The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-27
soUANDERING MONEY.

The magnificent display Of war vessels
at the opening of the Kiel canal is graft
flying to national pride. The people OF
each country represented there read with
vanity Of the fine vessels with their ex-
pensive armament OF destructive weapons.
The German emperor, in face of evidence
that every great nation had within the
past few years vastly increased its prepa-
rations for war. was pleased to say that
1t all afforded assurance OF peace. 1t is a
diplomatic saying In Europe that TO DO
prepared for war Is the best way TO pre-
serve peace. This is on the theory that
nations viii not go to war with another
OF whose strength they stand in fear.
But 1t is very poor policy and one can
sympathize with Gen. Turr. OF Hungary.
who deplored the enormous cost of stand
ing armies and OF navies. He once said
that Bismarcks achievements had cost
Europe moro than s., O0o. 000, 900. II account
f. only taken Of tho last twenty-five years
OF armed terrorism.
This may be true: the figures may not
he exact. but the cost has been enormous.
strictly correct. although they open UP
an interesting field for speculation. Gen.
Turr SAYS that if only two-thirds Of that
sum had been employed to Increase the
general wealth and welfare. and 20 i'm
prove the lot Of the working classes in
town and country. tho social question
would not now weigh Ike n fearful night
marc on all Europe.
The money might certainly have been
devoted 20 the erection OF buildings and
museums. TO the establishment OF Il
brarlcs and the Identification OF parks.
The world would have been better. no
doubt. especially ~ all these improve
meuts were accompanied by tho assur-
ance that the need of self-defense would
never arise. But Is Il true that the money
would have done moro good to the mass OF
the peop,ee Bricklayers and stonemasons
would have becn employed. but What OF
the steel plate makers. gun founders and
all the great army which LAS been en-.
ployed in the conztructior---of neld and
naval requirements? The money has been
distributed not most wisely as 20 purposes.
perhaps. bat certainly It was paid out 20
workmeu. 20 architects. engineers. ne
ohanics. draughtsnen and the rest.
When a building Vas being crested In
Seattle. the owner OF a large block spene
considerable money IN the construction OF
fesselatcd orramentatIon- He could have
hoarl.,d the money or applied Il 20 other
purposes: but every little Hlock % stone.
worthless In cha quarry. represented
money pat out for labor. He was de-
foun>ed as extravugaut BY Popullsts: vet
all the extra cost was circulated among
those Who "a IRE work Where one or
two slabs 81 stone wou.- have suffice 4.
hundreds 81 dollars were PAID 20 rnasous
% piece the tiny blocks which served only
TO bcautifv.
We often hear men % wealth cor
Seraned fo- t1aeIr extravaganza. They buy
carriages. have yachts 5uNt. erc>t fine
houses. Keep up large establishments.
These are the men who help 20 take money
cut ~ SIS haar5sd treasures and scatter
/ g. among the people. They often spend &
AZ au4 cuee again take their place with
the poor ara improvldeut. No good de-
/ Tense cou Lee made OF such undue ex-
trayagance: bl; that IS Only be>auSe Il
usually ini2ovorishcs tho cxtrRvsgant-
Those MO proGt BY e. neei nos complain.
OF course the chef objection 10 the ex-
pea4Sage Of money On war deylces Is that