Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1898-07-08
WAR AND PROSPERITY.


II it be true, as some financial
journals claim, that a foreign war,
with it's enormous destruction Of
property and life, would stimulate
business, a more severe indictment
against the present industrial sys-
tenn could not be imagined. One
wonders whether those who believe
in the truth Of such prophecies real
Sze how pleasing to the Socialists
aust be this assumed connection Of
var with prosperity under the pres
ent industrial regime. If our lead
ing business men, however, believe
there is such connection, the time
has arrived for serious study of
the causes OF such an abnormal, sit.
nation.
Thus declares Professor e. w.
Bemis. There is not the slightest
doubt bnt that under our existing
System" of society destructive war
ia the best thing that can happen.
The next best thing is big fire.
Almost any calamity is a good thing
for "business." You must under
stand that in order to have good
times we must destroy things. This
gives people a chance to work"
Under our System" work is the
main object the one thing which
prevents everybody from having
plenty Of work. is the fact that too
many things have already been pro-
duced. Hence a war or a fire is not
curse but blessing. 1t destroys
She enemy of work. Just as soon as
you lombard and burn down a town
The lucky workmen have a chance
to rebuild it. This sets things to 60
ing. This makes good times. This
10 about the only way you can OBJ
tain prosperity under our existing
System" Of society.
Anything which does away with
work is menance to good times
under our System" The labor-say-
ing machine is one Of the great
causes Of depression. The depart
ment store, which takes away the
Occupation of the retailer is an
other foe to work" Nothing SO
debilitates a nation as a series OF
years of good crops, peaceful indus
try, enhanced methods of produc-
tion and improved SYSTEMS of econ
omy This is sure to cause an over
production, and nothing so surely
brings ruin to q community as the
realization of the awful truth thai
the supply OF goods has increased
and the supply of ework " decreased
In order. to understand this, it mus
be kept in mind that the man wht
works has nothing whatever to d.
with that which he creates. 1t il
not his. He has no claim on it
He gets wages, and when he pro
auees too much his wages are shu
off. This country meyer enjoyed a
ngood times" as those in the years
when 2,500,000 men were at eacl
others throats, and the flames O
factories and dwellsngs litup scene
of carnage. 1t never enjoyed sucl
bad times as when peace hoveret
over the nation and invention len
its cunning to industry.
Do not for a moment think thi
an argument for war. 1t is simpl,
q statement of facts, and one which
places the seal ofcriminal stupidit,
upon what we term our "presen
system of society" The day is dawn
ing when no calamity can breet
blessings, The time at hand whel
no blessing can curse a people. 4
society which depends for its pros
perity on the destruction of it's prop
erty and the slaughter Of its citizen
will fall fits own weight. And sue
is our present system of society
The New Time.
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