Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-06-17
wAR ANn 1NcREAs1Na wEALrH


tion to life and property but it is possible
that nation may conduct great war and,
instead of becoming impoverished, may in
crease in both wealth and power. The condi
tion under which war chiefly impoverishes
nation is by having it conducted within its
own domain. But when nation maintains
war upon the enemy's soil, and SO manages its
affairs that the annual expenses fall below the
real value of its industrial products, it is ev-
ident that it must increase in wealth. The
merchant who makes more than he spends in
creases in riches, and it is the same with
nation An increase of national debt is no
sign of increasing poverty in the people, for
this debt may be simple transfer of only
small portion of the surplus wealth of individ
uals to the general fund of the commonwealth
Ian inve estment in public instead of private
stocks. Those who have made political econ
ogBy subject of study know well that Great
Britain maintained war with France and
sometimes with nearly all the nations of the
world for many years; and while the Govern
ment debt increased, the national wealth ac-
cumulated. She battled with Napoleon and
clothed the armies of Russia, Spain and Prus-
sia, and the sword scarcely sheathed for
thirty years and yet at the end of the strug
gle she was vastly more wealthy than at the
beginning of the contest. The first condition
of this success was maintaining the war upon
forei gn soil, thus allowing the industrial arts
which furnish the sinews of war and the
comforts of peacs-to be conducted freely up
on her own soil; and secondly living within
her income. These facts should never be
overlooked by a nation which would carry on
an aggressive war successfully.
AS the present war has been and is being
conducted on the soil of the constitutional
Government, industry therein has been paral-
lied and the destruction of property has been
prodigious. The seeded States are, there
fore, necessarily becoming impoverished
while the war is being continued. On the
other hand, the Northern States pursue their
industrial ayocations in peace, and if they are
ssliving within their income'' they must be
growing in wealth. Perhaps the best signs OF
increasing wealth in any country are new bull
dings-manufactories, houses, barns, ships,
&C., and decrease of common mercantile and
mortgage debts. At present all these good
signs may be noticed on every hand in Ill 10y
al States, except perhaps the border ones. In
New York there are more new ships and
steamers being built than at any former period
within our recollection, and in almost every
street many new houses are being erected. In
Brooklyn the same signs of increasing wealth
may be seen everywhere. Ia the Eastern
States new factories are in the course Of con-
struction in almost every city, town and viii
lage, and in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
the same signs of increasing wealth are just
as plentiful. from the West also, the same
cheering news comes floating on the breeze.
A correspondent of the New York Times,
signing himself ssA Veteran Observer" writ
ing from Ohio, asserts that the debts in that
State were reduced $50, 900 900 last year. and
he is confident that the wealth of the country
is increasing at the present moment at the
rate OF over six hundred millions per annum.
We have no doubt but this .intelli observ-
er is correct in his estimate. Never before
in the history of the world has God blessed
nation with so much outward prosperity in the
midst of such chastisement as this great CIV
il war.
Universal bankruptcy waspredicted for this
entire nation by the London Times, at the be-
ginning of this contest, but while the Govern
ment borrows from its own people, and while
they expend less than they produce, the ma
ton cannot become bankrupt. Europeans
generally are profoundly ignorant of the source
of our nations wealth and strength. The
great essential of daily life to any people is
"A in. .Vi a1
no other country, with an equal population,
can compare with the United States. The
vast crops of our Western valleys and plains
are of more value than mountains of gold and
silver In these consist the palpable power OF
the republic, and nc, European can appreciate
the magnitude of that power without travelling
extensively in America. Our educational
establishments, the ine arts and manufactures
in general, are sustained by the surplus pro-
ducts of the soil. From every section the
cheerful assurance comes up that the crops of
the season afford promises of most abundant
harvest. thus inspiring hopes of continued
material prosperity amid the havoc and sor-
rows of the great national conhict.-Scieatlfc
-4merican.
A baby was out with the nurse, who walked
it down the garden. ssIs it laddie or las
sic 7'' asked the gardener.
ga Iaddie,'' answered the maid. ssWeeP'
said he, ssI'm glad o. that, for there's over
mony weemin in the world"
ssHech, mon," said Jessie, ssthere's aye
maist sawn o. the best crap ~
M -~~~-