Mr. W. Birch, a Manchester merchant, who is engaged in
a crusade against war, has extracted from Dr. Fraser, the Bishop of Machester, a letter sympathising with his aim, and intimating that though there may be wars which are the only remedies possible for some foul or crying wrong, and which are, therefore, the less of two evils, still modern wars have been " mostly prompted by greed, or jealousy, or fear," and can therefore rarely be justified even on that modest plea. Dr. Fraser adds that in any case it must be right to pray that God would turn the hearts of " the people that delight in war." For this letter Mr. Birch seems profoundly grateful, de- claring that this is the first time " that a Christian minister had formally and openly expressed sympathy with him in his crusade against war." Surely Mr. Birch must be under some delusion. We hardly know any one, however determined not to pledge him- self to the views of the Peace Society, who would not go as far,—or very nearly as far,—as the Bishop of Manchester. Possibly many would deny that the great majority of modern wars,—say, of the wars of this century,—have been prompted by " greed, or jealousy, or fear." Assuredly the invasion of the South by the American Union cannot be said to have been so prompted, nor can the Russian invasion of Turkey be fitly so described. But with slight reservations, Dr. Fraser's view would be the view of all thinking Englishmen. Mr. Birch has evidently a grateful heart. Small mercies fill him with great thankfulness.
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