The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-16
WAR EXCITEMENT AND BUSINESS.

A prominent railroad man is reported as
saying that the excitement regarding the
war and the now seeming certainty of war
are already injuriously affecting business.
1t should not be surprising if it were
The prospect of war engrosses public at
tention. 1t is the chief topic of conversa-
ton in every place where men meet Even
this detraction of attention from business
would prove harmful if there were not a
prospect of war. Anything which diverts
attention as does the war excitement must
interfere with the success of the usual en-
Payments of men. The man who negects
his business is quite sure to fail. For the
same reason when men are drawn away
from their affairs to talk of a single topic
they cannot give that careful attention to
the details of their business that they will
under ordinary conditions. People become
uneasy and uncertain. Many will not pur-
chase what they have intended to purchase
because they are not quite certain. Dealers
will place small orders because they are
not sure what the future will bring. Many
will let things go because they are so much
interested in the prospect of war. This
was the experience of the early days of the
civil war, but it changed as the war
went on.
There is no reason why a war with Spain
should interfere with the vast internal bust
ness of the United States. No invader will
reach our shores to interrupt business. No
large force of men will be. drawn away
from the general industries of the country
to engage in war, thus disturbing the de-
mand for merchandise. 1t is not probable
that more than 10000 men will be called
into the service to prepare for war. The
calling of these should stimulate production
in some lines rather than curtail it. A
protracted war might interfere with our
exports, but Great Britain, Germany and
other nations dependent upon our wheat,
other food products and cotton would not
be prevented from shipping as freely as
now, even If Spain should resort to pri-
watering to harass commerce on the ocean
under the flag of the United States.
Nor should there be any uncertainty as
to the result of the war except that it
will add to the present taxes of the people
and the bonded debt of the country. While
the war for the Union was being fought
there was a great deal of uncertainty re-
garding the result which tended to I'M
settle values depending upon future condi-
tions Now there can be nothing of the
kind. There is no. danger of any loss of
territory by the United States. The values
on farms factories and railroads cannot be
materially affected. A dividend-paying
stock will continue to pay dividends, while
the future of the great mass of speculative
stocks cannot be affected by war as the
ups and downs of quotations would indi-
cate. Nor can long war, which might
affect business, be expected. All recent
wars between nations more evenly balanced
in regard to capacity to fight have been of
short duration. Therefore the adjustments
consequent upon war will not be of a char
acter to interfere with business on the re-
turn of peace.
In any view which can be taken of the
prospect or certainty of war it cannot seri-
ously interfere with the business of the
country unless people, by being involved in
the excitement, neglect their affairs or con-
ceive conditions which do not and cannot
exist unless they create them by doubt and
inaction