POSTAGE.-Less than 100 miles, 14 cts.-over 100 miles, 24 cts. Postmasters are requested, where this work is not taken from the office, to return it to the Postmaster at Boston, ACCORDING TO LAW, writing upon it the name of the subscriber and place of residence. ADVOCATE OF PЕАСЕ. No. XVI. MAY, 1839. SAFETY OF PACIFIC PRINCIPLES. Concluded from page 222. History is rich in proofs on this subject. During the first century and a quarter after the settlement of New England, the inhabitants were constantly, with the exception of some short intervals, exposed to attacks from the savage tribes. But the Quakers, who were mingled with the other inhabitants in various places, were entirely safe, although they refused to avail themselves of the protection both of arms and of garrison houses. The Indians said, "They had no quarrel with the Quakers, for they were a quiet, peaceable people, and hurt nobody, and that therefore none should hurt them."* During the rebellion in Ireland in the year 1798 (also in the same country during the Revolution of 1688), the Friends, by keeping true to their peaceable principles, were preserved from the miseries of those disastrous periods. Of the occurrences in 1798, so far as the Society of Friends was concerned, we have an interesting and circumstantial account in Thomas Hancock's Principles of Peace; a work exceedingly worthy of the attention of the friends of pacific doctrines. Amid the greatest excitement of the public mind, when crimes were frequent, and every species of violence was practised, the Society of Friends, although in immediate contact with both of the hostile parties, lost but one young man. And this person, subjecting his principles to his fears, had taken the course of wearing a mili * Chalkley's Travels, as quoted by Hancock on Peace. Chap. VI. VOL. II.NO. XVI. 23 tary uniform, and of associating with armed men; and this was the occasion of his death. The statements which have been made in respect to the Society of Friends, are corroborated by the history of other pacific sects, the Shakers, Menonists, Dunkers, and Moravians. During the rebellion in Ireland in 1798, the rebels, it is stated, had long meditated an attack on the Moravian settlement at Grace-hill, Wexford county. At length, in fulfilment of their threats, a large body of them marched to the town. But the Moravians, true to their principles in this trying emergency, did not meet them in arms; but assembling in their place of worship, besought Jehovah to be their shield and protector in the hour of danger. The hostile bands, who had expected an armed resistance, were struck with astonishment at a sight so unexpected and impressive; they heard the prayers and praises of the Moravians; they listened to supplications in their own behalf; and after lingering in the streets a whole day and night, they with one consent turned and marched away, without having injured an individual.* The Shakers, too, have experienced a share of that protection, which pacific principles are sure to afford. About the year 1812, the inhabitants of Indiana were harassed by incursions from the Indians; but the Shakers, who lived in that region, although they were without garrisons and without arms, appear to have been entirely secure, while the work of destruction was going on around them. The question was once put to a prominent chief, why the Indians did not attack and injure the Shakers as well as others. His answer was, "We warriors meddle with a peaceable people! That people, we know, will not fight! It would be a disgrace to our nation to hurt such a people."+ If we turn away from individuals and from classes of men, we shall find in states and nations a development, and demonstration even, of the vast moral power of pacific principles. There is within the limits of Italy a little commonwealth, called the republic of San Marino. This is said to be, and probably is, the smallest independent state in Europe; occupying in its whole circuit a single mountain and two adjoining hills. Its whole extent is about thirty square miles; and it comprises in its capital and four villages 7000 inhabitants. The government is in the hands of a senate of three hundred *The Friend of Peace, Vol. II, No. 7. elders, and an executive council of twenty patricians, twenty burghers, and twenty peasants. This inconsiderable republic has existed nearly the same as at present for thirteen hundred years. Within that long period, mighty nations have arisen and fallen; Italy itself has been again and again visited with mighty arinies, and covered with blood; crowns have been rent, and dynasties have crumbled; republics, too, proud in their military strength, and unwisely disposed to nourish a military spirit, have been swept away from the face of the earth; while the little republic of San Marino, which, relatively considered, has ever been utterly defenceless, has remained unassaulted and safe. Its weakness, and its professedly acting upon pacific principles, has been the secret of its strength; and not the smallness of its territory. No one, intimately acquainted with history, can have failed to perceive, that no territory is so small or so barren as not to be an object of national cupidity. And San Marino would long since have been incorporated into the domains of some neighboring and more powerful state, had it not been for the incredible disgrace, which would have attached to such a transaction. Another instance, illustrative of the views which we are now taking, is the Loochoo Islands, situated in the neighborhood of the Chinese Sea. The people of these Islands are asserted, by those who have visited them, to be ignorant of arms, and of the art and practice of war. As might be expected under such circumstances, they are found to be a people singularly agreeable in their tempers and manners; distinguished for their honesty and integrity; well acquainted with agriculture, and also with some of the mechanical and manufacturing arts. does not appear that their ignorance of war, and their reliance on pacific principles renders them more insecure than other nations; their benevolent and pacific character is the pledge of their security; they live in peace among themselves and with others, and are happy. It The mention of this singular people naturally reminds us of their neighbors, the Chinese. It is well understood, that the Chinese are almost entirely destitute of military resources and power; nor do they appear to have any military aptitudes and dispositions. But what nation stands more secure! What nation has experienced fewer violations of its territory, or fewer infractions of its rights! It is with them, as it was with the Romans in the time of Numa Pompilius. Before the time of that king, Rome was at war with all the neighboring nations; a great portion of Italy was constantly in arms; and no name |