Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-01-31
organ Poor little organ
The Burdens of the War.

We have had various and contradictory accounts
of the effect; Of the war upon the Lelligcrent Pow
err. The French AMI English papers represent that
the scycre>t suffering has been inflicted upon the
whole population of Russia The mobiles are reduced
to poverty aud distress and many of them are ca
ger TO cmgrate, in consequence of the exorbitHnt
taxes imposed upon them while the peasants, las
the sweeping conScripuons, driven to the wars
like cattle and their families left at home to staryt
The Russians the other hand send forth accounts
OF an entirely different character. They represent
their Internal condition to be very good The re-
sources of the Empire, said TO he iuexhausuble, are
untouched The population is more than sufficient
for all the Il demands Of peace and war The people
rush with enthusiasm to the defence Of "holy Rus
STA while more than enough are LEFT at home ~ take
of the uxuriant haryests.
There ], prOblbiy eXaggeration Oh both sides
Russia is not yet reduced to desperation neither is
She in the most ilourishing condition that nation
ever knew. The conscription,, the most rigorous
ever recorded iumiiary aunals-npt excepting those
Of Napoleon in 'li-lJ-must tell di>tstrou,ly upon
the happiness Of the people. Their commcrci,
prosperity is quite annihiated All the product, of
her vast territory debarrcl from the trade of tine
world except such article, a may be snugsi.d
across the Prl,,ian frontier after a long and costly
land carrngc An agricultural people when rid of
the presence Of an invading army can endure loi-
ger than a commercial community. the calanities of
war. tutiI their houses are burnt AMI their fields
laid waste. they may uphold their national indepru-
dence. But their ,ulerngs may nevertheless be in.
tense from war upon their borders Such we take
to he the with the greater portion Of the Ru
sian popu.ation-and their ,u1lrings will continue
anl be aggravated by "a continuance Of war.
II is common ia American papers 20 represent the
English people as suffering greatly from the war
We see no evidences Of such a state OF Things, The
commonalty Of England appear 10 be enjoying a very
high state of prosperity. The Turning interest is
reaping rich harvest u the price Of bread,tuir.. and
every portion Of the laboring population. by tine Eel,
vance in wages share the agricultural prosperity.
The mechanics, n consequence OF the vast Jobs which
the government have in hand have a- much labor 70.
they do at war prices. The cotton manufacturer.
10 was generally supposed would suffer most Blu
new markets IN the East having been opened TO thc,
products they quite iOurishins as their neigh
bors
4 letter ~ the London Times from the interior ii
Ireland speaks Of the condition Of that improydeu
race na bhs,lul beyond all precedent The price ID
grain and the price Of labor has been 30 high tin
not "a Paddy is o. be met with who has not money
his rocket The statement is marvellous aud almo.
Incredible
The pcruniary burdens fall almost exclusively q
the aristocracy the money lenders snd those who l'
on monied incomes These are able TO bear the bu
dcn. aud tho lab1rcrs Of every hue reap the profit
We suspect that France naturally poor countr
and whose pcasantry have no extra crust even
good timos has suffered from the war than eve
Russia The only kind Of war that country ever d
relish. is one in which she bivouac her armies
free quarters in an enemy's territory