Middletown transcript., 1869-02-13
MILITARY PREPARATIONS IN EUROPE.

MILITARY PREPARATIONS IN EURopE.-
A military correspondent of the London
Times gives picture of the present actual
stage Of military preparation in Europe,
which shows that it is "without parallel
in the world" Five continental nations
have FIVE and a-half millions of men either
ready to march Tomorrow or to follow at
short intervals. These are the forces of
the frst-class continental powers, and do
not include Great Britain. Spain, Portu
gal, Turkey. Greece, Belgium, Holland,
or the Scandinavian nations. This ini-
mense number moreover, only embraces
the more active elements, and not the out
siders, who, it is considered, would be
pretty certain to be called on if war should
last two or three years, contingency
which would swell the sum, according to
the estimate of the Times, to ten millions
armed men. Five millions and a-half Of
men, already withdrawn e,vm the work of
productive industry, with the possibility,
in the event of war, of the horde of con-
.sumers being swollen to ten millions.
The imagination is staggered at this stu
pendous enumeration, but the numbers,
vast as they are, are practically multiplied
at least fvefold in their capacity for des-
truction by the wonderful inventions and
improvements which have been made
in musketry, artillery and all kinds of
arms; in ammunition and carriages; in ia
cilities of transportation and other points
formerly unknown. 1t has been favor
ite delusion Of the idolators of material
progress that civilization is steam, gas,
railroads, electricity: but, side by side
with the triumuphs of peaceful invention,
or rather far ahead of them, is the "art of
human obstruction" which the Times tru-
ly says ''have for many years been al
lowed to take precedence over all other
arts. 1t has been studied with greater
skill, and made the subject of the most
costly experiments"
Here then, in the heart of Europe, the
centre and capital of tine worlds civiliza
ton, stand five millions and half of men
armed with weapons made to carry as far
and as accurately, and to fire as rapidly
as possible, and thus to produce the ut
most attainable destruction of human life.
What an inconsistent being is man! What
an anomaly in the whole animated
creation! The fruits of his creative en-
ergies are blasted, ere they have fully rip
ened, by his appotitcs for destruction !!
With one hand he rears the temple of civ
ilization, and with the other he pulls it
down. Unlike the animals, he is involved
in deadly struggles with those who are
not his natural enemies, and whose slaugh-
ter is not demanded by any of his appe-
tites. These FIVE and a half millions of
European soldiers who are now standing
ready to rend each other at the word of
command, have no hatred towards each
other; no interest, except in peace; do
mot desire to be where they are. Even
their monarchs profess to wish for peace,
and probably are sincere in the profession,
but mutual jealousies have induced them
all to arm, and thus Europe is covered all
over with enormous heaps ofcombustibles,
which any stray spark may set on fire,
and involve the Old World in the horrors
of universal confagration. Alas, why
will the many thus allow the few to dis
pose of them for life and for death Does
mot this condition of things give the lie to
the boastcd enlightenment and freedom of
man at this period, and in looking at it,
may not one well ask if we be not still
groping in the darkness of stupid and
lboorish age.-BultinOre Sun.