Evening journal., 1898-06-24
WHAT WAR. MnANr

ashes or war since authentic history
began is beyond all estimate. 1t has
been computed that the loss OF human
life alone i'm that time from war
amounts to fourteen thousand million
souls-a number equivalent to the en-
tire population OF the globe for the
last $50 years. 1t should be noted here
that the class OF mem who are drafted
or accepted for military service are in
variaIbly the very class who, by reason
OF age, health and strength, are the
most valuable to the world from the
purify economic and material stand
point. They are the stalwart, intelli-
gent, capable men. In this country
economists have set the definite value
OF $4,000 upon the average man con-
sidered as wealth producer. Taking
this figure as the general standard of
the value OF a man, It Gamble seen what
an inconceivable amount OF wealth In
the shape OF men has been destroyed on
the battlehelds OF the world since time
began.
The war losses OF the United States
have not been as great, COM
paratively. as those OF other civilized
nations in recent times. but even the
totals here are sufficient to show the
absurdity of the supposition that either
now or any other time we may reap
| apor.to1 ,.,f. n.,- tbo -q,1-fo- 80 1,of
tie. The annual expenditure OF the
United States during the war of the
revolution was $2O,OOO,OO In specie.
Most of this money was raised by pub
lie loans in, the form Of paper currency.
The diminishing value of this slender
security Inevitably brought about the
boarding of gold. The consequent
scarcity OF real money. as matter OF
course, was followed by suffering wide
spread and intense.
Our second war with England lasted
only TWO years, but 1t cost us s72,000,-
600 to wndlcate our cause. just and
righteous as it was. And this did not
include the losses to our merchant ma
rine from English privateering, a loss
beyond computation, even In those
times of our comparative commercial
} poverty.
Our second war with England lasted
4 only two years. but IT cost US $72,OO0,-
! For the folly of the Mexican war
we had to pay dearly in men and treas
t ure, loss for which our acquisition
) OF territory did not compensate. The
I lives OF more than 5000 American citi.
Z zens was part OF the price we pait
e for that display of power and some
9 thing more than SOS, 900, 900 for military
e disbursements was another part.
e For the civil war the figures OF los
I ali around amount up to stupendoui
2 totals. The immediate financial losse
8 were $4,000, ,OOO, 900 to the North an,
s., 10000 900 to the South, with sucl
= after results as a national debt of 50,
5 900, 100000, a crippled merchant ma
> rine, ruined agricultural community
II besides the losses occasioned in othe
II parts OF the world, including those con
% sequent upon the cotton famine OF Ian
e cashire and the loss OF employment L
more than 100000 European laborers
Such, at least, are the losses compute
s by Leroy-T5eaulieu in his LES Guerre
Q Contemporaries causing him thus q
t, close his chapter on our civil war
II Such is war It's nature is so homi
u cidal that it Stays thousands OF victim
'e even at a distance OF thousands O
j. miles from the battlefield"
3 Coming to things at the present mo
,e ment, It is proper to bear In mind tn
)t fact, given on indulbitalble authority
that according to the plans now an
I. ranged 1t viii cost about 800 900, 90
|; month to carry on our military oper
n ations. One may compute for hlmsel
lie what that means for a year OF war o
ot longer. We have also In this expens
N account such items as these: Tha
b. every one Of our big defence guns COS
T. from 100000 to 100000 for making
ID and 81 900 and upward for every she
ir fired. An engagement between tw
r, great modern battleships win COS
'p about 100000 an hour. And for ever
ID one OF such battleships destroyed a
Investment Of $4,000, 600 or more wi
D. be wiped out. Ten OF our war vessel
ia now in service represent a total ez
70 pense to the nation OF S29 100000. Thi
ce is a large amount Of capital placed q
II a great risk.
d. It may be admitted that the first II
lie suits Of war just now viii be benefici'
a to many lines Of trade and industry.
a. will stimulate some kinds OF busine!
n as with gaivanic shock; It will giY
as employment to many unemployed;
OF will create new and large demands Il
s. certain products, and thus will seei
y. for a time to justify the belief thi
r. war pays. But, experience, to 81
ey nothing of common sense, teaches I