Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-08-06
NUMBER SO.
From Theodore Parker's Sermon
The Cost Of War.

" Your fleets, forts, dock-yards, afsensls, can
mons, muskets, swords, and the like, are provided
at great cost, aud yet improbable. They don't
pay. They cloth T; they bake no bread
they produce nothing. Yet from 1871 to 1892, in
10 years. we expended in these things, 1903 3D.
576 namely, for the navy, SC, SIZE, 703 1913, for
the army, &c, $3.50 53s ,643. For the same time,
all other expenses Of the nation came to but S37.-
l5S047 More than eight ninths Of the whole rev
enue Of the nation spent for the purpose fwar
In four years, from 1912 TO 1916, we paid in this
way. So, $50, 5l0,37. In six years, from IS35 to
lS40. we paid annually on the average S2I BE-
903 in all 1927 ,973, AIS. Our Congress has Just
voted sl7, 000,0 900 as a special grant for the army
alone. The 49, Is muskets at Springfield are
valued at 81, 100000. We pay annually 5000 900
to support that arsenal. The navy yard at Charles
town, with its stores. &c, has cost 4,74l 000.-
Now for all profitable returns, this might as well be
sunk in the bottom Of the sea.
II the President gets his fifty thousand volunteers
"a thing likely TO happen, for though Irish lump
and bod men want dollar and dollar and Il
half day. your free Americans of Boston will list
for twentYseTen cents, only having his livery his
feathers, and his glory thrown in-then al IS
month, their wages amount 10 100000 Suppose
the present government shall actually make advan-
tsgeous contracts and the subsistence the soldier
cost more than in England, or Sl7 month, this
amounts TO Ss50000. Here are 81 $50, 900 to be-
gin with. Then il each man would be worth dol
lar day Al any productive work, and there are 26
working days in the month, here are { 100000
to be added, making 81, $50 900 month for
the new army Of occupation.
IN the Florida spent between go, 000-
600 and $40, 600 600, eminent statesman
SAID in fighting FIVE hundred invisible Indians
II is estimated that the Notifications Of the city Of
Paris when completely finished. will cost more than
the whole taxable property Of Massachusetts, with
81
for the army is SI7, 100000. The estimate for the
navy is 81, 600 900 more; in all s23, 1000, 00O.-
Suppose, which is most unlikely, that we should
pay more, why that alone would support
public schools, good and as costly those OF
Massachusetts,, all the United States, offering
each boy aud girl-bond or free-as good culture
they get here in Boston. and then leave balance
Of $4,000, 600 in our hands We pay more for ig-
norance than we need for education
For several years spent directly more than
s21 600 900 for war purposes. though in time Of
peace. II railroad cost $50 900 mile, then we
might build 700 miles year for that sum, and in
Eve years could build railroad Herewith from Bos-
ton to the farther side OF Oregon. For the war
money we paid in 10 years, could have had more
than III 900 miles of railroad, and with divi-
dends at per cent-a yearly income Of $aI 2IO-
600. For military and naval affairs. in eight years
from 1885 to 1913, we paid Sl63, 1886, 7I7. This
alone would have made s. Al miles of railroad and
would produce at per cent annual income Of
SII ABS, 57S TO-
The navy yard at Charlestown with its ordnance
stores &C. cost 81, 74I 600 The cost Of the IS
churches in Boston is SO 246 $50; the whole prop
erty of Harvard University is s703,l75 the 1855
school-houses Of Boston worth S703, pos in all
1868, $50. Thus the navy yard at Charlestown
has cost $50, liz more than the % churches and
the l55 school houses OF Boston, with Harvard
College, its halls, libraries, and all its wealth thrown
in. Yet what does it teach -