The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1861-11-16
WAR AND WEALTH.

IIOu impoNttiSu tHc COUNTY AZ hiSa
view each one would answer this ques-
ton in the affirmative; but close ex-
animation into the facts, and the re-
sources Of the nation. may throw an.
other light on the subject.
The money expended will no. be Ia
ken to a foreign cline; it will nearly
all be distributed at home, and will
only pass from one hand TO another
among our own people. 1t will, there
fore. all remain in our midst. The
whole war will not cost us Al much, in
money. as single year Of financial
distress. The year commencing in
September. 1857. when the great wave
Of bankruptcy swep, over the nation at
food-tide. carrying down banks and
individuals.an among them the Trust
Company Of Cincinnati. WAS fraught
with far more destructive consequences,
in pecuniary point of view merely,
than The war will cos, US in three years.
SO We might say of one year of in
discriminate impor.ations from foreign
countries. The balance against us has
often been fifty millions tf dollars
year, and We were just that much poor.
or, as nation, at the end Of the year,
for We had no substantial return for
these fifty millions -noll,ns that enter
ed into and became part of the coun-
try or Of its available means. The
transactions were clear loss. And We
have lost hundreds of millions of dol.
lars in this way, in tines Of perfect
peace; and but for the mines of Cali
fornia. We should now be nationally
bankrupt. This war might last twenty
years and not imp,overish us,in money,
SO much as the balance of trade against
US would do in the same time.
Admitting. then. that the country
produces as we'll during the war as
previously, it will be better off at the
end of three years. S far as the purse
is concerned. than ii there were no wa-
that Is. If the var should stop the
importation Of goods from ABROAD, as
it really has done.
Pecuniarily the war will hardly
prove disadvantage unless it operates
against the producing interests. Let us
look at this feature a moment.
1t is sale TO calculate that one person
out OF every ten does nothing-that is.
be does nothing that will add dollar
or q bushel TO the wealth or productions
OF the country. One tenth Of the adult
population can. therefore, be spared
without at all interfering with the
growth Of the nation. This will give
rs two millions in the loyal States.
Deduct one half for women, and the
half of the remainder for children and
intrm. and We still have FIVE hundred
thousand men 70 spars-all tLa. the
government, proposes to use. By very
little exertion this number can he raised
to seven hundred and fifty thousand,
for our figures are all on the inside
Who can be sent to the Lsiile field
without crippling any Of the vital in
terests Of the country. We shall no.
Jose in products BY the war, if proper
care Is taken to use our spare popula-
ton. II some Of the producers should
60 into tie army. their vacant places in
The fields and workshops can be occu-
pied BY others, who are now doing
nothing. or. what is equivalent. moth.
ing that adds to the wealth Of the
country Hence. pecuniarily the war |
will mol injare US.
Indeed. there are 4 number of rea
sons why its tendency will be to en-
rich the loyal States. 1t will open up
new occupations. The idle men will be
in the army. or in the place Of those in
tiss army who we're not idle. The,
cease to be drones. they begin to do
something. Their fsmilies will be
benefited By their action. The money
they will get. though it will not be Oh
lained IS return for giving an addi. !,
ion to the wealth Of the country. (for
he work Of an army produces nosh;ny) |,
Get it will. in some good degree. be
!rawn from sources where it was doing ,
70 ssrviee, but already eating up the
sber Of the country BY tari.g the pro-
lacer in the shape Of in,erest-and Of
en- excessive interest-and instead of 1
'eing an oppressor. Of l-vyins tribute ,
N the toil,r. ii passes out 10 the soldi- !: