of glory and of gain—a selfish, and therefore not a high or very noble, end; but such a disposition is very different from that of murder, and therefore to call all war "wholesale murder," is neither true nor just.
There may be, indeed, cases of wars that are not only justifiable, but righteous; as when waged in defence of one's home and country, and also in protection of just rights and liberties, which are necessary to render home and country happy and desirable. In such case, the dutiful and praiseworthy purpose changes altogether the character of the action, both in man's view and in God's. The action may be itself one of violence, but there is not at the bottom of the heart any desire to injure; the final end is simply protection,—to protect the good and right against what would destroy it. When William Tell and his brave compatriots rose in defence of their beloved Switzerland, and fought manfully to expel from the soil its tyrants and polluters,—every just mind feels that they were performing a noble and praiseworthy action, and that the blessing and the aid of Divine Providence could righteously be with them; for they were supporting the right against the wrong, good against evil. When the Scots at Bannockburn, about to battle for their native land, for their homes and firesides and all they held dear,—knelt down in their ranks and lifted up a short prayer to Heaven for aid to their just cause,—they did so with honest hearts, and their prayer was answered. When the great Washington—fighting for his country's liberties,—put himself at the head of his patriotic troops, and charged, sword in hand, into the midst of his enemies, who will say that he was not performing a dutiful action,—one, on which
