The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1875-07-22

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enlarging their nayies, provision
ing their fortresses, enlisting ard
training soldiers and filling their
military chests. liz one sovereign
visits the capital Of another the
hundred tongues Of rumoE are
busy, and through the press, the
mails and The telegraphic wires a
thousand surmises are invented
and circulated of alliances, coali-
tions and treaties, usually pre-
sumed to look towards contem-
plated war. Every action of the
emperors, kings and cabinet minis
tiers is closely watched. Every APP
pearance of uncommon activity in
military preparation is heralded at
once to every city on the Eastern
hemisphere. The powers are
watching each other with eager
and keen vigilance. Although the
relations of the different States do
not seem to be warlike in their
present or prospective aspect, o
spirit Of marked mental distrust
signalizes this most peculiar epoch.
1t is not necessary to say that
any cause for war, any reason for
entering upon it, or any motive
for provoking it, does not exist.
The material interests of all Eu-
rope seldom need repose so much
as now. Great Britain needs peace
for the welfare of her mills, her
commerce and her colonies.
France needs peace for the sake
of her industries and to fully re-
cover from the effects of the late
costly and most disastrous war.
Prussia needs peace because she
can not afford the cost of another
war, even if again victorious. Aus
trials interest lies in that repose
which will leave her present dy'
nasty intact and her territory I'M
impaired.
In Italy the government is oc-
cupied with the great works of
consolidation and of developing
the national resources, and while
her warlike king has at his COM
mand a large and efficient army,
we'll supplied, he will not of his
own accord lead them to battle in
any offensive war, either as prin-
cipal or as an ally. The interests
of the Roman Catholic Church are
averse to war. Those who WELD
the money power, which stands
behind each European throne,
often greater than the throne
ITSELF" do not countenance war;
and can not fail Of being damaged
by it.
Europe maintains standing ar
mics and na3ies aggregating six
millions of men, who, with ships,
forts, ornaments and armories, re-
quire for equipment, subsistence
and arms about one thousand dol
lars each per arrum, or q total of
| $4,000, 100000. These six million
of armed idlers pauperize the coun-
tries which maintain them. The
general prosperity demands that
this military incubus should be re-
moved or lessened to the utmost
possible extent consistent with
safety. To get rid of this load is
the universal interest of the pro-
prietary and industrial classes, who
ought, therefore, to be profoundly
averse to war.
1t really seems that the COM
bined interests opposed to war
ought to be powerful enough to
prevent any ambitious rulers or
mischievous ministers or scheming
revolutionists from reminding hos
tilities anywhere upon the CONT
nent. Russia and Great Britain
ought jointly to have influence
enough to prevent such catas.
trophe, On inevitable damage to
both wherever it may occur. Rus
STA, secured upon her western from
tier and il no wise menaced upon
the South, seeks to consolidate
and develope her conquests and
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