The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-16
SPIRIT OF TEE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions of the Leading Ln, rSerx S"'''
nav for the Evening TeicsrHp"'
THE EARNED PEACE OF EUkOFE-
= LIE APPROACHING ISSUES.

iAC'''AN"NN
world fine sad spectacle of an armed peace,
,,S;nL Cor tbe interests of civilization is
SsI, ;f not quite, as disastrous as pro-
Srooted war European statesmen, who have
ever regarded our republic as but an expert
1nent at best must have been impressed with
fbe peculiar freedom and elasticity OF msttu-
t;ons which. after undergoing the fierce or
AL of civil war. so soon permitted the dis
iondin, of martial hosts and the resumption
~ those things which make for peace and the
So,aar development of the material
interests of the nation. We are young peo-
Dle but we have nothing to learn in the art
of governing from the etfcte monarchles OF
ibe Old World; we envy not their political
status. when, to use the language of one of
their organs. Gin the middle of the nineteenth
century. when modern civilization is at its
highest point the effective of the armed
peace' of Europe consists of nearly three
millions of men, and the war budgets pre-
sent a total of about four hundred millions of
dollars"
Austria maintains permanent army of two
hundred and eighty thousand men, at a cost
of forty-fve millions of dollars; Spain spends
over twenty millions for her army, number
inc some time ago about two hundred and
forty thousand men; Italy takes from her by
no means plethoric treasury twenty-six mil
lions for an army of two hundred and twenty
thousand men; the peace footing in Germany
As
sand troops, and costs well nigh forty mil
lions; France keeps over four hundred thou
sand men under arms, and pays seventy mil
lions; the immense Russian army takes eighty
millions from the State resources; and Great
Britains regular troops, militia and volun-
teers, cost the Government over seventy mil
lions of dollars. Thus seven States alone
expend about three hundred and fifty millions
of dollars annually in maintaining "peace
footings" and preserving doubtful safeguards
to rather shaky European equilibriums.
To those S0i-djSdRt philanthropists who
have been harping upon universal disarma-
ment as alike practicable and the best and
surest means of doing away with wars and
inaugurating millennium of durable peace an
ample field for operations is here offered.
Who would not wish them "God speed in
their labors and assure them the ''thanlzs of
millions yet to be-" could they satisfy the
world that their efforts would eventually
effect the disbanding of armies, put an end
to the terrible scenes of the battlefield, and
teach nations to settle their differences with
out resorting to the dread arbitrament of the
sword? European potentates, however, en-
tertaIn far different notions, and seem to be
acting upon the principle that the best means
for preserving peace consist in maintaining
large standing armies, ready at any time to
take the field at their masters bidding.
Napoleon, when he declared some time ago
to the Legislative Chamber that ''the inhu-
ence of a nation depends upon the number of
men - Jan put under arms, might have gone
further and added that the safety of his Gov
ernment required a standing army of foul
hundred thousand men to protect it when
threatened by enemies abroad or imperilled
by dissensions at home. General disarma
ment, under existing governments in the Ole
World, is farther, perhaps, than ever from
realization. The figures already given show
o,a,,g Af
and want of confidence in the people has led
European powers, and how impossible any
thing like disarmament must be so long a.
this feeling continues. 1t has existed fo
centuries and will exist forever il
the history of monarchical ] govern
ments Great wars and great slaughter ar,
the natural consequences of great and riva
armies. When there are superfuous soldiers
occupation will be found for them; and it il
folly to talk of durable peace when nations
are armed to the teeth, and jealous of eacl
others power and progress. Apart from th'
burdens of taxation and oppression arising
from these extensive ornaments, other an(
prolific sources of discomfort are springing VI
and rendering the situation more critical
The people, long patient are beginning t.
appreciate the condition, and talk of reform
and revolution. A crisis is approaching, ant
The future is dark with doubt and uncer
tainty Public confidence is paralyzed, ant
commerce suffering in awaiting solution
which shall disspate the manifold sources o
evil.
Since the uprisings of 1S4S popular discon
tent has not been so general In Europe. Tn
people. becoming educated to the ideas o
modern progress and reform, are aspiring t.
popular government; they are growing rest
less under oppression, and, emboldened b
partial triumps, are clamorous for disenthra
ment, for enlarged liberties, for the cessatio
of that disastrous EARNED peace, and, abov
all for liberal, generous legislation. Will
nothing like general outbreak in resistanC
TO existing government seems imminent {
probable, there is AN undercurrent of revolt
zion, decided opposition to continued tyrar
nv, which is not to be trihed with, and will i
due time rebound to the greater liberties G
the people. The time has passed when'po
lar sentiment or the aspirations of peop
can be stifed at will by monarchs and the
minions Even the army-the sole relianC
of continental despots-cannot always be d.
pended on The French soldiery have befol
3raternized with the people in opposition
tyranny, and there sprung from this uniol
ephemeral though it proved, 'The Frenc
republic, liberty, equality, fraternity"
The revolution now anticipated it is hope
will be accomplished without war or blood
shed. The gradual march of modern idea
tending to liberal and constitutional govern
ment, is being felt on the European Cont
nent in way which promises "a new era LEI
IN the interest of absolutism and more
favor OF popular rights. Great Britain
nnaer the pressure of popular demand, is col
Ceuing reforms France is following, and v
find Napoleon nos only parlevinp with Il
champions of extreme Republican IDEAS b,
according the ministeriol dooo,,;+o+;,,, &c 60