence, lawlessness, and absurdity shelter themselves beneath the Rule of Law!

The proceedings were conducted gravely according to prescribed forms, which were digested into a system of peculiar subtilty and minuteness,--as War in our day is according to an established code, the Laws of War.

Not bodily infirmity or old age could exempt a litigant from the hazard of the Battle, even to determine differences of the most trivial import.

If wrong in one case, it must be wrong in the other.

Recognizing the irrational and unchristian character of War as established arbiter between towns, counties, and states, we learn to condemn it as established arbiter between nations.