The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-02-23
War. Vvlth Great Rrisasn.

United Stated. But a few years
have elapsed since we were passing
through the fiery ordeal of = most
terrible civil war. Its effects arc
still fresh in the minds of our peo.
pie. The graves are still green; the
weeds OF mourning are still worn
the finances of the nation are, yel
a burlen-7the public debt stillenor
nous, and specie payments nnre-
sumed. Time, years Of peace arc
necessary for complete restoration
The progress in that direction is
sure and rapid, and without an IN
terruption, a quarter of a century,
or less, will witness q complete
emancipation from existing finalr
cial burdens, and the evils arising
thereirom, ifthe same, or like pol.
lev of wise and economical admin.
istration is pursued. A war with
Great Britain, however, would re-
tard indefinitely this much desired
consumation. It would involve an
entire destruction of our fofeigna and
coast commerce, resulting from the
superiority Of the English navy.
Our government would thus be de-
privcd of the revenue which accrues
from imported goods, and the ex-
penses of running the government
would have to be raised by internal
taxation and revenue. Mints Of
money, reaching far into the mill.
ions, would have to be expended in
building detenses, arming and
equipping troops, constructing and
maintaining an adequate navy, etc.,
thus increasing our public debt
enormously, and procrastinating the
time of resuming specia payment to
an indefinite period far into the dim
future. Many OF the articles Of pro-
duction, the surplus Of which now
finds its way into European mark
cts, such as corn, cotton and wheat,
would accumulate on the producers
hands, and prices be affected accord
ingly. 1t is true our privateers
would sweep the seas, and English
would suffer nearly, if
not quite, as much as our own; but
privateers could not protect our
ports from blockade by English
men-of.war- our coast commerce
from entire destruction. Oregon,
for example, would have to defend
our overland transportation, as no
could be made safely
rom Portland to San Francisco, or
rice rersa. The influence of such
! war, then, from a financial stand
point, would be evil and that con-
tinually, increasing the burdens Of
taxation and interrupting the pro-
gress Of public Improvements. Such
n war, however, would prove most
injurious to those ideas Of progress
i've thought and civilization, which
are now at work among ma
tions, moulding intelligence and fra
ternity. The United States and
Great Britain are nearly allied in
thought, language, sympathy and
interest, and rank first in the march
Of progressive civilization. Their
example is most potent upon the
lestinies of other nations War is
always demoralizing, being the out
growth Of passion. England is a
powerful nation in war, SO is the
United States. The courage and
ieceness OF the two peoples Will
Increase with the resistance, and the |
.ontcst will become most sanguin- |
Iry and bloody, developing .
hirst for blood and revenge IN pro-
,ortion as this prevails. In this
alto, too, will deterioration in the
march of civilization Inexperienced.
We would not countenance peace at |
he expense of our national honor;
'ut let there be prudence, delibera-
ion, wisdom, justice; these four ex-
then if war comes, we will
lot be in the wrong.
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In q Decline.