The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-12-23
WAR AS A RELIEF.
All Europe Seeks Escape from the Burden
OF Standing Armies.


Europe's annual outlay for war.
like purposes has been continually
growing for more than twenty years,
aud Is now much greater than former
generations supposed the people
could endure, says the Youths Com
panion. Many persons have expect
ed that the armament must eventual
ly bankrupt some Of the govern
ments- Or, at all events, il has been
feared that some government, seeing
bankruptcy sure TO come il armed
peace continued, would desperately
bring on
The reasoning in such a case would
it is supposed. be this: National ruin
will come If We cannot pay our way
because, in that case, we should have
TO reduce our forces, and so be at the
mercy Of neik hbors not yet bankrupt;
Dothing worse than national ruin can
come Of war; we might beat u OPP
ponents, and force them TO pay us
some great amount Of money; finally,
the war would probably become gen
eral, and be so destructive that the
nations would arterward consent TO a
general d%isarming, and thus relieve
us Of the military burden.
But a distinguished English states
man, well yerscd in such matters,
declares that IL is a popular error TO
suppose that the European govern
ments are becoming less able TO pay
for their forces. He says Italy is the
only great power in such danger, and
that France, Germany, Austria-Hun-
gary and Russia are all more capable
than formerly OF meeting the military
expense
No doubt the English statesman is
correct so long as he confines his at
tention to the condition Of national
treasures. But this does not show
that the military expenses are not
ruinous. 1t proves nothing except
that the finance ministers have sue
ceeded IN increasing taxes faster than
the war ministers have increased
army expenses.
The effect OF the ornaments is not
shown in depleted public treasures so
much as Ia masses near starvation.
A treasury may be very full, and a
people very empty. Such a condition
Was often seer in France under the
monarchy, and often in Oriental
countries. But that an empty peo-
pie can long continue 70 I'LL a treas
ury is disproved by the evidence of
all history.
1t is notorious that the masses in
Italy were never poorer than now.
Travellers through the country are
shocked by the desperate poverty of a
people taxed almost beyond endur-
ancc Over great districts OF Rus
STA the situation Of the multitude is
frightful. In France and Germany.
Socialism, the political creed OF those
VINO find life scarcely worth living,
advances apace.
Europe, including comparatively
wealthy England, has seldom seen
strikes so great and poverty so dis
tressing as of late. The diseases
that spread from lack Of nutrition
and comfort stalk over the continent.
These things explain the prosperous
treasures OF the present On almost
every article Of human consumption
taxes have been laid for military pur-
poses and milit ~ debts.
While the wealth Of every country
has been increased by modern inven-
tions, the masses Of Europe have not
been permitted TO enjoy their due
share of the gain. 1t has heep taken
from them 10y the skilful devisers OF
taxation, and spent in ships, guns,
uniforms, powder, torpedoes, autumn
manu uvres and brilliant military dis
plays.
Under this strain a reminding OF
national animosities S apparent 1t
was hoped 10y the last generation that
race hatreds would gradually die
out.
But nothing is more striking in
these days than that the continental
peoples are quick to resent every
movement OF "A neighbor that a pos
sibly be construed as defiance. Moth
ing but eagerness for war could re-
suit from the feeling Of each nation
that it is taxed to w~retchedness in
being compelled TO go armed TO the
teeth because its neighbors do so.
This general eXasreration is what
is likely TO bring on war soon, and
not the lack Of treasury funds
Tale nf Z no Sfrin