Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-03-28
OF THE coUxr y.
Can we stand . Long war.
FROM nc N. y. Timaa..

$3.50 .SN gla
The latest.cry of the croakers is that we
must end the war at all hazards this spring,
that if we can whiptthe rebels by. a yipor-
GUS effort very well, but4if not we must
show to our destiny and make the best at
tainable peace" And the reason given
for this advice is, that the war is exhaust.
ing our resources-thnt our business is
Frustrated, our population diminished, our
taxes becoming insupportable, the career
of our prosperity checked, and the whole
vigor and vitality of the nation wasted We
must stop the war, say these timid or dis
loyal souls, or rush upon financial COM
mercial and national ruin
We belleVe'in avigorous war, and have
strong faith that such II war would, speed.
lily bring the rebellion TO an end. But in
this we may be mistaken. The rebel.
States may hold out still longer, and NAV
derive substautialaid from foreign sources.
In that case what are we to COZ Abandon
the contest--surrender. the nation-giye
over all further effort TO save the life Of the
Republic2 We. do. not believe. the prsat
mass of the American people are in favor
ofsuch course. As to our qbiiify 10 carry
on the war, there is no room to doubt II.
Our resources are abundant. The country
has not yetipnt forth atilhe of its strength.
We have population enough, wealth
enough, business enough, and Vitality
enough to prosecute this war Eve years
longer, without materially arresting the
nation in its career of prosperity. Indeed.
at the end of that time, whatever we might
have lost in numbers aud in actual ,expen-
Iditnre, if the war should continue 50 long.
will be- more than compensated BY what
we shall have gained IN discipline, in com,
Pactness, il the development Of national
feeling and of national power.
Let us consult history as to the ability
OF nations to maintain along war. And
as the bestexanPle, let us look at England
and the war she ged with France from
1872 to lls15--a period Jof twenty three
years. When that war commenced, the
population of England was little over To-
100000. It was a, war of the Government
and not of the people, waged the interest
of a dynasty and not of the nation. Tie
taxable income of England at that time
beng the aggregate annual product OF her
Industry subject to taxation I'M alt depaFt4a
ments, as stated by Adam Smith, was $625:1
OOO, 600. And she began the war with q
debt, incurred in previous wars, of S1,200.z
1900, upon which she was required to
pay an annual interest of $46,O O0, 900: ia
addition to the ordinary expenses of d s6eace
establishment, which at that time were an
much more, This was the condition Of
England when she entered upon that war.
It its duration andicos could have been
toreseen, the war would doubtless taftesi
been avoided but once commenceti, the
pride and sett-respect of the nation forbade
all T., thought OF ending it, except in Triumph.
what dIdtt cost2 The most careful wri-
ters on this subject estimate the expenses OIL
the Government for its peace establishment
from 1898 to 1903 at SEE, 900 .OOo annnaiI1
and from 1903 to 1915 at SIiO.00o OoIl |
This would have been the requisite ANIMAL /
expenditure If there had been no war.
over aud above this annual amount, the
Iums raised every year. for ,tke tSar are thus
ltated. as . ~ t'siitf 97GGdtt