The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-06
4 Profitable war.

| War ia. at best, a dismal business, an
seldom. fails to bring woe and suffering to
victor and vanqushed alike. The recent
Franco German struggle was no exception
to this. rule !; but while it has brought sor-
row and desolation to so many thousand
homes, it has enriched the governments
composing the German Empire to an extent
marvellous to contemplate. The Staats An
zesger the Prussian official organ, gleefully
sums up the "profts" of the contest, and
INDUCES in some curious speculations as to
the way iu which they could be disposed OF.
The Prussian debt, according to that we'll
informed Journal, is about one and hall
| milliards of francs, or. in our money, three
hundred millions of dollars so that it Is
covered more than thrice by the war indem-
nity of FIVE millards of francs. The Prus-
sian budget of expenses for the current year
is estimated at six hundred and ferty-five
millions of francs, and, as the annual in
terest on the war indemnity foots up to two
hundred and fifty millions of francs, about
two ffths OF the sum are covered oy the
SAME, and all direct taxes in Prussia might
he abolished. If the whole indemnity were
paid at once, and should be divided among
the different States of Germany according
to the usages which are generally observed
in the division OF booty and captured war
material among allied States, the amount
would be divided in about the following
ratio among the different German govern
ments that took part in the war against
France. Those States that composed the
North German Confederation previous to
the formation of the German Empire, Hesse
not included, would receive, in an equitable
division of. the FIVE mlliards, three thousand
eight hundred and tive millions and in
,srest Bavaria six hundred and fifty millions
and interest Wurtemburg two hundred and
forty millions and interest Baden two hum
dred millions and interest, and Hesse one
hundred and FIVE millions and interest.
With this total amount of five milliards OF
francs all the German States might, at
single stroke, wipe out their whole debt, in
Guiding the railroad debt, which is compare
lively great, as the government owns most
| OF the roads and mines in the country. This
debt is estimated by the Prussian Stats
Anzeiger ut eleven hundred millions OF
thalers, ia Maler il worth about seventy
cents,) so that after its payment there would
still remain about three hundred and fifty
millions of thulers to the German Govern
ments as O surplus. If the division was
made as we have calculated it ebove, the
position of the Northern States OF Germany
would, however, he much more favorable
than that Of the South German States, as
the bonded and railroad debt Of the latter
is proportionally much greater. Neve7the-
less, the benefits that they reap from it are
still very great. The amount Of their debt
is estimated ut seven hundred and forty mil
lions OF forms, "a ilOrin is about forty cenls,)
and the war. indemnify. which they would
receive would cbver this BY about three
fourths. In short, the amount that is TO be
paid by'she French wauld not only pay adj
the debts OF the German States, but also
furnish besides sufficient funds to create an
immense navy, while the captured war
material would supply the means to re-equip
every soldier in Germany. II the war in
demnity we're to he divided among the Ger
mnn people, and we estimate the population
of,all Germany at iifty-eight millions and u
half, every soui would get about thrty-tire
thalers, and every family about one hundred
and seventy-tive thulers. Thus, in bust
ness point of view, the war has proved quite
"a good thing" for the conquerors.