Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-06
THE COST OF WAR.


The following comments on the cost Of war
with Russia are from the London. Times Though
intcaded more particularly to represent the great
stake that England has in maintaining peace in
Europe, the comments also have general applica-
tion and will suit this quarter nearly as we'll as
England 1t is all very well to talk of the glory
Of war, but the cost OF war is consideration Of
infinitely greater Importance, though its consdera-
ton with the multitude is generally left till the cost
has been incurred and its magnitude forces it
upon the public attention. CThe masses little feel
it and doA't think of it at all.]-Ledger.
By way Of set-of against the novelty, the excite
ment the enterprise, the popularity, and the possible
glory of with Russia let just sit down and
the cost We could shut up the naval power of Russia
in the Black Sea and the Baltic by costly fleets both
stations steam always up wind and water always hav
ing their way We could easily enable Turkey to make
desperate fight by enormous subsidies. We could pro-
tect commerce from Yankee privateers asd other
easy gentlemen who could take out letters of
narque from Russia by to the old system of
merchantmen sailing, like wild geese in flights, with
rigate or two leading the way We cond suspend the
whole foreign of Russia by process which
would double the price of corn, hemp and talow.
We could engage half the continent side of the
quarrel by surrenderng every other question of honor
duty interest happen to have with each separate
national debt We could stop it at pleasure by OIL
lowing Russia take all she wants. with little over for
demurrage. With proporonate brides we could secure
the concurrence Of other nations
On the other hand, al the nations of Europe would
be bankrupt their principal creditors being in this me-
troPos. Their manufactures and commerce would be
ruined 10 the injury OF those who what they
make and make for them in return We are all SO bound
together that is hard to say whether material conse
quences we should suffer by victory or by defeat
1t is unhappness have the largest stake in peace
all nations the face of the earth and go long as we
stick to that game to win The most ortho-,
dox var ever fought is only an Irishnans row, game
Of cracked skulls and bloody noses very amusing to
those whose clothing is of little value and whose natural
ntegument is rather hard but far from amusing to
gentleman who has paid five guineas for his coat and
whose face is susceptible Of contusions There is not
point in which that immense glass house which we call
the British Empire is not liable to damage A man
that hath Children, says Bacon hath given pledges to
fortune We have children; we have colonies we have
dependencies, have ships have investments loans
railways private debts all over the world By dint of
hard peacemaking manage keep our creditors in
olerable order They pay omnibus horse does its
work, BY the momentum Of its misery by being kept
harness, well up, and continually logged. Once give
them the opportunity of war; and that general dissolu-
ton of morals that is to ensue ard every quarter
day will add to your deaulters All this of course is
very extrneous to the real merits Of the present ques
ton. Those merits we do not here discuss But you
have known people who in private life went to law or
rather resisted actions when the right most clearly
their sde and when the verdict given according
~ but who nevertheless lost thereby both purse and
in fame having to suffer much annoyance pay large
costs and to incur also the reputation Of being tgious
and troublesome fellows That which happens in the re-
gular and genial atmosphere Of English society and un
der the pure and impeeeabe administration of English
justice may easily happen in the society and forum and
Of nations, viz that the prosecution Of the uses
quarrel may entail martyrs obloquy and cross"