Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-09-14
FIRST COST or IMrEnIALIsM.

The Sacrifice of Human Life and
Heavy and Unnecessary War Tax.
1t is interesting to place alongside
til, account OF the pitiable condition
Of the Porto Rican people who
marched to San Juan and pleaded in
vain for bread the report issued at
Washington giving the cost of the
Philippine war. The amount up to
the present time is 1885, GS, 900.
That is i'll money. That can be es-
timated. There is another cost that
no man can calculate in dollars and
cents-the cost OF human life. That
finds expression in human pain and
grief. And Il Just God keeps the
record. The human statement is ms
follows:
Soldiers killed in action ......... 533
Deaths from wounds .......... 1893
Deaths from other causes .......l,GGS
Disaoicd... 49,. .2,OI3
But besides this, besides the killed,
the ~wounded, the money and heart
ache, there is yet to be reckoned into
the account IL broken promises and
the stain upon our national honor.
These cost us something. 1t is a
proud record. On the one hand
thousands Of starving people who
we're promised peace and plenty; on
the other, war wrecked provinces
where millions are being spent and
to no purpose. Sooner or later the
people must realize that McKinley's
glittcring dream OF empire is nothing
but Il ghastly nightmare. We're We
not squandcrIng our millions in the
Philippines We might have someth-
ing where with to aid the Porto
Ricans. We gave Spain 100000 600
for the privilege OF licking tho Fill
pinos slS6, 100000 worth. And the
fight still goes on at the rate OF three
fourths OF IA million daily.
Regarding the cost Of the war it
may be eaid that a report made by
Secretary Gage on the I'd OF August
proves conclusively that tie admins
tration has been playing unfairly
with the people in the matter OF the
war taxes. The secretary OF the
treasury says: The estimated cost OF
the va with Spain, including the
Philippines, to June 30, 1000, is as
follows: Army, 1884, 100000; navy,
sI9,5OO,OO0; miscellaneous, including
interest on war loan and payment OF
$4,000. 900 to Spain, $50, 100000.
Total, s305, O00,O Tho department
is unable to separate the expendi-
turee made for war purposes III Cuba
Porto Rico and the Philippines"
The total amount collected from
the people under the special war
revenue net up to July |, 1900, is
S2l0,000, 900. The amount OF the
Spanish war loan is, i'll round num-
bling, 5000, 000, 900. The amount Of
gold in the treasury is now some
what in excess Of Sl30,00J,000, This
is tho largest sum OF gold ever ac-
cumulated III tho United States
treasury, and exceeds the total ex.
penses OF the war by So, 1000 600; and
this is in gold alone, exclusive Of tho
hundreds OF millions OF silver and
paper money which has also accum.
ulated Ill the treasury, Thus it is
readily seen that the regular revenues
OF the government during the past
two years would have been sufficient
to carry on IL wars i'll Cuba and the
Philippines entirely without tho
special war tax, which is thus shown
to have been wholly needless in the
first place. and Il moro than gratuious
burden upon the people row.. Per-
haps the injustice and injury in
iiicted by this Tax will DO better I'M.
derstood when it il stated TINT the
treasury department statements show
that the amount collected from tho
people from january | to July Il,
1900. is sl0l 10000 And this, too
while the enormous surplus OF $780,.
100000 in gold was being Withdrawn
from active business and boarded in
tho treasury. The only possible OK
PLANTATION OF such linancicring is that
Mark Hanna desires to have n tidy
sum on hand to spend ON ship sub
sidics.-EX.