Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-05-23
Prom the Washington Repeblis.)
GIN DHRT.w


peace In the sum Of $500 ,o0O, 0O0." II the
iudebtednsss Of natisus could thus be .eesptsd
as bond Of eivilitV, a gsnsrai peace might be
proclaimed ta.morroW, and guaranteed through
cut the wsrld.
An elaborate table Of statistics, compiled
frsm onisisl sources, ef the aggregate amount
Of the national debts ef twsniy-ssvsn govern
ments, Cor the years 1862 and 1872, shows that
the incred" OF their joint indebtedness during
tha, decade is over t9,4l3 900, 900. The inaebt-
slusss OF Great DritaH has not been incpeased,
aud that country is not included.
The total indebtedness of these nations At the
present time ia slS779 900 900. The German
war cost France 81 $40 900 900, and Italy has
had to pay ss75, 900, 900 fsr her Independence
and national unity. Turkey and Spain nre
virtually bankrupt. Mexico and one OF two Of
the South American States fail ia pay the
interest on tteir public debts. Brazil is mort
gsgsd to the extent Of 3275. 900 900. MS the
price Of the conquest Of Paraguay. Egypt has
run up debt Of $225,OO0 200, an increase of
O5,OOO,O 900 In ten years. Russia has in.
creased her Indebtedness 500 900 900 in the
last decade, mainly, however, in making rail-
/ United States debt is now 81, ,97J 900 900 more
than 1t was ten years age, us a result Of civil
war, but the aggregate debt has been rapidly
redueed-a fact that applies to no one Of the
other civilized powers. England has made
small reduction Of her debt. aud that country
and Holland are the only sthsr nations tn at
have not increased their indebtednsss during
tho last ten ysArs.
With these facts before US, aud relying upon
Lord BrouEham's thesry, We might safely
eaieulats upon a perpetual peace henceforth,
and look far the early dawninE Of the milleuuial
period, when the weapons OF war are proph.
eticilly promised to be converted to the uses Of
agriculture. But, unfortunately, history fur
nishes different experience. National iudebt-
sduess has ever brought with il a long train of
evils, and amOng others an insYitable Aystem OF
grinding taxation that has repeatedly led to
rebellion, civil war, and revolution. Reckless
sxtrIVagancs, and an unwarrauted Augmenta-
iion Of the national Indebtedness, causing an
increase OF the tax burdens Of the ?sspIs, has
cost maLy ruler his throne, and even his head.
From the times Of the Caesars down to the DAYS
OF the three Georges Of EnEland, practical illus
| NAhlpHA Ot bulh lASk HeIN numeTOu1s
Even now, with our boasied eiriliIatlen
nearly all the great powers, and many Of the
lesser ones, are bord srinE upon a condition Of
bankruptcy, and could net meet their obligatisus
il pressed 10 do so. In not few OF them, under
the pressure Of these burdens the people, BY
revolution. are threatening to take tho manage
mert Of public affairs Ou, Of tho hands Of :heir
rulers.
Modern government 10 a easily machine, and
jHst in proportion as its burdens are increased,
are tho comforts or the people diminished,
Nearly every dollar that a government owes
must come, when paid, together with the IN
tsresl till paid, out Of The earnings at the people
and they knew, anl are rss,iVe under the kuowl-
edge, that every additional draft upon the
proceeds Of thoir tell, ever the necessary
expenses OF an ssonsn!esl Administration, is
legaliIsd robbery.
These burdens, resulting frsm ess.ly govern
ment-sr Whatever resuss-tsnd. Invariably, 10
diminish the somforts OF the masses, and lead
ultimstely u poverty, want, and Paupsrism
National debts are individual burdens, aud 10
proportion a. these are increased, they are
followed BY strikes and ether causes OF un-
bAohuinesh u tuo tnuubHlAl oAhhCof TshulIug
Ia the gradual transfer Of the possessions Of
the poorer property owners into the hands Ot
the weAlthier classes, who are saablsd, through
their larger resources, to stand the pressure
+, and take advantage Of the crippled condition OF
r their less fortunate nsighbSrs. A public debt
& the surest means that can be adopted ia
: reduce the pseuniary condition Of the poor and
augment the: :po sessions Of the rich. In illus
tration, let US examine the practical eff cts in
those countries most heavily taxed TO carry a
large national debt.
, EFFECTS OF THE NATIONAL DEBT ~ ESoLASp
A; ths Close Of tho protraetsd war between
England and France, the already heavy debI
Of England was largely augmented. Thousand:
of the small farmlrs were obliged to surrender
their estates and assume tho position of hired
servants to the wealthy landowners. into who's
. hands their own len-acrs lots had fallen. Thss'
, changes have bssn going on down to tbs prsseu
A day, and the census returns reveal the alarming
fact that the zoe, 900 landed proprietors in GrsA
Britain. in the days of Adam Smith, have bee n
reduced 10 80 900. Mr.. Bright said. in 1855,
n view of ,h ,se changes, produced mliuly through
4. the pressure Of taxltinn, that zone half 0
II EnSlan Aul w ares WAS OWHsl W On5 Huu
j., drsi and fifty persons; while of the lands o
scotland, a half WAS hsld by teu ar doZil
ndiVidulls; and in the former the Who'll
number Of prOpristsrs hal sunk to less than
sixth of what it had bsen q century ago
FJllow those victims whose property has thu
been sacrificed at the shrine Of the taK EathereI
aud we next hni them employed as day labor
srs, often on tbs h,ds they formerly ealle
a their own. Now they ara entitled In clair
from their landlord, or his tenant, wsskly wage
barely SUN eisnt for the support OF life, eve
with tue Ad litisnll seanty earnings Of the Wit
and children. Tho LpidOu EOegiSg Psa thu
h sums up the facts n the case;
D "Ths Pen district laborers. for example, &,
from six 10 htIeen pence ten to thirtV cents pc
day, and as they generally sleep in barns, =
under risks and hedges, and have no lodging
ss pay for. aud wear M clothes TO speak OF, an
10 are mostly young, and nnt over healthy PeoPl
with limited Appstiies, their small earnings al
supposed tn be sufh ,ient % buy their daily fnot
~ Respectable farm labbrsrs, with ihOir families
Id are presumed to be well paid at from six
10 twenty shilingS Zone and half to ave dollar,
:. . week f"r thslr labor, and they live on thss
smalI WaxOi."
e But the misery and suffering caused
y crushing gu the smIll proprietor aud rsdu ia
e him to a servant does not end here. II
$, increased supply Of lsborsrs, and the psrio'
between the busy seasons Of the year, brin
- many Of these families 10 actual want, an
~ forces them into the crowded cities 10 the va
VI hope OF improving their condition. The tsl
dsnsy Is toward a total separation Of the labor
o. from the soil Aad his transfer to the slrsad
" crowded mai featuring aud commercial center
NJ where he E.Os to seek employment, and fai!lr
in his efforts. as is almost Invariably the cas-
np he iSf6pesd into the swelling ranks of Psups
)" ism. The result Is Shswu BY the London Tin
=. in an article dissribinE the daily scenes 10 III
o. great city %wASEs the spectacle presents its'
Sf-