To all defenders of freedom or country the heart goes forth with cordial, spontaneous sympathy. May God defend the right! Their cause, whether in victory or defeat, is invested with the interest which from the time of Abel has attached to all who suffer from the violence of a brother-man. But their unhappy strife belongs to the DISHONORABLE BARBARISM of the age,--like the cannibalism of an earlier period, or the slavery of our own day. Not questioning the right of self-defence, or undertaking to consider the sanctions of the _Institution_ of War as an established Arbiter of Justice between nations, or its necessity in our age, all may join in regarding it as an _unchristian institution_, and a _melancholy necessity_, offensive in the sight of God, and hostile to the best interests of men. A field of battle is a scene of execution _according to the laws of war_,--without trial or judgment, but with a thousand Jack Ketches in the odious work.[222] And yet the acts of hardihood and skill here displayed are entitled "brilliant"; the movements of the executioners in gay apparel are praised as "brilliant"; the destruction of life is "brilliant"; the results of the _auto da fé_ are "brilliant"; the day of this mournful tragedy is enrolled as "brilliant"; and Christians are summoned to commemorate with _honor_ a scene which should rather pass from the recollection of men. [222] A brilliant writer, who never fails to exalt war, recognizes the parallel between the soldier and the executioner; but he finds the soldier so noble as to ennoble even the work of the executioner, when called to perform it.--Joseph de Maistre, Les Soirées de Saint-Pétersbourg, Tom. II. pp. 4-13. The example even of martial Rome may here teach us one great lesson. Recognizing the fellowship of a common country, conflicts between citizens were condemned as _fratricidal_. _Civil_ war was branded as _guilt_ and _crime_. The array of opposing forces, drawn from the bosom of the same community, knit together by the same political ties, was pronounced _impious_, even where they appeared under such cherished names as Pompey and Cæsar:-- "_Impia_ concurrunt Pompeii et Cæsaris arma."[223] As the natural consequence, victories in these fraternal feuds were held to be not only unworthy of praise, but never to be mentioned without blame. Even if countenanced by _justice_ or dire _necessity_, they were none the less mournful. _No success over brethren of the same country could be the foundation of honor._ And so firmly was this principle embodied in the very customs and institutions of Rome, that no _thanksgiving_ or religious ceremony was allowed by the Senate in commemoration of such success; nor was the _triumph_ permitted to the conquering chief whose hands were red with the blood of fellow-citizens. Cæsar forbore even to send a herald of his unhappy victories, and looked upon them with _shame_.[224] [223] Lucan, Pharsalia, Lib. VII. 196.