Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-12

4 ~ ~ III 4 A WV. co OF THE SUBJECT

about 1892. He says:
Adam Smith commences his exam
nation of the cost of defense by the
statement that it is very different |
in the different states of society," and
adds, as the result of his inquiry,that
it grows gradually more and more
expensive as the society advances in
civilization A reference to the sta
tistics of military and naval expendi- |
ture will show that the tendency to
increased outlay has continued dur
ing the century that has elapsed since
the above passage was written. There
is, moreover, no sign OF change in this
respect. 1t is as certain as any pre-
diction in social matters can be, that
no reduction in the military budgets
of Europe will soon be made; on the
contrary, there is every probability
that this form of expenditure will go
on increasing in the future as it has
done in the past
This prediction is strikingly verified
by the course of events since it was
written, for the formerly strong mil
itary nations are striving to increase
their naval strength, las Germany,
and the naval strength of Great Brit
ain has been supplemented by an at
tempt to improve its military forces.
Taking into account pension payment
by our national government, and the
increased cost of army and navy in
the past four years, and our expendi-
lures for defense are as heavy as the
like outlay on the part of the great
European powers. One reason that
Requires a great standing army in
place of the former militia is refera-
BILE to the increased division of labor
under modern Industrial conditions.
Now the soldier must be trained to
his business, as the artisan to his. An
other reason lies in the great inven-
| tions that characterize our time, and
| to protect itself each state must have
the best equipment obtainable: for
nowadays battles are determined as
much by the gun as by the man be-
hind the gun. 1t is claimed as an Off
set to the loss occasioned by the with
drawal of soldiers from productive
employment that the habits of discip-
line and order acquired during SER
| vice should be placed to the credit of
the system of standing armies; but
opposed to this is the loss of individ-
discipline. In the pending CONNER
lcial contest for the markets of the
world, between the United States and
! Germany, there Will be an opportunity
Ito determine whether the order and
discipline impaired by the German
army system are as valuable as the
Originality and initiative which we
claim as the characteristics of Ameri-
can workmen. l think there can be
mo question that the army of the Ger
man empire would defeat any
Iarmy we could put in the
field within two or three
Years; but when it comes to making
land selling articles of commerce the
Yankee blood will overcome the as
tendency once belonging to the mark
l"Made in Germany"
| In preventing oppression of its mem.
bers by one another the state uses
tn judge, the policeman, and the jailer
The necessity of this function of the
states activity is admitted by all ex
. cept the most advanced anarchists
. Whatever mode be adopted, the tota
cost OF the legal, system is not light
and it tends to = increase with the
growth of population and industrial
expansion.
1t is undeniable that the tendenc,
is for the state to become socialistit
in some of the works it undertakes. Il
regulates various affairs of everyday
life; there are inspectors of mines, fac
tories, and shipping; the purity of foo6
} is tested by public agents. Opinions
differ widely as to the merits of thu
movement, but it exists in every mod
ern state The supreme court of Mis-
/, souri, has just affirmed the constitu
tionality of law for the inspection
of beer made in that state.
In matters of education there is n,
dissent that the state owes it to tn
members of the community to affor,
! means of primary instruction. In tn
case of secondary education the ten
: dency is to favor state aid. So ia
: as their theoretical claims for stat
2 aid are concerned, universities hav
to be judged on special grounds 1t
J commended that the higher educatio
: in many cases is not necessity, bu
: rather a luxury or ornament that ma
), very we'll be paid for by the wealthy
= if they desire it for themselves an
their families. In most of the remai1
: ing instances it is legitimate inves
> ment in immaterial or personal cap
ldl, SO Ilidt VII SlIlCl SuPPoolllOu lhSl
: is no call for public intervention. l
i the western states of America it
= the rule to furnish state aid in tn
4 furtherance of higher education, an
!. this rule is not apt to be affected b
:. merely theoretical considerations.
i. Like reasoning applies to the col
), struction and maintenance of mus,
\ ums, libraries, and art galleries. Vo
j. untary private aid is often afforded
+ meet this need, thus relieving tn
h state of the necessity of investing il
r. income in such forms. 1t was ev
IDENTIFY the feeling of some opponent
Iof Ottumwa's proposed library tn;
= it is not a proper function of the stat
y to make investments in such prope
:, ty, or to care for and support the
% after they have been instituted b
- private initiative.
y The real difficulty OF the averas
- legislator is not to determine VIII
~ the money shall be spent for. but no
-, -. to get it. The United States hay
~ learned that it is easier to handle
p surplus than it is to manage defic
- But there is very real distinction b
y. tween the function of determinil
% what the income of the state shall