and if, in his view, the honor of a nation may be raised, by a display of this kind of virtue ; then as soon as these things shall be satisfactorily proved, we may be certain, that Jesus was an impostor, and that Mahomet had higher claims to be regarded as a teacher sent from God. But at the same time another conclusion will force itself on the mind, in respect to the moral character of Jehovah, which is too horrid to be expressed.

SIR,

LETTER V.

PATRIOTISM is another thing which requires examination. Like the delusive terms," Liberty and equality," as used in the French revolution, and often with a view to cover the basest designs; so the word patriotism is frequently in the mouths of vindictive war-makers, as a charm, to hurry men to destruction. As patriotism means "love of one's own country," we surely ought to understand by it, love to the lives, the privileges, the virtue, the peace, the prosperity, and the happiness of the community of which we are members.

But as valor and skill in the work of human butchery, are now regarded as the cardinal virtues-and as the honor of a nation is supposed to be exalted by a display of such virtues; so patriotism is made to consist in an enthusiasm to support government, in making and carrying on a war, which gives opportunity for the display of the wonderful virtues, and to exalt the glory of a nation.

One man ardently wishes to preserve his countrymen from the miseries of war, and from the folly and madness of sacrificing their lives to the pagan idol honor-and would sooner lay down his own life to preserve the peace of his country, than be an instrument of involving it in the sins and calamities of war-He is considered as no patriot, but ra ther as an enemy to his country.

But another man loves his country so well, that he is willing to sacrifice fifty or a hundred thousand of his fellow citizens in war, rather than to endure any insult or injury from a foreign power-Here is patriotism, which will raise a man to the skies! No language is sufficient to express his praise! But if

this may be called patriotism, it is patriotism with a vengeance against the best interests of his own country-a patriotism which calls evil good and good evil, and which is murderous in proportion as it is ardent.

Such love of country is like the love of the papists for the pagans, whom they converted with the sword, killing off one part of a nation, and subjecting those to slavery who chose to be baptized rather than slain. While these lovers of the pagans pretended to bless them with the gospel of salvation, they either deprived them of life, or of the blessings which render life desirable. In a similar manner, the popular patriotism blesses a nation with the honor of being brave to fight, but it is at the expense of killing off a large number of the citizens, and subjecting the survivors to poverty, taxation, mourning, and woe; and not unfrequently to the chains of despotism.

My mind has been so engrossed with my subject, that I had almost forgotten that I was addressing your Excellency; but your candor will excuse such inattentions as may have resuited from an enthusiasm to save the lives of men, and to preserve my country from another war. My present views of patriotism were not cast in the popular mould; but I think, should they prevail, they will be found conducive to the tranquillity and happiness of mankind; and this is an object worthy to be sought with ardor. Should you doubt the correctness of my views of patriotism, I wish you to compare them with the patriotism of the Savior of men. At present I feel disposed to regard Him as my pattern, rather than those I formerly followed. However much he might have been insulted, he would not, I think, have fought a duel, to vindicate his honor; yet few persons have displayed more intrepidity of character, than appeared in him. Nor do I think he would have advised a ruler to plunge his nation into the horrid abyss of war, that its virtue might be displayed, and its honor advanced by bravely slaughtering the innocent people of another country. And is it not a circumstance worthy of some notice, that in pronouncing his benedictions, on virtuous characters, such as the "merciful," the "peace makers," &c. he omitted to say"Blessed are the war makers; for they shall be called true patriots." This omission has impressed my mind with a belief,

that the common encomiums on fighting men, are not very sure passports to the joys of h aven, nor much to be relied on as recommendations to divine favor.

In my next, I intend to give a brief illustration of the mistakes relating to national honor, virtue, and patriotism.

LETTER VI.

SIR,

In my last, I promised an illustration.

You will recol

death for a dissent from the That custom will favor us

lect the allusion you made in our interview, to the custom of our ancestors in putting men to majority in religious opinions. with a striking illustration of the points before us, and of the fatal consequences which result from false notions of honor, virtue, and patriotism.

In former ages, when the custom prevailed to which you alluded, it was supposed that the honor of the Christian church required, that dissenters from the orthodox faith should be put to death; and that by such sacrifices the purity of the church was preserved, and its honor secured and advanced. Having imbibed this false principle respecting the honor of the church, our ancestors were very naturally led to another most dreadful mistake—namely, that a flaming zeal to destroy supposed heretics, was love to the honor and best interests of Christ and his kingdom. By these two false principles, the peace and happiness of the church were in a great measure destroyed, and millions of lives were sacrificed.

Your excellency will agree with me, that the honor of a Christian church results from the display of mutual love, fidelity, forbearance, and kindness among its members, in conformity to the commands of their Lord and Savior; and not from making such havoc of each other's lives, on account of some differences in opinion. You will also agree with me, that those ancient Christians were under an awful mistake, in supposing that their burning zeal for the slaughter of dissenting brethren, was any thing of the nature of that love, which Jesus required of his followers, and which he himself exemplified.

Imay now appeal to the good sense of your excellency, and ask, Were these ancient mistakes respecting the honor of the church, and love to its best interest, any greater than the mistakes which then prevailed, and which still prevail, respecting the honor of a nation and love of country? And have not the latter mistakes occasioned a hundred fold more desolation and misery than the former ?

Is it not, sir, a fact, that in every sanguinary custom, which was ever popular among men, some false notion of honor has been established, with corresponding ideas of virtue? Is not this as strictly true of every other sanguinary custom, as of duelling, and burning men for their religious opinions? I believe sir, that on reflection, you will be convinced, that such is the truth of facts; and that most of those who have ridiculed the fanaticism of papists and protestants of former ages, are themselves as really fanatics in regard to the custom of war, the honor of a nation, the virtue of fighting bravely, and love of country. The custom of war is supported by a fanaticism as black and as bloody, as any that can be named. You will remember who said, “As to fanatics, I am not acquainted with any persons more deserving of that name, than those who will wantonly sacrifice their own lives and the lives of others, to false principles of honor, without any prospect of advantage to themselves, their families, or their country:" Nor is it possible for you to deny that more human lives have been thus wantonly sacrificed in war, than by every other species of fanaticism, that ever existed on the face of the earth.

For a long period of time, the papal clergy claimed the right of condemning men to suffer death, who happened to dissent from their creed. This conduct, I presume, you disapprove ; and you probably wonder how clergymen could be so deluded, as to imagine they had any such right; and how other classes of people could be prevailed on to submit to such daring usurpation, over the consciences and lives of men. But there are questions, which every protestant ruler may well address to his own conscience :-What right have I to entice, or to compel, those under my government, to arm themselves with weapons of death, and enter the ranks of an army, for the

purpose of slaughtering the unoffending subjects of a foreign government? Is not the power I assume over the lives of men, as positively unjust and inhuman, as the power assumed by the papal clergy? And is it not wonderful, that any intelligent community can be so deluded, as to think I have of right any such power?

This subject, sir, I could pursue, had I leisure for the purpose; but to save some labor to myself, and still do what I can in this all important cause, I shall enclose with this, a copy of a "Review of the power assumed by rulers, over the lives of men and the laws of God, in making war." This review was written by a person, with whom I have some acquaintance; but, I believe, without any expectation that it would ever fal! into your hands. I am, however, permitted to send it to you, en this condition, that you should be informed, that the writer intended the piece as a general review of the subject, without any particular application to the rulers of one nation rather than another; and that it is far from his wish, to excite enmity against the rulers of his own nation. While he thinks they have erred, he wishes them well, and hopes they never will err in like manner again.

Your excellency will perceive that the sentiments of the Review, at least many of them, accord with those I have had the pleasure of communicating. If the author is correct on the point he has discussed, as I prevailingly think he is, there is an alarming error in the world on that subject, and a tremendous retribution awaits those who assume the power of making war. But your excellency professed a desire to know the truth, and a determination to read with candor, and to judge impartially. This must be my apology, if I need any, for the freedom I have indulged in my letters, and for sending the Review. With sincere desires for your happiness, and a hope that your last days may be your best,

I am, sir, sincerely yours,

OMAR.