The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-11
The Army and Navy Expenditures of
Hayes, Madison. aud Polk.

try that for n period of three years their
expenditures for military and naval pur-
poses will amount 90 total OF 1855, i2l,OOO
They give the details as follows For the
military last year. SJ2,15i,OCO; for this pres
cnt year, S39oOoO 900; for the next year.
$37,0l2,0oO. This makes an aggregate Of
SlOs, for army purposes, including
forts, arscnals, and the like. For the navy
last year, Sl7,3Gj,OOO; for this present year,
sl5I0O,0OO; for tho next year. S1i,jG3.OOO
This makes an aggregate Of Si6.92sO0o FOR
naval purposes, aud total of Sl55,12i,OOO a.
above stated Tor both branches of the ser
vice during three years.
II would be- absurd 10 compare these ex-
penditurcs with the expenditures for the
army and navy during three years Of the
war OF the rebellion. That war Is an eXcep-
tonalcpoch; but we have had two wars with
whose military and naval cost il will bc per-
tuent and profitable TO contrast the OUTLAWS
above stated. We refer to the war with Eng
land and the war with Mexico. The expense
Of the former fell chioilyupon the years 1872
1873, andisi and the cost Of thc latter was
wholly incurred in the years is4G, 1877. and
ISIS
In the war with England our rcgulararmy
was respectable in size. and the Government
employed large numbers Of volunteers and
militia. Our forces met the enemy in four
teen States and Territories, and at three or
Iomr points remote from each other In Can
ada. They encountered the flower Of the
British troops and their Indian allies, some
times in very bloody battles, from New Or
leans to Detroit, and all along the lake Dor
dcrs and from Maine to Virginia on the At
l.. 80 "a lsla
killed in battle.
In many particulars hostilties on the
land were then enormously expensive. Our
sea and lake coast was ravaged by British
cruisers, compelling us to lay out great
sums on Notifications. from the st. Johns to
the Sabine, and along the Canadian lines.
Transportation by land was difficult and
dear. The West, where most Of the engage
ments occurred. was wilderness, nearly
destitute Of roads. Ii cost more then to get
company OF infantry from Albany TO Lun-
dy's Lane, or from Lake Erie 10 the field Of
IippecanOc than 1t now costs TO transport n
regiment OF artillery over the same ground.
Our manufactures were in their infancy,
the embargo and non-intercoursc policies Of
JEFFEIsoN and MADISON and now the Brit
ish fleets cut IN European supplies; the
currency of the cation sunk 10 40 and 30 per
cent below par. For these reasons the Gov
eminent was forced Ia pay extremely high
prices for almost everything il had to
buy. Indeed, the Fcdcralists denounced the
Administration of MADISON. not only fnt
commencing the war, but for the expensive
rates Mt which it was prosecuted.
Our navy was small In comparison with
some Of the European nayics. but II was Of
fair size, mostly fitted up during the war
II was valiant and efficient. ana its brilliant
achievements sh"d inpcri-hahlc lu-trc upon
our flag. II won famous victories ON Lake
Eric, on Ontario. and Champaign 1t was busy
In defending our harbors ON the scahOard
II met the enemy on the Atlantic aud the
Pacific, in the West Indies and the East
Indies, OF the coast Of France and the
coast Of Brazil, and even In the British
Channel, and IL generally conquered him.
We captured IS British vessels OF war
mounting $50 cannon; We took 1850 mor-
chantmen, carrying 5000 guns, many Of
thom richly laden. We drove ashore and
shipwrcckcd % vessels Of war, mounting
about 500 guns We made prisoners Of
more than 10000 scamen The severity of
the contest is further shown by the fact
that the British captured from Us Is vessels
Of war mounting so guns and l,407 mcr-
chantinen and 209Gl scanlcn.
This war bore the usual harvest Of naval
aad military heroes. OF the former, DEcA-
TUh, HULL, PERRY, LAWRENCE. and MAC
poyoUGH shonc coneplcuously. OF the lat
ter, JACKSON and HARRISON became Presi-
dent; ScoTT and CAss ran unsucccs-fullyfor
that Office. while COL DICK JOHNSON was re-
4 3. H.. 4 .f..f,.
ing that with his own hand he killed tho
famous Indian Chief TEcUMsEH at the bat
Tie Of the Thames.
This, then was Il large war. Now let us
see what IL cost.
In 1872 the MADISON Administration spent
for military objects, including forts and
everything pertaining 10 land operations.
Sll,sl7O0O; in 1913 sl0,Gjo,OoO; in 1914,
s2l3Jo,ooo, making an aggregate of
S5l7G7OO0 and in 1912 it spent for all
naval objects, including gunboat, in and
around halbors, s3,9j9000; In 1918, SG,4oo0o0;
in 1914, s730oO0o, making an aggregate Of
sl7Gj9ooO, and a total for both branches of
the service Of $50 900 for the three years
of the war
We need not compare these expenditure
IN detail with those Of the Fraudulent Adj
ministratlon. Suffice it 60 say it is spcnd-
ing more than twice us much on tie army
and nearly three times a. much on the
navy in three years, as 1t cost MADISON s
Administration TO wage n three years war
on the land and ON the sca, against tho
colossal power ~ Great Britain
Tho war with MoNiro commenced carly In
1916, and continued TN past the middls OF
1919. We largely increased the regular