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Editorial
September 2, 1790
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
This editorial criticizes attempts to justify war through systematic 'rights,' portraying it as large-scale theft, robbery, murder, and burglary, and argues that greater numbers in aggression amplify the guilt due to increased potential for harm.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
Many elaborate volumes have been written to ascertain the rights of war; as if murder and devastation, things essentially wrong, could be reduced to right by system. For what is war, but theft and robbery on a great scale? As burglary is nothing but a siege in miniature. Yet we do not find that the rights of theft, robbery, murder and burglary, have been as yet defended.
The numbers concerned in any aggression, are so far from diminishing the guilt of the action, that they increase it in proportion to those numbers, because they can do more mischief than a few.
The numbers concerned in any aggression, are so far from diminishing the guilt of the action, that they increase it in proportion to those numbers, because they can do more mischief than a few.
What sub-type of article is it?
War Or Peace
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Rights Of War
War As Theft
Moral Guilt
Aggression
Devastation
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of The Rights Of War
Stance / Tone
Moral Condemnation Of War
Key Arguments
War Cannot Be Justified As Right Despite Elaborate Defenses
War Is Theft And Robbery On A Great Scale
Burglary Is A Siege In Miniature
Rights Of Theft, Robbery, Murder, And Burglary Are Not Defended
Numbers In Aggression Increase Guilt Proportionally As They Enable More Mischief