TWO CAUSELESS WARS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 15, 1879

TWO CAUSELESS WARS.

It must be somewhat discouraging to those who are prophesying that the world is about to merge into that happy condition when men will learn war no more, to find one of the nations which stand in the forefront of Christian civilization, and which ought already to be committed to that policy, if that is what Christianity is designed to secure, now waging two wars for which no sort of an apology can be given. A correspondent of The Religious Intelligencer, writing from Midnapore, India, under date of March 14, 1879, says:—

It is a sad comment on our Christian age that the first and most powerful nation of modern times is now prosecuting two causeless and ruthless wars in this eastern hemisphere. A war for the establishment of a scientific boundary is, in a Christian sense, a causeless and ruthless war. That it is greatly to the discredit of England, every unprejudiced mind must naturally, and, I was about to say, intuitively perceive. I have failed to hear of the first Christian man who has even an apology to offer for this wicked war now being waged on our northern borders. Weeks ago, Lord Beaconsfield said that the Afghan war was over, and its objects attained. Whoever has studied the history of the noble Lord from well-nigh the beginning of his public career, will not be in the least surprised to hear, what was to be expected, that diligent preparations are now being made for a brisk spring campaign. The second campaign will probably be a stiffer and bloodier piece of work than the first. Heaven save us from a policy that wages war on so slim a pretext as the scientific rectification of a mountainous frontier! We predict that before the end of the year but very few Englishmen will be found, of any party, who will not be convinced that the Afghan war has been a deplorable blunder; and a war in these days that is a blunder cannot easily be distinguished from a crime. I regret to say that the present Viceroy of India, unlike Lord Lawrence and his other distinguished predecessors, is thoroughly a war-man; and though it is said that he is deeply versed in the highest order of state-craft, I fear, should he continue long in office, that sober-thinking men both here and at home will be unable to face the future without the gravest misgivings.

The Zulu war is, in like manner, a discredit and a blot. I have somewhere read of a certain missionary who carried the gospel with fire and sword into the wilds of New Zealand. Some native teachers belonging to the reverend gentleman were killed and eaten by the savages around, whereupon our church-warrior, having first armed a number of his flock, marched upon the enemy at the head of his men. How completely he avenged the unfortunate teachers is shown in a long list of burning houses and slaughtered cannibals; nevertheless that philanthropic society from which our military missionary was accredited was grievously exercised by his proceedings, which certainly seem to have taken an untoward turn.

But judging from recent developments at the Cape, this reverend gentleman of military tastes would prove a useful addition to Sir Bartle Frere's government just now. He would be the right-hand man for the English government of Cape Colony in his determination to propagate Christianity at the point of the bayonet.

There being nothing new to write in the regular line must be my apology, should one be deemed necessary, for this reference to the wars now being waged by a Christian nation. We find it far from easy to explain these things to the Hindoos and Mohammedans of this British colony. And now that the question is being mooted in the public journals that the enormous cost of this bloody and unrighteous war will be charged to India, I do not wonder that the wealthy classes in native society begin to express themselves earnestly and plainly in opposition to the policy of the government. To be taxed for a war that brings neither fame nor treasure is naturally repulsive to the feelings of worldly men.