The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-09
WAR is COSTLY.

IT is strange how many DeoltIc belleNS
that war would be helpful to the coun-
try. One of our contemporaries takes
rho ground that it would create de
mand for arms, ammunition, supplies
Of all sorts and provisions; that 1t would
give employment to all idle and unem-
nloyed:s that the proceeds of bonds,
i4gner taxes and grcenbacks that would
he issued would put money in circnia-
ton: and that war would therefore
make us prosperous.
There never was a greater fallacy. LII
is true that war would temporarily give
a better market for military supplies
and provisions, but it would take from
the regular and peaceful avocations the
returns which depend upon stable condi-
tions. The money turned loose to pay
the enormous expenses of war would
not help any except army contractors
and farmers raising hog and hominy.
Industries would become stagnant; taxes
would be al-embracing and very high;
uncertainty and disturbed conditions
would close many factories; and the
same disastrous results that have ever
accompanied war would befall the coun-
try.
last war cost 100000 to conduct
and the pensions paid since amount to
$2,664, 100000 total of Still 100000.
Every cent of this has been paid or is to
be paid by taxation. War necessitates
a system of Federal taxation that
touches everything. The Journal of
Commerce gives the following table OF
tie taxation levied by Congress during
the late war:
Candles, 3 per cent; coal. ) cents 3
ton: animal and vegetable oils. 5 cents a
gallon: mineral oil, 20 cents gallon:
gas, 10 cents a thousand feet; ground
coffee and substitutes, a cent a pound;
molasses, 5 cents a gallon; candy. about
10 per cent; saleratus andbicarbonate of
2 mills, and grain starch, } mills per
pound. White lead, oxide of zinc, salt.
umbrellas, paper, pigiron rolled brass,
textiles, ready-made clothing, rivets and
numerous other articles. Carriages We're
taxed from 81 to $40, silver watches paid
81 and gold watches So each, pianos 81
TO Sc, yachts So TO $50, billiard-tables
$40. and silver plates ; cents an ounce
over and above certain number of
ounces in spoons.
.'Amusements were taxed 2 per cent.
Banks paid Ia of one per cent. month
ly on deposits and the same rate on capi-
tai. Newspapers were assessed 5 PEI
cent on receipts from advertising. Each
animal slaughtered paid a tax; transpor-
tation companies paid 21a per cent. on
their gross receipts, express companies
3 per cent, telegraph companies per
cent, insurance companies 112 per cent.
Stamps were required on all legal docu-
ments, checks. and proprietary articles
An income tax, a tax on legacies, and
the distribution of personal property
and the succession to real estates were
also among the taxes imposed"
The Journal of Commerce figures that,
including interest. the cost of the civil
war will ultimately he twelve thousand
million dollars-"equal to the entire as
sessed valuation, or to three-fourths OF
the estimated true valuation Of all the
property in the United States in 1860. :
1860"
We do not quote these figures because
they prove that war ought not to follow
if Spain does not recede from this posi-
ton, but to enter a protest to the super
fetal idea that war is in any sense a
thing to be desired Nothing but the
protection of national honor and the
promptings of humanity could make war
righteous. If we have to engage in war.
ii is much better to do so with the knowl-
edge that it means loss of life. loss OF
business, depreciation of property, sor-
row and priyations. In righteous
cause brave men do not let these out
weigh their patriotism, but they realize
at the time all the blessings of peace and
surrender them only when they can be
purchased with cowardice and the cost
of honor.
The Winston Republican commends
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