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

From the Baltimore Sun.
1t 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
wage Garner would be compelled TO carry a
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 q 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 trif
ling compared with that borne by the down
trodden and oppressed subjects of the ''effete
monarchies" of Europe.
For this purpose General Henderson had
prepared and appended TO his address tables
showing the number of men in the army of
each country, and its proportion 10 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, as 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 and suggestive of u 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 A table is given by him
showing the population, the war budget, and
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, 09S, 1927, population of 49,,
900, 600, aud u ratio per capita OF S06S, as
contrasted with frances per capita of So. 20,
based upon budget of 1923, 517 ,6S1 and
populption of So, ST. 1905; Gerrnany's per cap
tia of 81 20, based upon budget of Sal, 49,
$50 and population of 81, 270, 800, and Great
Briiains per capita of 81 80, based upon a
budget of $S8, 152, T50 and population of
81, S88, 439. Suffice it to say that, according
TO Gen. Manderson's figures the United States
shows the smallest budget of any country ex-
cept Italy and Turkey, and the least rate Of
expenditure per capita of any country except
Turkey. So much for Gen. Manderson's fig
ures.
Unfortunately for abe fairness of the com
parison, which he institutes and the correct
u
upon the face of his tables it appears that his
figures as to other countries are taken for the
years 1897 and 1898, those for the United
States for the year 1896, under Democratic
administration and before the advent of Nc
Kinleyism and imperialism. Moreover, in
1896 the actual cost of the army, was $23, 252,-
Co.'S the rest of Gen. Henderson estimate of
$57, 093, 927 representing river and harbor and
other non military expenditures. Ii he had
really wished, as he protested, TO bring his
figures 'down 10 the very latest date posi-.
BILE General Mandersou would have given
the actual army appropriation for 1901, which
is STA DC, 095.55 which is nearly fire times
as great as il was under Democratic admins.
traiion and before Mr.. Mckinley embarked
upon his career of blood and conquest. IT
we add TO this appropriation other items
which are usually included in European war
budgets. but excluded from Gen. Manderson's
computation-the Military Academy, $685.
$50 e.; Notifications, 1888, 62s, and pen
sions, Sl45, 245, 250-we shall have a grand
total of 1921, SOP, 543.22 Of current expendi
lures. This in an amount rs contemporary
puts it, '1iedrly double the burden carried by
Russia or Germany, more than double that of
France, three times that of Austria or Great
Britain, sir times that under which Italy is
staggering and thirteen times the load that is
breaking the back of Turkey. Ii puts the
United States far in the lead of all the militia
nv powers Of the world in the cost of its
military service"
Nor is this burden likely to diminish. In
the three years since Mr.. Mckinley has been
President we have become involved in three
foreign wars, the cost of two of which the
Spanish war and the subsequent war waged
against Spain's former subjects, the Filipinos
,,,ount;no nm intn he hundreds of millions
of dollars. Now we seem to be drifting into
a third war in China. 1t is not yet regarded
as ga state of war" in Washington, but it in
wolves fighting, bloodshed and the loss of
brave mems lives on distant and foreign soil
and weeping and sorrow in American homes.
War cannot be declared except by Congress,
so Mr. Mckinley may continue 10 call what
is occurring in China by any name he pleases,
so that the necessity for calling Congress
together in extra session can be avoided. We
have been killing Filipinos for the past
eighteen months at the rate of a hundred or so
a week and al the cost of twenty-five hundred
of American lives lost in battle or from disease
and as many more invaded or rendered in
sane Mr.. Mckinley calls that not war, but
benevolent assimilation"
five turn from the account Of what 'mili
iarism" is costing us, without war, In blood
and tears TO the account in dollars and cents,
perhaps it would be as well to add to the cost
of our army that ofour navy, upon which we are
spending more than any country in the world
except England. Prior 10 the Spanish war it
was unusual for Congress at any one session
to authorize the building of more than three
or four ships, and the total amount in any
one year expended on construction never ex-
eeeded $15, 100000 At present we have no
naval war on hand or in prospect. The Fill
pinus, whom we are not at war with--only
s.assimiating'' and Christianizing = have
neither ports nor gunboats. The Chinese have
no navy to speak of-none for which the fleet
of the powers already assembled in the China
seas is not vastly more than "a match. Ac-
cording to table recently prepared by Ad-
mira Hichborn, the number of vessels now
building and authorized to be built for our
navy, including battleships and submarine
boats, is seventy. The cost of these will ag-
gregate over half hundred million of dollars
nearly four times as much rs our Govern
ment ever spent for the same purpose in any
year before Mr.. Mckinley became President.
Apparently, ut the present rate of progress,
the American workingman will soon he called
upon to carry not only soldier but n sailor
upon his back and out of his earnings spend
enough to feed, clothe and support the two
while they are living and pension their ia miles
when they are dead.