Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-05-19
What Wars Have Cost.

As long as young blood runs hot,
ohere will be a readiness and will.
1n9ness to pay the tolls that Mars
ex1cts as the price of wars. The
east is reckoned afterwards. We
talk a great deal about the cost of
var, but few Of US realize what it
actually means until we are confront
q by the actual figures and these
ere staggering.
Going back to the wars that have
occurred in the time of recorded his
NY, is estimated by an expert in
IL Library of Congress that wars
md their direct results have collect
q an estimated toll of $4,000, OOO,O 900
lives. nine times the present popula-
tioa of the world. Six million men
were killed in the 20 years of the
Napoleonic wars alone. OF these La
hyette said 100000 were French
nen. the very flower of the youth
md virility Of the nation.
Look at Napoleon's wonderful army
q 100000 men, the finest that ever
stood in line, which set out for Mos
eow, and then at the pitiful remnant
q 10000 frostbitten, famished spec
tsfs who staggered back over the
Nudge of Korno the following De-
9snber. The average stature Of the
Hrenchman decreased two inches af-
~ the Napoleonic era, and after 100
years one OF the greatest problems Of
1t1nce still is a decreasing popula.
I'm.
The most reliable Civil war statis-
0es show a loss Of $4,000 men Of
- Union armies and 100000 Con.
hsderates.
Considering the economic side,
IL wars in which the United States
has engaged from the Revolution to
his time have cost the country in
dOIlars expended for military and nav
Il operations a grand total Of $11,-
$685. 06. The Civil war alone cost
- over ten billion, and that estimate
does not include the property and
slave losses Of the South, nor the
pensions paid since the conflict. The
hst Mexican war cost US 100000, 900
md the Spanish war 1862, 101 900.
The cost in life, in sorrow. in the
obstruction of efficient human beings,
cannot be included in mere tabula.
oions. But the country feels 1t in its
Impaired vitality and in the deeper
GA2dows which are thrown upon thou
aads Of lives.
The great powers of the world are
staggering toward bankruptcy under
uAeir war debts. Seventy cents Of
overy dollar spent by our Govern
nent goes for war purposes. Our nav.
Il appropriation in 1887 was one
esath what it is today. Since the war
With Spain We have spent $700,000,-
80 more on the navy than is nee
sssary to pay off the national debt
surely a war debt, by the way. Our
army appropriation has increased four
Zines in IA years.
In England alone last year there
we're 1,OS6,7O7 paupers-people de-
sending for every mouthful of food
and stitch of clothing on charity. I'm
der the British Old Age Pension bill
100000 people are entitled to this
Uabiic charity to permit them to end
their lives decently.
Yet England continues to persist in
What she calls the "two-power stan
dard'-a navy equal to the combin-
"a navies of her two most formidable
opponents-this in the face of the
feverish outlay of Germany,
France and the United States.
The efforts of one nation to increase
n strength are Immediately neutral.
fsed by the similar efforts Of other
sountries.
1t is we'll to have these facts and
ogures in mind. when jingoes de-
AoGnce President Wilson for his pa
Cant determination to keep US out
e another war with Mexico.-Tacoma
Tribune.