Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-08
Tho Financial Condition Of Europe.

In Great Britain etaxes thisyea amount
to esq, 900, 900 and $50, 900, 900 are required
to pay the interest on the National debt and
for Tie needs of the Army and Navy. In
Russia the ordinary expenditure has risen
from 5Si millions sterling, in 1870, 10 7Gt
millions last year. This is an increase OF not
far short of l44 millions, or over 20 per cent
without taking account of the war expendi-
ture. The expenditure has grown under all
heads but the main increase is ip the charge
Of the debt and the cost Of the Army The
charge of the debt last year was little over
19t millions sterling, out of total expendi-
ture OF 76f millions sterling, or somewhat
over % per cent. The increase in the war
expenditure was over 81 millions sterling, or
nearly 10 yer cent But here the extraor-
binary expenditure is left out of tie account.
The increase in the cost of the Army was
therefore, very much greater than was ac-
knowledged.
The Russian army, the debt, and the navy,
added together, involve q charge of fully
two-thirds of the total outlay of the Russian
Empire. There remains little more than %
millions sterling for the civil administration
including public W2rl,s, the administration
of Justice, education, the church, and the
support of the great offices OF State. Evil
IDENTIFY this sum is entirely inadequate for an
empire of such enormous extent, so poor,
and ccopom.cslly SO backward. The truth
is that the civil administrator 10 starved to
keep up an army and foreign policy which
are rapidly bringing Russia TO the verge OF
bankruptcy. The revenue is IL millions
sterling less tGGl lie expenditure. There is
no official statement Of the actual coet Of the
Russo-Tuikieh war But it is possible 10
arrive at q rough estimate Of the amount by
noting the increase in the charge Of the debt,
and that makes il amount to about 40 mil
lions sterlin.s.
As to France. tho French deb. Lls risen to
Il SOC, 100000, in oil, mere. than double
the British debt, the annual charge being
actually Col 300, 900. Tie charges for the
army and navy and colonies have been reck-
lessly raised, until the treasury has actually
10 provide fSS, 600 000a year-more than the
entire revenue o. Crest Britain debt and
defence alone. France is still burdcncd with
the tremendous lightweight of $50, 900, 600
a year. or 80 francs per head on her
population. In addition 10 this, the govern
ment has temporarily swclled the outlay on
public works to $4,000 900 Of francs year,
and the total expenditure Of the Treasury,
this year, reaches the previously inconceiv-
able sum of 142g0t, 00, of francs Even in
France, if the extravaganza docs not stop,
the Treasury will be driven to dangerous en-
pedlenis Rctrcnchmcnt in tho army can
not, foi The moment, he hoped for, Other
arc not much bette. Of.
In Germany and ltalySgreat suffering aud
discomfort prevail, while their finances arc
far from being In n flourishing state. Yet
several of these European nations want to
extend ihci- boundaries in divers directions
And next to indulgnG in tLese prowling pro-
pensiies at their neighbors' expenseO their
favorite occupation is 10 watch each other
with jealous eye, and so to plunge deeper
and deeper into what Mr.. Gladstone once
called ''the expenditure of emulation" Alas
we may well exclaim, with What little wis |
om the world is governedp