Evening star., 1898-07-23

A/to the conclusion that
ET% her power of resist
| #%HT%N$ ance to the United
! IMASRTf;$%>S States is ended.
| NASSSM&&> Peace at any price"
L :.:s T.: I =: . !: s,:: ns::; :s: 4; f. !;
n S00STAM all European capi-
IA LTN\ tails.
'FNNSg But what shall the
I# N~M price of peace be?
Uncle Sam must an
sWer that question. II is for him to name
the amount of the indemnity Since ma
tlons first began to fight the rule which
ccmpels the defeated to pay roundlv for
deteat has prevailed. so much of Your
territory and SO much of your money has
oeeh invariably the final word of the con-
queror to the conquered
In the earlier wars Of the century some
notable precedents have been made from
winch an idea may be formed of the size
oL the Dill shortly to be made out by the
United States against Spain. The principle
followed has been that, both in territory
and in cash, the defeated nation is liable
to pay for its experience. a far-off but
famous Illustration of this principle is
found in the terms of peace dictated by
the allied powers of Europe to France
after the fall of Napoleon at Waterloo Not
only were various pieces of French terri
tory appropriated, but her important
frontier fortresses We're held for five years
by an army of occupation" which the
ffehch treasury was made to pay and
support
AS result of the three wars between
Great Britain and China qs40, 1857 and
1850 the Chinese government. besides ced-
ing Hong Kong to the victorious British
ana opening several of her ports to trade,
was made to pay an indemnity amounting
in all TO about S}5,O00,000. In the case of
the war between the United States and
Mexico when the terms of peace were die
tated by our government, compensation
was taken wholly in territory. Mexico was
too poor at that time to pay cash in
demnity equivalent to the cost of the war.
which was about 800, 100000. So We took
California and New Mexico instead of
money, and considered the bargain so good
that we paid $15000oo0 to the Mexican gov
ernment as additional consideration for
the transfer
The Alabama Award.
Although net strictly a war indemnity
that paid by Great Britain on account Of
the depredations Of the Alabama during
our civil war is of timely interest as ex
employing the extent to which claims for
compensation may be built up and cut
down. AS originally put forward the
American claims practically comprised
every item in the expense of the war from
the day on which the Alabama put to sea.
The prolongation of the war was attributed
entirely to her, and she was, therefore,
made responsible for this, as well as for
the loss suffered by American commerce
through its tranSference to foreign vessels
and the increased rates of maritime iusur-
aEce. The Geneva Tribunal, however, de-
cided that such indirect results of the Ala
bama' S depredations could not be included
n 10 md "a d.,
Io,SI5,oo0 as an equivalent for the injury
actually done to the United States through
the fault or negligence of England.
The recent war between China and Japan
was terminated by the peace of Shimo-
noskf three years ago. By the treaty
China agreed to pay Japan a sum equiva-
lent to 115,oO0,oOO. In addition, she ceded
the Island of Formosa to her conquerors,
recognized the independence of Corea and
consented to open four new treaty ports.
The war between Prussia and Austria in
1866 was rounded off by the payment of a
notable indemnity by the vanquished Aus
TRANS In addition to the territorial ag-
glandizement of Prussia and the exclusion
of Austria from the German bund, the
treaty of Prague, which terminated the
var, provided for the payment by Austria
of an indemnity of 10000. 600 Prussian thai
ers, or about $4,000, 600. From this amount
however, deduction was made of 10000
thalers, representing Austrian claims on
Schleswig- -Holstein, and 5000 900 thalers as
an equivalent for the free maintenance of
the Prussian army in Austria, pending the
conclusion of peace.
An Enormous sum.
The heaviest war indemnity of modern
times was, Of course. that paid by France
at the close of the war with Germany.
The hostilities lasted over eight months,
and the total cost of the war was estimated
at 1850, 100000. Beside the cession of AL
SAGE and Lorraine, France had to pay Ger
many five milliards of francs ts1, 900 900 ooo)
in installments which were allowed to ex-
tend over three years. The original de-
ntand OF Germany was six milliardS or
Snopeo,oo0 more. NJ. Theirs stroye in vain
to save Metz, but it was to his exertions
that the reduction in the amount of the in
demnlty was due
The cost of the RuSso-Turkish war of
1877 has been estimated at S945, 900, 900. Be
tween the declaration of war by Russia
and the treaty OF San Stefano nearly eleven
months elapsed. By this treaty the porte
admitted itself indebted to Russia in the
sum of 1,410, 900, 900 rubles (about $725 co.,
ouo) as indemnity for the losses and eX-
penses of the war. The items in the ac-
count were as follows: Four hundred and
sixty millions for war expenses S2O5-
o0O,O00 for damage done to the south coast
OF Russia, her export commerce, industries
and railways; $55000,00O for injuries
caused by the invasion of the Caucasus
and s5,000,o00 for injuries suffered by Rus
sian subjects and establishments in Tur-
key. In consideration of the financial en-
berrassments of the Ottoman empire, the
car consented to accept in substitution
for about three-ffths of the total sum the
various territorial cessions sanctioned by
the treaty Of Berlin. This left balance of
S225000,00O due to Russia by Turkey, and a
part of it is still unpaid.
The latest and most lenient war indemni-
t. was that levied by victorious Turkey on
Greece last year. The sultan was obliged
by the great powers Of Europe to cut 1t
down to 100000, which was not a fourth
part OF what it actually cost him.
Cost of American Wars.
few comparative figures. taken from
official records, win serve to put the great
il crease in the cost of war now conduct
ed with all the modern improvements, in a
clear light. Our war for independence last
ed eight years, and its cost is officially re-
corded as sl35.o0o,oo0, using round figures
There were about $4,000 troops engaged in
that war-one-third more than have been |
called out in the present conflict with |
Spain. 1t follows that, accepting Mr.. Ding
leys estimate of $500. 600 a year as the ]
cost of the present war, il is going to cost |
four times much to fight Spain for one |
year in 1898 as it cost to fight Great Britain 4
for thu eight years from 1775 to 1888 The |