The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-10
vation.
From the philadclhia Times.

From the philadclhia Times.
In view Of the impending crisis be-
tween England and Frame over the
Fashoda affair in Africa, tho sugees-
ton of the czar of Russia that a gen
cral disarmament Of the vast armies
OF continental Europc take place as
sumes not only vast polt cal hut hut
manitarian and commercial importance.
While it may seem very pr1blcmatical
that thcIion, Bear and Ed gle rest ~
peace ard amity with the Lilies,
they will undoubtedly arter one or two
more costly experiences like the His
pano- American difference of opinion
accomplish the much desired ANA
long for result, viz. an unanncd ANA
peaceful Europe.
But one glance at Spain ana italy
at the present day suiiiccs to paint in
glowing colors an object lesson much
sadly needed. and which up to the
present time had not been needed Here
are two countries each in its day the
greatest the world has scen-the former
an impressive object lesson of what
may happen to nations who continue
these expensive and disastrous war pa
geants in time of peace, and thus be
tempted by fortune to try the des-
sunk in abieCt bankruptcy and the
people ground down to poverty in one
of the richest and fairest countries of
the universe simply to maintain this
mighty pagCantry, which sooner or lat
er will crush out the very life blood
of its people.
In this country We have no idea OF
the enormous drains, financially and
otherwise. upon the social. business and
intellectual portion of country ncceS-
sary TO keep up the vast standing
armies, keep pace with and provide for
the modern military engines Of de-
Struction.
VAST WASTE.
For instance, France and England
today have been spending more money
in time of peace than we have in our
Spanish war to be prepared to hold or
claim dominion over a few tracts Of
wild land in Asia or AfricG which pro-
duCe no remuneration i'm the way Of
commerce, and probably never will.
These vast sums, if diverted into
business, educational or charitable
purposes. would cause such a state Of
industry and progress as would aston
ish the thinking people cf today. In
addition to this, instead of billing up
monumental pyramids of debt for pos
terity, they would bequelth to their
descendants a continent whose pOssi-
biIities at the present day are un-
dreamed of, while at the same time
by peacefully and scientifically devel-
uping the Far East and Africa, would
add materially to the worId's wealth,
and thus indirectly to the worlds civ
ilization,
Another great point. possibly over
looked by the vast majority of peo-
pie. but which forcibly strikes the rul-
ers and tinanciers of these countries
is the frightful number of drones which
each country is obliged TO support for
the future contingency of war. While
it may sound harsh to say that large
standing army represents a. colony of
drones, such is the fact, and there can
he no Eainsaying such "a statement.
Take Cor instarCc the standing armies
of the world today on "a peace footing.
and then look at the population Of
those countries:
Officers and Men,
Russia uEuropcan) Observation-Disclosures. 7o1 500
hefnahS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 5Sj, 40
france. Observation-Disclosures. IlG O44
NuSIla-hunSary ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 35S, ,G97
1tdlE '.,'...,.,.,..........,... &l,?jl
tinted Kingdom Observation-Disclosures. 16} $50
nted states NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 5000
All with the exception of Italy and
the United Kingdom have larger peace
military establishments than the Unit
ed States has had in the war Just end
ed. This difference is most marked
however, when one compares the arm
les as they exist with the total popu-
lation of these cOuntries-men women
and childrcn-aS follows:
Russia dn Europe .............., l06llt5No
hled states Observation-Disclosures. 100000
Germany .,...........,.,..,,....,... J2,2t9 0lJ
Austria uneary .................. Il l44S4Tt
tmled hlnEdOm ....,............. 10, ,Hl0 $50
rance '''''''''''''.''',,..,.... %,5l1, ,lij
IldlN' NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 81 290 30
\ calculation made by dividing the
number OF men in European armies
with INC total population shows that
IN Germany the percentage of armed
soldiers during times of peace is a
tllnc over Ill to each thousand inhab-
itants; in Austro- Hungary. s; in Rus
sia, "a; in Italy, 7.3; and in the Unit
ed Kingdom, 4; while in the United
states is about 90 or almost as
low as one-third of one man to each
1000 inhabitants
EMIGRATION.
Why are thousands of Germans. Aus
trians, Hungarians, Russian Jews.
Poles and Italians coming to this coun-
try every year? Why does our cOun-
Try hold hundreds Of thouands--nay,
almost millions. of some Of the above
mentioned natives? Simply because the
oppressive taxes imposed and made ne
hN- B,