Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-09-10
THE COST OF WAR

Here figures appear to lose their func-
tions. They seen to pant, as they toll
vainly to represent the enormous sums
consumed in this unparalleled waste
Our own experience, measured by the
concerns of common life, does not allow
us adequately to conceive these SUMS
Like the periods of geological time, or
The distances of the fixed stars, they baf-
le the imagination. Look, for instance
at The cost of this system to the United
States. Without making any allowance
for the loss sustained by the withdrawal
of active men from productive industry,
we find that from the adoption of the
Federal Constitution down to 1s4S, there
has been paid from the National Treasu-
ry-for the army and Notifications,
1886, us, ,2O9; for the navy and its op-
erations, S2O9, ,994, 429; total, $780,
707, ,637. This amount OF itself IS i'm
mense. But this not all. Regarding
The militia as part of the war system,
we must add a moderate estimate for It's
cost during this period, which, accord
ing to the calculations of an able and ac-
curate economist, may be placed at ST.
100000, 900. The whole presents an in
conceivable sum total of more than two
thousand million of dollars, which have
been dedicated by our Government to
the support of the war system-more
than seven times as much as was set
apart by the Government, during the
same period, to all other purposes what
soever
Look now at the commonwealth Of Eu-
ropean States. l do not intend to speak
of the war debts, under whose accumu-
lated weight these States are now press
ed to The earth. These are the terrible
legacy of the past. 1 refer directly to
the existing war system, the establish
ment of the present. According to re-
cent calculations, its annual cost is not
less than a thousand million of dollars.
Endeavor for moment, by comparison
with other interests, to grapple with this
sum.
1t is larger than the entire profit of all
tee commerce and manufac lures of the
world
1t is larger than all the expenditure for
agricultural labor, for the production of
food for man, upon the whole face of the
globe.
1t is larger, by a hundred million
than the amount of all the export of all
the nations of the earth.
Itis larger, by more than five hundred
million, than the value of all the shipping
of the civilized world.
1t is larger, by nine hundred and
ninety seven million, than the annual
combined charities Europe and Amer
lea for preaching the gospel to the heath
en-.
Yes the commonwealth Of Christian
States, including our own country, ap-
without hesitation, as a mat
ter of course. upward of thousand mil
I;on of dollars annually to the mainten
ance of the war system, and vaunts its
Two million of dollars, laboriously col
ected, for diffusing the light of the gos-
pei in foreign lands With untold prod
gality of cost it perpetuates the worse
leaLhcnism of war, while, by charities
in comparison, it doles TO
.he heather the message of peace. Al ]
home it breeds. and fattens a cloud of
eagles and vultures, trained to swoop
upon the land; TO all the Gentiles across
he sea it dismisses solitary dove.
Still further every ship of war that
ioats costs more than well endowed
college.