The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-15
The EARNED Peaceo Of Europe-Appreach
ing Issues.


In this day of modern IDEAS progress and
Christianity we have presented us in the
Old World the sad spectacle of an EARNED
peace" which for the interests of civilization
is nearly, if not quite, as disastrous as pro.
tracted war. European statesmen, who have
ever regarded our republic as but an expert
ment at best, must have been impressed with
the peculiar freedom and elasticity of institu-
tons which, after undergoing the fierce ordeal
of civil war, 80 soon permitted the disbanding
of martial hosts and the resumption Of those
things which make for peace and the develop
ment Of the material interests of the nation.
We are young people, but We have nothing
to learn in the art of governing from the effete
molarchies of the Old World; we envy not
their political status, when, to use the language
Of one Of their organs, sin 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
present total of about four hundred millions
of dollars.
Austria maintains a permanent army of
two hundred and eighty thousand men, at
cost of forty-Gve millions of dollars Spain
spends over twenty millions for her army,
numbering some time ago about two hundred
and forty thousand men; Italy takes from her
by no means plethoric treasury twenty-six
millions for an army Of two hundred and twenty
thousand men; the peace footing in Germany
| is in the neghborhood OF three bundled thou
sand troops, and costs well nigh forty millions ;
| France keeps over four hundred thousand men
under arms, and pays seventy millions; the
immense Russian army takes eighty millions
from the States resources, and Great Britain''
regular troops, militia and volunteers, cost the
government over seventy millions Of dollars
Thus seven States alone expend about three
hundred and fifty millions OF dollars annual.
| in maintaining ''peace footings' and preserv
ing doubtful safeguards to rather shak.
European equilibriums.
To those soi-disant philanthropists VIII
have been harping upon universal disarma
ment az alike practicable and the best an
ouicoe mcohS vi uoh93 away WIN ""Ao "'Ao Az
augurating a millennium of durable peace a
ample field for operations is here offered
Who would not wish them 'God speed" |
their labors and assure them the ''thanks {
millions yet to be-" could they satisfy tn
world that their efforts would eventual
effect the disbanding of armies, put an end I
the terrible scenes of the battle field, an
teach nations to settle their differences witho,
resorting to the dread arbitrament of th
sword? European potentatee, however, CT
terrain far different notions, and seem to /
acting upon the principle that the best NEAR
, for preserving peace consist in maintainin
large standing armies, ready at any time
take the field at their masters bidding.
, Napoleon, when he declared some time az
to the Legislative Chamber that ''the Unfit
ence of nation depends upon the number
men it can put under arms" might have gor
further and added that the safety of his go,
eminent required standing army Of fo
hundred thousand men to protect it VIII
= threatened by enemies abroad or imperill'
!, BIZ dissensions at homo. General disarm