Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-24
War "a q EIOney-IakIng Business

Among the new lessons to be derived
from the recent European events is the
proftableness of successful war. Hereto
fore nations or rather governments have
made war for various motives--such as
ambition, the maintenance Of balance of
power, or the prom lotion Of dynastic in
tereste. But it was not until now that
war has proved for the successful party a
means of making money. England has
been called nation Of shop -keepers-a and
it is true that the vast resources of her In
dian empire and still moro, her extraor-
binary energy in the pursuits of industry
and commerce made her prodigiously
wealthy; but her great wars in Europe
during which she subsidized the armies of
Russia and Germany, although ending in
the triumph Of her arms, had 10 other
peouniary result than to saddle her with
an enormous dahk- The or the last
twenty years-in Crimea and Italy, China
and Abyssinia, terminating successfully
for England and France were, neverthe-
less, if considered only from financial
point of view, great pecuniary misfortunes.
nary in many respects, is none the less SO
in its financial results. The Germans have
exhibited great deal more of the ''shop-
keepers" spirit il their course than ever
the English did. Whatever credit they
may claim for bravery, discipline and skill,
they certainly can claim none for magma
nimity. In their treatment of France
since they refused to listen to terms of
poaoe after Sedan, they have acted like
man who, having personal quarrel with
another, first knocks him down and |
beats him numerically and then |
proceeds to rifle his pockets and plumber |
him of his last farthing. This is not
it is practical, and the
plea advanced is that, as money is the |
sinew of war, it is wise to take these
sinews from France to prevent her from
the struggle. Harsh as it APP
pears, it may be useful lesson to warlike
nations to learn shat if they draw the
sword, they must suffer very heavily in
case of defeat. On the other hand, it is
very dangerous incentive held out to pow
erful nations to engage in wars which will
probably end, not only to their gIory-but
also in territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and great
pecuniary profit.
The change in the financial condition Of |
France and Prussia is enormous. Before
the war France had greatly the advan-
tage. Her debt was about seven thousand
millions OF francs, (about 81, 500, OOO)
Now, estimating the indemnity to be paid
to Prussia of five thousand millions of
francs, the onerous condition upon which
she will have to borrow this amount, the
losses she has sustained by the |
ravage of her territory, the damage to her
industry by the loss of go many men and
by numerous other causes, the French |
debt will be raised to not less than fifteen
or sixteen thousand millions of francs,
upwards of threa thousand millions of |
dollars.) This is a burden, upon the
French nation already very heavily taxed,
which must almost crush it for many years
to como.
On the other hand. Prussia receives five
thousand millions of francs-nearly one
half more than her estimated war ex-
penses and if she is wise enough to give
up Alsace and Lorraine, as is already init
mated, she is to receive one thousand five
hundred millions more. She EFFORTS two
millions from poor pitiful Luxembourg for
alleged violation of neutrality and she
may very likely press similar claims upon
Belgium and Switzerland, since these ma
ions are too weak to resist Added to all
his, is the pecuniary value of at least half
. million of Chassepots and countless &
thousands of cannon and munitions of war
into her hands.
These prodigious resources in money s
nd materials Of war, together With an u