The herald., 1898-04-08

might be dispensed with, the salt was
essential to the life Of the poor.
| Notwithstanding these heavy drafts
upon the resources of the toiling masses,
however, they were not nearly sufficient
to meet the extraordinary expenses of
| the government, and resort was therefore
had to the treasure chests of the rich.
the terms being such as were dictated by
the Shylocks Of the period.
The cost of war has in the past quarter
Of a century increased almost beyond
the comprehension of the average citi-
zen. The cost of single modern bat
tleship would have sufficed. in 1861, to
build and equip an entire fleet Of vessels
of that period. A single discharge from
one of the big guns now employed in
coast defense and in the navy costs
enough to purchase a cannon or mortar
gun such as was used in the Mississippi
fiotilla.
The money cost of war today is the
greatest deterrent of war extant. Only
the richest nations can now afford to
Tie luxury VI Wal. Lie GA
pense of it serves to cool the patriotic
ardor. to soften the language employed
in communication between nations. to
stay the blood-letting impulse.
But why should not the class that
alone profited by the war of the rebellion
welcome an opportunity to harvest an
other crop from the same fruitful field?
The answer is obvious.
They know that the people Of this
country will never again submit to a
repetition Of the exactions of the last
war period.
They know that in the event Of an
cannot be safely resisted, for a more
even distribution of the burdens.
They realize that the American people
will not again permit them to reap all
of the benefits and escape all of the
burdens.
They feel we'll assured that the disil-
lusioned and enlightened spirit of the
age will prove equal to the emergency,
and that quite different means will be
adopted for raising revenues for carry
ing on war.
They fear that the sense Of justice
of the people of this country will insist
that, if the poor man contributes his
life to the cause, the man of wealth must
with the same liberality contribute of
his substance; that, while the one is
pouring out his blood, the other must
pour out his treasure; that the tax
gatherer must touch lightly the home
stead of the man at the front and look
for adequate funds with which to feed
and clothe him while upholding the flag
from the man safely ensconced in his
counting room, far from danger, and
performing no more arduous or patriotic
duty than clipping coupons.
They appreciate the fact that condi-
tions have changed, and that with the
change has come different spirit-a ma
tional spirit that would not again COM
placently submit to the unequal distri-
button of blessings and burdens; that
would not acquiesce in the payment of
$13 month to soldiers at the front, and
I3O per cent interest to usurers in the
rear-to the payment of one in 35-cent
dollar and the other in 81 dollar.
They greatly fear that the govern
ment, if it shall have to draft the men,
may see the equal justice of also draft
ing the money.
The lessons of the war, and of the third
of century following, have not been
lost upon the people Of this country, and
the capitalistic class is fully conscious
of the fact.
For long time they scoffed at the
agitation of the Changers and the Pop
ulists. But when sober and sensible de-
Lucrative bodies, like the legislatures of
New York and Indiana-dominate
neither by Democratic nor Populistic
anarchists" but by Republican "an-
archists "-accentuated the popular un-
rest and dissatisfaction in the passage
of antitrust and inheritance tax laws,
they reached the conclusion that there
is more profit in peace than In war;
greater safety in the continuance of
quiet, decorous government; a larger
measure of security in postponing the
inevitable readjustment hinted at by
distinguished ex-president Of the United
States in a recent speech at Chicago, in
which he said:
If there is not enough public virtue
left in our communities to make tax
frauds discreditable; if there is not
vrility enough left in our laws, and in
the administration of justice in our
courts, TO bring to punishment those
who defraud the state and their neigh
bors; If crimes of fraud may stalk uu-
rebuked and unpunished in our streets,
how long will it be until crimes of vio-
lence make insecure the fortunes that
nave refused to contribute rataby to
the cost OF maintaining social order?
war encourages the murderous in
stinct. 1t makes Grimes of violence"
common. 1t licenses turbulence and af-
fords vent for popular discomfort and
unrest.
Capital knows and fears It.
Hence, not for moment losing sight
of other considerations, the slogan is:
Millions for peace-not a cent for trib
ute"