The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-08-25
The Soldier on the Werkingman's
Back
From the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
Ii was Carl Schurz, we believe, who, depre-
eating the twin evils of imperialism and mill
tarism, said that he hoped never to see the
day when in this country, as in Europe, every
soldier on his back. How steadily we are
approaching the realization Of that state OF
things which Mr.. Schurz dreaded as one of
the eventualities likely to result from Mr.. Nc
Kinley's policy of criminal aggression some
figures recently published, taken from official
sources, tend to show. Attention has been
called to the subject by the address delivered
by General Henderson as a graduation day
orator at the Military Academy at West Point,
and which, it is stated, is now being circulated
by the Republican Literary Bureau as cam
paign document to show that the military
burden borne by the American people Is INT
ling compared with that borne by the down
trodden and oppressed subjects of the 'etfete
monarchiesn Of Europe.
For this purpose General Henderson had
prepared and appended 10 his address tables
showing the number of men in the army OF
each country, and its proportion to population;
the area of each country and the ratio of sol
diers to the square mile, or of square miles to
each soldier. We all know that compared
with most countries of Europe our country is
OF vast extent, and that our army, US compared
with the standing armies of Russia, Germany
and France, is small But when we come to
the question of comparative cost, Gen. Man
derson's figures will be found to be very mis-
leading aud suggestive of want of candor
which Is, TO say the least, disappointing on
the part Of a man who is an ex-senator OF the
United States and president of the American
Bar Association. \ table Is gwen 10y HIM
showing the population, the war budget, aud
the cost per capita Of the military establish
ments of the principal countries, in which the
United States is credited with an annual eX
penditure of SOL, 093, 927, population of IS,
600. 900, aud "a raIio per capita of So IS, As
contrasted with France per capita oil s., 20
based upon budget of 1923, 5l7, 6sl and
populpton of IS, 5l7 ,9O5; Germany per cap
iia of 81 70 based upon budget OF SAL, 10
$50 aud population of 81, go, 300, and Great
Brilains per capita Of s. 81, based upon
budget of SSS, lj2, $50 aud population Of
81. SIS, 439. Suffice it 10 say that, according
10 Gen. Manderson's figures the United States
shows the smallest budget of any country eN-
ccpl Italy aud Turkey, and the least rate OF
expenditure per capita Of any country except
Turkey So much for Gen. Henderson hg
ureS.
Unfortunately for The fairness Of the com
H.
ness of his conclusions, critic points out that
upon The face Of his tables It appears that hl>
figures rs to other countries are taken tor 'hs
years 1897 and 1898. those for The United
States tor the year 1896 under Democratic
administration aud before the advent at Ne
kinleyiSm and imperialism. Moreover, IN
1896 the actual cost Of the army, Was So, -
Cos. the rest Of Gen. Henderson estimate 81
S57. O93, g27 representing river and harbor and
other non military expenditures. II he had
really wished. As he protested. TO bring ms
figures down to the very latest date possi
bIe." General Henderson would have girrH
the actual army appropriation Tor 1901, which
Is STA, ~. OBS. So, which Is nearly tirs Times
AS great as 1t WAS under Democratic admins
trs,tiou aud before Mr. Mckinley embarked
upon his career OF blood and conquest. II
We add to this appropriation other ltcuIs
which are usually included in European VAR
budgets. but excluded from Gen. Mandersou 5
compum,iou-the Military Academy, S653,
5S9. ca; forti6cAiious, s. $50, 62s, and peu-
sions. SI45. 245. 2jO-we shall have a grand
total Of S257 ,502, 54S. - Of current eNpeujl.
lures. This IL an amount rs contemporary
pals it. ''aearlv double she burden carried iy
Russia or Germany, moro than 4Dlshte that 1i
France, three fiaaes that of Austria or Great
Britain. siE times that under which Italy b.
staggering aud thirteen tiBses the loal HAT is
breaking The back OF Turkey. Il puts Toe
United States far 10 The lead 81 al The mfiIa
~ powers of the world ia the cost ui Us
military service.
Nor j. this burden, likely to diminish. H.
The three wears SINCE Mr.. Mckinley las been
President We have become Involved iu three
foreign wars. the cost Of TIVE Of shich tho
Spanish war aud the subsequent ssar waeri
against SPANS former subjects, the Filp'na-
moautiug az into lhs hundreds # ualIiuas
Il dollars Now We seen to he dutHIE saIu
a fhird war ia China Il Is not yei g,-gar,i-asl
as "a state of var ia Washington hul Is In
wolves hghIing. bioosl,Aed and the luss ai
brave men lives on distant aud foreign sail
aud weeping aud sorruw ia AmcficaH ham,z,.
War cannot DC declared except by CoHgr-ss.
80 Mr. Mckinley may continue Co call nbli
Is occurring IA China by sny name IT, p.ss.sss,
SO that the necessity for calling CouErys,
together m extra session can be avoided We
have been killing FIlipinus for The past
eighteen months az the rAie ot q hundred ur 3"
a week. aud al the cost Of t~enty two hundred
Of American lives lost Ia battle OF iron, disease
and as many more invaded or reuderei bee.
saoe. Mr.. Mckinley calls that not var. tgt
''beueyolent assimilation.
five turn from the account Of Shai ''ms3r-
tarism' Is costing Us. without war, ia blood
aud tears to the accoant Ia dollars aud cents,
perhaps Il would be As well 10 add 10 the casi
Of our army that OF our nayy.upun which we ar
spending more Than any country IN she world
except England. Prior TO the Spanish war "a
was unusual for Congress 81 any one session
To authorize the building Of more than ihrre
or four ships, aud the total amoual iu auy
one year expended on construction never *.
ceeded Sl5,0Oo, QUO. At present Sc have uo
naval war on hand or in prospect. The Fl
ginus. whom we are not al war wiih only
'assimilating' and Christ,aniztug r. have
neither ports nor ganbuats. The Chinese have
no navy to speak ot-none for which the heeI
of the powers already assembled 10 the China
seas Is no, vastly more than a match Ac-
cording TO a table recently prepared by Al
mirsi Hichborn, the number of vessels nov
building aud authorized 70 be built for oar
navy, including battleships and submarine
boats. is seventy. The cost Of these ~ilI AZ.
gregate over half hundred million Of dollars
NEARLY four times As much as our Govern
ment ever spent for the same purpose 10 any
year before Mr.. Mckinley became President.
Apparently. AT the present rate of progress,
the American workingman will soon he called
upon 10 carry not only a soldier but sailor
upon his back and out Of his earnings sprnd
enough TO feed, clothe and support the two
while they are living and pension their ia miles
when they are dead.