Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-10-13
EDUCATION Of THE PEOPLE.

There are some advantages after all in
being 'a fourth-rate power" as our anna
BILE British journal, forgetful of several
chapters of history, recently called the
United States, says the Washington Post.
| 1t costs enormously, not only in direct
expenditures, but in divertiug labor from
productive employments, to keep great
armies ready for offensive or defensive
action. The fact that our immense nat
ural resources are supplemented by an
almost equal advantage in geographical
move forward faster and farther during
this century than any other country has
ever moved in the same length of time.
This is not Boosting, but proper recog-
milton of a great and benefcent truth for
which we are more indebted to nature
than to any other cause. The founders
of the republic displayed as much sggaci-
ty in securing to the full extent the bene-
fits derivable from eur wide separation
from Europe as they did in the construc-
ton of our constitution. By adopting
the policy of non-interference in old
world affairs, they obviated the necessity
of spending our earnings and eating
up our resources in the maintenance of
armies.
Instead of keeping great masses of
armed men IN camp and garrison in tune
of peace, we keep great armies of boys
and girls in our free schools. writer in
Harper's Weekly gives statistics to the
effect that where the following countries
spend 81 per capita for the maintenance
of an army and navy, they pay per capita
for education: The United States, 3d. As;
Austria, 46 cents; Prussia, 25 cents; Italy,
"a cents; France, Is cents; England, IS
cents; Russia, u cents.
There Is glory in being "a fourth-rate
power" and, so far as relates to the reg
ular army, that is too high a rating. Com
pare our army with the average of the
countries named in Harper's and we are
scarcely tenth-rate power. And because
we have been enabled by nature and
prompted by choice to keep that low rat
ing, our nation is stropg-stroug for its
share in all good works in paths of peace.
strong in the intelligence and patriotism
of the masses, and, therefore, strong for
the defense of its rights. 1t is so strong,
and the elements of its strength are so
well known and appreciated in all coun-
tries, that it is no more exposed to an at
tempt at invasion by foreign army
than it would be if we had a million
trained soldiers ready to repel invaders
The writer who furnishes the statistics
quoted above, comments thus on the ad-
vance of this country.
"The natural conditions for great mate
rial development have existed for untold
ages and would have remained undevel-
oped today had not knowledge, am bition,
and EN- ployment combined to open mines,
fell forests and cultivate ttfe soil. peo-
pie may have knowledge and ambition,
but without employment to bring money
into hand, ambition cannot be satisfied,
and therefore demand for protection is
not forthcoming. Ifambitio be lacking,
there is no disposition to demand. If
knowledge be lacking, employment is i'm
possible"
1t may not be possible for the United
States to avoid foreign wars forever, but
it is highly improbable that We shall ever
be required to send large land force in
any dlrecti By steadily adheriug to
our old policy of minding our own bust
ness we may reasonably count on con
tiuued exemption from the necessity of
great army. Realizing this hope we
shall 60 forward expanding for education
20 times as much as England. And the
chances are, if we may judge the future
by the past, that in any test of strength
even "fourth-rate" or tentb-rate power.
will be able to care for itself.