Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-23

cumstances actual war must practically
wipe out the Democratic party as defined
by some of its distinguished leaders be-
cause it would destroy or indefinitely post
pone the issues which these leaders deem
the life. blood of the organization. With
| war and its fearful cost the question of
tariff reform would be relegated to the in
visible rear, and the question of free COIN
age would probably give wav for fresh
paper issues. New taxes would have to be
| laid, and instead of enlarging the free list
the things already free would have to be
| taxed to raise war revenues. The entire
list of the necessaries of life would jump to
war figure. Perhaps even the internal
revenue system would have to be extended
to articles so recently made free. 1t would
| depend upon the resistance We encountered
from the enemy and the duration of the
struggle With such people and in such
country subiugation would not immedi-
ately follow victories at sea, blockaded
ports and ruined cities The war might,
under the most favorable circumstances,
last a long time and prove expensive.
A formidable list of pensioners would be
added to the already enormous roll All
this money would be raised by additional
duties on imports and by other methods of
taxation. The issue of tariff reform would
necessarily vanish, just as it vanished in
1850, and would remain out of sight until
the expenses of war began to approach
settlement. Where would then be the
Democratic party?
In short, war with Chile would change
the entire political conditions of this coun-
try as they exist to-day. 1t would change
them at once-in a day. The war party
would be the only party worth mentioning
until new political conditions should arise
upon which the people might divide. Ii
the war should be short, sharp and espe-
ciallv brilliant and rebound much to our
national credit, it would be long time and
the reasons extraordinary before the Ameri-
can people turned their backs upon the party
that successfully prosecuted it.
Would 1t Lead to a Mid Monarchy?
There is another result of such a war-a
result more important to us as nation
than the war itself, and that is the increase
of the existing tendency toward national
ism or Capitalization. The present genera
tion has witnessed the gradual but certain
obliteration of State lines and the merging
of powers originally reserved to the several
States in the general Government at Wash
ington, until there is very little material
independence left to the former. The mod
ifcation in our Government form is still
going on. 1t needs only powerful navy
and increased standing army on the one
hand and Federal control of the railroad and
telegraph lines on the other to prepare MS
fer a species of paternalism and federal
domination not only never contemplated by |
the founders of this Government, but never |
dreamed of by the widest socialistic vision |
aries of 1860. War develops the national |
feeling, and the powers of the Federal Gov |
eminent are increased by the peoples repre- |
sentatives in Congress assembled. War |
strengthens the Union st the expense of the |
autonomy of its several parts. Pretty soon |
we shall have one of the most formidable |
nayies of the civilized world, and our sea-
coast Will bristle with modern defenses. For |
every man who is ready to go to war now |
we shall then have 100 belligerent citizens,
and for every Federal uniform at the pub /
lie crib at present We shall then have ten |
liveried officials; and finally, to support |
this national magnifcence a tax of So will
grow where only 81 grew before. As we
depart from our national simplicity and |
assume the grandeur of empire we must ac-
cept the consequences in increased taxation,
the surrender Of our local individuality and
the sacrifice of personal liberty.
1t will iniure nobody to look the truth in
the face and the act may fortify us against
the surprises that are doubtless lying in
wait beneath the yet impenetrable shadows
Of the future.
CHARLES THEODORE MURRAY.