New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-15
CURRENT TOPICS.

There are some facts touching events now
transpirng before the public which it is important
for all to know and remember. In the fret
place, q great war 10 new thing to this gen.
GRAFTON; hence its enormous cost at first created
a general alarm, the people seeming to take 1t
for granted that they, instead of the Govern
ment, we're 10 pay for it, and that the money it
might require was to be all sunk. They now
begin to discover that the contrary is exactly
the case, and that the money, instead of leaving
the country, merely leaves the public cofers to
90 into their own pockets. Instead of their
being impoverished, thousands Of them will be
kept fully employed, while hundreds will be
made positively rich. Then Us to the great cost
of the war. The frat idea was that it would
exceed in costiness any other ever undertaken.
But the history of European warn puts very
different face on the matter. We grant that
this will be an expensive contest, but Il does not
threaten to be as much 40 % many wars waged
BY nations which passed successfully through
them and which now enjoy the highest Pc
cunsry credit.
From 1888 TO 1916 England was for more
than half tho time-si1ty seven year,-eDgaged in
war. The war of the Spanish succession cost
over $500 000,O 600 in eleven years; the seven
years war cost $3.50, OOO, 900; our Revolutionary
war cost England $500, 900, 900, and that Of the
French Revolution 1890, 100000. When at
war with Napoleon, from 1903 10 1916, England
ra,sed by taxes the enormous sum Of So
655, 600, 900, and by loans the further sum Of
1890, 000, 000-an average Of over II, $4,000
per day. IL Las been said that, for ninety days
previous to the battle OF Waterloo, she tpent an
average of S5,0OO,0O0 per day. Yet sbo has
survived this enormous outlay, preserved her
credit increased in population and wealth, and
ia still stropg enough to excite apprehension in
many American minds Of being ready and able
at any moment to embark in war with us. 1t
must be remembered that, Of these vast sums, .
large proportion was expended in foreign coun-
tries. Our expenditures will be made ut home.
Then as to battles. The public mind Ia in
excited expectation for great one to DO fought
But the best military authorities declare that
battles are ever the last resource Of good gen.
erals. The fighting of one merely because the
enemy happens to be close at hand is not held
to BIO the proper mode Of making war. A good
general rarely engages without clear necessity
for so doing. There are situations in which
superior numbers do not always insure success
So there are emergencies when the necessity for
fighting is imperative. Washington, though with
a force inferior 10 the British was compelled by
the public clamOr to fight at Brandywine, because
it was felt that Philadelphia ought not to DO
t,,ith M r;cL inn m aettnn (iap LIN
was in similar position before the battle at
Wilson's Creek. History is iun Of instances Of
the defeat of great commanders who gave battle
without sufficient cause. Darius lost both crown
aud life by doing 30, and it was the same with
Harold of England. Francis lost the great
battle Of Pava, and his liberty with II, by
similar rashness. The battle Of Pootiers was
fought by tho French King, though the ruin of
his enemy was inevitable If lac had avoided it..
The defeat of tho Prussians at jena affords
another illustration. Thus the rule seems to be
with skilful generals to give battle only when
morally certain OF victory, or when their army
aud situation cannot be made worse by defeat
than ii thoy did not fight a. all, aud when
great advantage may be secured by small loss.
A good gcnerh VIII Hob 'oiuulhihg Bho Dotl1o
until be is entirely ready. in thi. land OF tele-
graphs aud newspapers, the impression prevails
that the moment an army Is assembled n battle
must be fought. But it ia not the public, far
away from the scene, and without correct inoi-
nation or military knowledge, who are to Judge
of the proper time for giving battle. AS the
commander slonO is responsible, 30 the decision
4 :
Of that question should be left exclusively in bus
hands.
: There j, another topic worth adverting to.
AS Napoleon declared that heaven was always
on the side of him who had the moat artillery,
so the popular mind trusts in the largest army.
But very large bodies of troops cannot always
be sdvantagcOusly handled, even BY the most e1.
pereDced generals. Some terrible mistakes OF this
kud have been made on European battle-6elds,
even with regular troops, who had been for
years under arms. Lord Wellington used to
coy that If the French invaded England, there