The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-12
TIE WORLD AT PEACE.
The Longest Period Without Combat OF
Arms In a Hundred Years.
New York Sun, April 81


To-day is the one hundredth year
anniversary of the formation of the
Committee Of Public Safety in Paris,
the beginning Of the protracted and
bloody commotioEs which did not
cease for twenty-five years. These wars
cost the nations of Europe S., 5,000,00 900
in money and the loss of 100000 lives.
There was period of peace from 1915
10 1928, and then a renewal of warfare,
internationally, until l84S, when revo-
lutionary disturbances occurred in
most European countries. The loss by
war during the period then closing is
computed at S5OO,OO0,0O0 in money,
and at $4,000 in soldiers lives.
After only six years Of peace the
Crimean war began in 1854, and lasted
until March 1856, the date of the treaty
of Paris. Three years later the Franco
Austrian war followed in Italy, and
these two conflicts entailed upon the
participants cost of $1,000, 100000 and
the loss of $4,000 lives.
A brief two years of peace preceded
the terrible civil conflict in the United
States, the most desperate and momen-
tous Of modern times. No computa-
ton of the indirect losses is possible,
but the national debt, it is known, in-
creased from $90,OOO,OOO in 1861 to
$2,775, 100000 in 1856, an addition of
more than s2,5O0, 1000, 900, exclusive of
the losses to the Confederacy, to the
several States, and to individuals-very
probably as much more. The fatali-
ties in the two armies are generally put
at about 100000. Frances assault
upon Mexico was made during the
American civil conflict; so, too, was
the sharp but short Schleswig- g-Holstein
war iE Europe. There was scarcely
day of peace before the war broke out
again between Austria and Prussia;
then came the Franco-German war.
and these, with wars in Spain, China,
and South America, cost $4,000, 900, 900
and 100000 lives.
On this followed another four years
of peace, and then the breaking out of
hostilities on the Danube and war be-
tween Russia and Turkey. In March,
1878, the provisional treaty of San
Stefano was agreed upon, and since
that time, for fifteen years, there has
been no war between important ma
tions or in civilized lands.
The world is at peace. For a longer
period than has been observed before,
during the present century or during
the past oneShundred years, there have.
been no conspicuous bloody conflicts.
Many European nations have been
paying the money penalty Of war by
maintaining huge standing armies, ter
ribly armed and perfectly drilled.
But there has been no loss of life, no
tell-tale story of widows and orphans,
devastation of lands and homes, and
no new veterans crippled in active SER
vice.
The anthem Of peace has superseded
the reveille for the time being, and
may it long so be! The arts of thrift
and trade are those most cultivated,
and the general happiness is greater
for this reason. In our own country
the people, supreme in their own au-
thority, and stronger always than the
official servants who perform the rou-
tine duties of administration, are Sc
cure with but a handful of soldiers.
The territorial limits of the republic
ARE soon to be extended, but only by
pacific methods and for the equal ad.
vantage of all concerned.
Happy is the era of peace!