DANGERS OF WAR.—REPLY TO MR GORDON FORLONG.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6383, 28 July 1882, Page 4

DANGERS OF WAR.—REPLY TO MR GORDON FORLONG.

TO THE BDITO.K,

Sib,—Why does M.r Qordon Forlong, who professes to be a Christian minister, and whose duty it should be to do all in his power to forward Christ's teaching, continually write letters to your paper urging us virtually to prepare for war, which is essentially anti-Christian? I was ashamed to think that any Christian man, and especially a minister, should so far have forgotten himself as to urge m, to, prepare for war. We don't want tq fight Russia, and I don't think I am far- wrong in saying that Russia would rather not fight us. Then why this Russian scare ?

I wauld also point ou,t thAt if natisns wish to avoid war, the only way to do so effectually is to absolutely ignore military preparations. Mr G. F. is perhaps unaware that there is in existence a society which is known as the Peace Society, whose fundamental principle is that when two or more nations cannot agree their differences should be settled by international arbitration. This, I might point out, is always the result of war. Then why not arbitrate before bloodshed and murder, and so avoid it ?

I would also draw his attention to tho fact that there have been Alabama, Berlin, and several other conferences which have averted war. What, then, does this point to ? This— viz., that all right-minded men have come to the conclusion that war should bo a thing of the past, and that it is possible to settle all differences by arbitration. • This being the case, the best method of prolonging the peSce which we now happily enjoy in this Colony is for the ministers of this city to assist the Peace Society "at Home, and thus prove themselves to be ministers of peace on earth and goodwill towards men. —I am, &c, Peace. July 26th.