Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-03-22


prehensible. The annual interest of the war
debts amounted to twice the rental Of Great
Britain and Ireland, which in 1910, was forty
seven millions sterling. The whole CONNER
cial shipping of the Cvilised world was esti-
mated at the present day, to amount to nine
million tons, and new ship averaged III. per
ton so if the whole Of this shipping was to be
entirely destroyed it could be replaced for
ninety-nine millions sterling, or the ANIMAL
interest of the war debts of Chrstendom. 1t
would absorb the entire profits of eight hun
dred and forty millions sterling invested in
manufactures, at an annual gain of twelve and
half per cent. and he would appeal to any
one whether there was more than this value
manufactured in the whole civised world
lie begged however, while making these
statements, to be permitted to say, in the name
of the working population in this and every
other country in Christendom-a class 10
which he was proud to belong-(cheers)-
that they did not wish to repudiate one far
thing OF the interest or principal Of this mi ghty
debt. They were now discussing the ways
and means by which they might not only pay
the interest but every farthing Of the principal,
and'thus relieve the necks of unborn millions
of that mighty mcumbus which had held theirs
to the earth.-t tCheers.) 1t might be suppos-
ed that with such an enormous burden as they
already bear, the people would he jealous of
any other burdens being imposed from the
same source but what was the fact Why,
it was estimated that the annual cost Of the
preparations for war in Europe amounted 10 no
less sum than two hundred millions sterling.
For the fft zen years terminating with 1916,
the exports of the United Kingdom had reach
ed annually the value of forty eight millions,
so that it would take the entire exports of four
such nations to meet ffo annual expense of
the "peace establishments of Europe. IL
would absorb the entire profits Of two thou
sand five hundred millions sterling invested in
commerce and manufactures, at gain of IL
Il l-2 per cent ; and he would ask them if il
| could be possible that there could be tins
amount thus invested in the whole civilized
world BY volume published in London,
called The Year Book Of Christian Missions,
it appeared that there were twenty-five large
societies in Europe and America entirely de-
| voted to missionary labor-nine being on the
Continent, ten in England, and six in the Uni
ed States. The aggregate amount of contri-
buttons was stated last year at 50OOOOL, OF
| which 80 ,OOOl was collected on the Continent,
| $50, ,00Oi. in England and Scotland, and l0O,,
| COOl. in the United States This large con-
tribution was calculated to inspire the heart OF
the Christian with gratitude and delight; but
when they came to compare it with the amount
spent in preparations for war, they must be
struck with its nsignifcance. For instance,
the Christian nations of Europe and America
appropriated every day in preparing for wal
no less than sac, ,OOOl., while they only appro
| priated ,Gl0i, for the conversion of the hea
! then world or, 10 make the comparison more
des,inct, II. for war for every half-penny fo
spreading the Gospel. Was not this million'
the two items together--lhe burden o
wars past and prospcctive-they would have
three hundred millions sterling drawn from thu
people of Chrstendom every year. Where
would they find an actual value sufficient t.
measure this amount The total annual valu'
of the exports of all the nations of Enrop'
| was estimated at two hundred and eighty mil
lions sterling, or twenty millions less than tn
amount paid every year for wars past and pro
I spcctve. This sum would support one mil
lion ministers ofthe Gospel, giving each 300
| a year, and supposing each congregation
consist of a thousand, i, would cover the eA
pense of mparting religious instruction to
thousand millions of human beings, or popt
la,ion larger than that of the globe at the pres
ent moment The armed peace establishmer
of Great Britain. from 1915 to l845 (3l years
had cost sos, 600, ,000l., or an average OF l6
. 2li ,OOOl a year and the great excuse whic
was urged for all this was the iprotection I
| the commerce Of the country. This motor
however was false and preposierous, for tn
reason, the commerce which was to be prote
1 ted did not belong to any one ration by l'sel
Il They had all one interest in it, and the who
were arming against each other for tie pr
lection of an interest which they had IN con
mon.
Newport, March 20, 40.
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