Semi-weekly herald., 1910-06-02

knew that meant himself. But might
and right are not always synonymous.
Justice is safer In the hands of reason
Than in those of might.
Not more potent perhaps, but more
startling is the argument from the
cost OF army and navy. They are a
constant drain upon the national treas
ury. In time of peace or time of
war the expense goes on. For this
reason we are. in a sense. constantly
engaged in war. 'In time of peace
prepare for war" has become almost
automatic; and in accordance with
the axiom. the nations are constantly
enlistlng, equipping and drilling troops
and building battleships, inventing,
manufacturing and learning to use
more destructive engines of war. The
issue OF actual hostiities depends. in
modern times especially, upon the
preparations made In times of peace.
So 1t Is literally true that we are con
stantly engaged in war, either in its
preparation or actual commission. And
what is the cost of this constant main
tenance? | shall give some facts as
ciety: THE average annual cost of
army and navy for the eight years pre-
ceding the Spanish war (lS90-1S9S)
was S51 $4,000 The average annual
cost of the same for the eight years
since the Spanish-American war (a02-
1910) has been slS5, 100000; an aver
age annual increase in the latter pc
riod compared with the former of
S134 100000. or total increase in eight
years OF the almost incredible sum of
81 .072 600. 900, or $50 per cent. This
increase exceeds the national debt by
$l5S ,0O0. .0O0 1t is three times the es-
timated cost of the Panama canal, in
cluding purchase price from the
French company. II Is three times the
cost of carrying out the whole lrri-
CATION program contemplated within
a generation. Now, listen, If any
one is thinking that because the money
comes out of the national treasury,
The cost makes no difference TO him.
This increase is $50 for every family
in the United States. II is yearly
tax of ! a per cent on the total wages
paid in the United States. Interest
on this sum would give an income OF
s. 900 q year forever TO i2.SS0 fami
lies-a city of 100000. The $2S.O00
DuG required to build a battleship and
maintain II for twenty years cat the
end of which period 1t goes into tho
Junk heapl, would build 400 cntfch
es nj 100000 each. Or purchase 1900
farms al $4,000 each, or furnish col
lege education for 1000 yuing peo
pie at $500 year for four yenrs
Forty city Y. NJ c. A. buildings could
he built and equipped. each building
accommodating the young men In d
city OF 100000 for the first cost OF q
battleshlp." Is all this outlay required
in order TO insure our safety? il il
Is, the money Is wen spent Let rs
double the amount II safety demands
It! We fear, however. that those wht
are responsible for the outlay, have
been influenced by those who can
see our country's defense only in ex
plosiyes.
Still another argument against war
one that cannot be reckoned In dol
lars, nor even In the terms of hu
man lives, valuable as they are. IL
he fact that II requires more than Q
generation for a nation TO recover
from the effects of an extensive war
Some of you men are carrying in youl
| bodies lead and disease that came
| to you in the COS And that Is moi
splendid young lives that went dowr
to death before bullet and disease. car
never be calculated. 1t requires more
than generation to heal the wount
made In the national life. Witnes,
our own nation, particularly the south
ern states. and Japan today.
| But the dawn of a better day Is
breaking upon us. There are some
indications OF progress in the great
world movement toward universe
peace.
During the year a kind Of inter
| national unity has grown up. The
world is becoming united by many
bands. By means of railways. steam
ship lines, telegraph systems, Dosta
unions. commercial interests, etc, the
interests Of the antlpodes are our in
terests, and ours theirs
need not attempt to tell this audi
ence of The Hague conferences. whose
purpose was to secure the submission
OF national differences to arbitration
Nor of the many peace societies which
in general. have for their object the
creation of sentiment for the things
that make for peace.
on the 26th day OF last month there
was dedicated in Washington city, in
the presence OF representatives OF all
the world powers, the Peace palace
the gift of Andrew Carnegie to the
twenty-one American republics. 1t Is
the purpose Of both donor and re