One of the most influential leaders in attempting to build a more holistic and inclusive peace movement was Elihu Burritt, described by Beales as “the greatest name in the history of American pacifism.” Unlike other early peace leaders Burritt was born into poverty. He learned the blacksmith’s trade as a young man, but was also a voracious reader and student of languages. He tried to establish himself as an itinerant merchant but was unsuccessful and had to return to the forge. He continued to hone his literary and linguistic skills, however, and eventually found success as a lecturer and independent publisher. Billing himself “the learned blacksmith” Burritt lectured far and wide on social reform issues and published his own weekly paper, The Christian Citizen. Burritt was an absolute pacifist who was deeply influenced by the Christian message of love and compassion. He was committed to many social reforms, but his greatest passion was for peace. He considered war the “sin of sins,” and believed that genuine social reform would not be possible until Christianity ended its “unnatural, ungodly wedlock with . . . the fiendish spirit of War.” Burritt was uncompromising in his rejection of war, but he was nonsectarian and inclusive in his organizing and public education efforts. He attempted to bridge class lines and reached out to the working class as well as the literate middle class. Burritt was indefatigable in his dedication to social reform and devoted most of his adult life to “superhuman labour” on behalf of peace. He was uncomfortable with the conservativism of the APS and yearned for a more broadly based visionary movement to end war. He traveled to Europe and was especially popular among activists in France and Belgium. During a visit to Britain in 1846 Burritt decided to create a new organization, the League of Universal Brotherhood (LUB). The LUB was opposed to war absolutely, but it also condemned slavery and other forms of social injustice that divide human communities and cause armed violence. The league promoted human solidarity among people of all colors and classes. Borrowing from the temperance movement, which organized support on the basis of a pledge to refrain from drinking, Burritt composed a peace pledge that committed signers to affirm human brotherhood and refrain from any form of support for war. Burritt promoted the LUB in Europe, while colleagues established a US branch. Within six months the LUB claimed the support of more than 30,000 people in Britain and 25,000 in the United States, including many signers from the working class and rural communities. The LUB lasted only about a dozen years, but it was the largest and most inclusive peace organization up to that time. It was also the first genuinely international peace organization, although mostly AngloAmerican. The success of the LUB owed much to Burritt’s irrepressible dedication and energy, but it also reflected the advantages of a nonsectarian, inclusive approach to pacifism.
Pacifism, Promotion of Peace and Political Dilemmas
