Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-05-14
COST OF THE MILITARY.
Mr.. CLEmRar

Hoheg, III aIlHS tue WaTcn OF Inc SOldler, ana are
learning to take up one foot, and set down the
other at the tap of the drum. | believe they
have too much sense left yet, TO do this in public
by ylight-but am informed that few nights
since, under lis sable cover, few of them were
discovered by the boys, engaged in this dumb ri
dculons pastime (to call it no harsher name)
My object in his communication, is to give
you few facts and figures with reference to the
cost OF this horrible science, which is used only
for the butchery Of mankind AS it regards its
impiey, audit cashings with the spirit of Christ
ianily, leave that matter to be settled by those
who profess to be guided by the maxims of the
'Son of God" and are yet engaged in the prac
lice or the encouragement of Military Science.
| hope no individual can be found VINO would
cultivate the formation of a military company
for what associative or political advantages it
may be to him, and hence shall address myself
to plain figures and uncontroverted facts.
Mr.. Upham in his Manual of Peace, shows
the cost of the army and navy of the United
States to be eighty per cent. OF all the expendi-
lures of our Government. The mean annual
appropriations for Government expenses for six
years, ending with 1910 were about s26 900, 900.
Of this, an average each year Of S2l 100000
were for the army and navy. And during the
Mexican War, the whole expenses of the army
and navy, were vastly increased. most OK
travagant and ridiculous idea seems TO have per
vaded the minds of men with reference TO the
manner of maintaining "peace on earth"-and
the motto has been, lin time of peace pref are
for war" | venture to say that no more mon
strous idea was ever conceived. Ii has so little
philosophy and common sense in il, that man dis
plays want of intelligence, if he undertakes to
argue the folly of it, On most other subjects a
maniS allUwedto know something from intuition
or experimental as soon as the proprioIy or
correctness OF this motto is called in question !;
the military spirit, which now rules the nation as
heretofore, calls him an infatuated fanatic
For common man now-a-d days to call the sys-
tenn barbarous, wicked and unclriStian, would
bring down upon his head the wrath and male
dictious Of the miiitary-tited followers Of the
"Prnce of Pence"
From the establishment Of the Government,
after the revolution. down TO 1913, the whole eX-
pense Of onr military and naval establishment
has been 1888 ,964,278. And all this time, cx-
cept the three years war with England, we were
at peace with all nations, except short skirinish
with the Burbary powers. A most incredible sum
for the preservation Of peace, by preparation for
war; seven times as much as was dedicated by
the Government for all other purposes.
And yet our young met; arc urged to study
and practice an art, which is debasing in itself,
and too costly tor men who earn by honest toll
their daily bread" to engage in for amusement,
and too silly to command the attention and re-
spect of a mature and cultivated mind.
Wars, and preparations for wars, have cost the
United States vastly more than oil other public
objects of u national or social character One
,of our ships of the line, the Delaware, (and the
rest are not far behind,) cost over 81 ,OO0,O 600
More than the endowments of all our colleges
Oeaving ont the Smithsonian Institute. which
was endowed by benevolent foregner,) in the
country. And what are all our expenses for
educational purposes compared with our nation
al expenditures for offence and show Of de-
fence
We know that the pulpits and presses of the land
nave succum5ed to the infatuation and dclusiun
which prevails IN the subject. Because it hes
been, seems to be the reason that this horrible
tate o! things must always continue.
Because the Cloths and Vandnls of barbarors
and unenlightened ages, taught their sons the
science OF murder by wholesale; therefore en-
| ightencd christians of this more enlightened
age. must continue a practice which swallows
ND more Of the wealth Of hard earned toll than
has ever been expended for educating men in the
! knowledge Of important, science or teaching them
those truths which are sable to make them wise
unto salvation"
But we are told this preparation and armament
is necessary to protect our coast from robbers
and the sea from pirates. Ridiculous !
We have no use for any of our large ships
Of war; for, so far as the suppression ofthe Slave
trade and other piracies are concerned, they are
useless, as smaller and speedier vessels are alone
available for these purposes. Then Of what ad-
vantage arc they The great argument of pro-
lection TO our commerce, at such an expense, is
very untenable. Il is said by Mr.. Sumner, Of
Massachusetts, now Senator in Congress, that
Gan intelligent merchant who had been extern
,iyely engaged in commerce for the last twenty
years, and who speaks, therefore, with experience
{ of knowledge, has demo nstrated, in pamphlet
! OF perfect clearncss, that the annual profits Of
/ the whole mercantile marine Of the country, do
not equal the annual expenditure of our navy"
! And if all this naval and military outlay was
necessary for the protection of New York and
( Boston, against invaders from the Cape de Verbs
and Hay,-we Of the west have a right to com
/ plain. OF wha, advantage is it to Us? Con-
gress cannot be induced 10 invest a cent for an
appropriation TO our ha:hors, by which our ma
rine property may be protected, and the millions
of lives which travel upon the lakes may be sa-
we'd.
These millions are voted ostensibly to the ar
my and navy, (whiIe others consider it for the
protection Of foreign commerce y but the same
! lavish government has not one cell, for the in