The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-25


In the March number of Harper,s
masaslne Mr.. Joseph e. Davis gave
ssae astounding figures on the cost OF
inc war. 1t is costing all the nations
ITO millions dollars day. The ag.
sresate earrings Of all the people In
an the countries is 81 million a day
70 that for every day that the war
continues they spend five times the
daily savings OF the people.
IN the first two years of the war the
ssvernments borrowed forty billion of
dollars. This vast sum OF course will
never be repaid but the interest must
% met unless there Is wholesale re-
pAdstation byi the nations concerned.
~aich is unthinkable. II the war
finishes out another year, the debt
VIII be about 100 billion dollars. to
which must be added 80 billion for
s~e debts existing when war was de-
ciared. This makes 130 billion which
~ greater than tho total wealth OF
either England or Germany and more
than the combined wealth of Italy and
Francs. 1t will take rs per cent an.
hnaily out Of the dollar for every man.
woman aud child in all Of the war;
nng countries to pay the interest
xne flower Of all the nations are being
killed or crippled so how will the
people pay CSC on the dollar in inter-
est maintain their government, pay
war pensions and have anything loft
90 iivc upon. 1t certainly looks as If
II would DO impossible to continue to
maintain standing armies on a large
scale. The interest on this debt will
% six times greater than the taxes
collected In the British empire during
the last year Of peace. All of the
taxes collected. federal. state. towns
and counties In the United States last
year was fifteen hundred million
dollars and this would not pay the in
terest one year at per cent. on
GREAT Britain's share Of the war debt.
what does II oil mean? Are the na-
tions Of the world bent on suicide.
But yesterday scientists were busy
hunting disease germs and making Sc
runs to prolong human life. We were
building hospitals and asylums. pro-
vioing retreats for the aged and doing
all In our power to relieve the suffer-
ing and Danish disease. Suddenly the
hames Of war burst forth, so that mon
see each others white faces by the
red glare that blaze down from tn.
midnight sky while their ears arc
dcafened by the roar of mighty can.
non. Every human impulse Is gone
and satanic cruelty reigns supreme.
Women and children are murdered
whole nations are exterminated, de-
ported as slaves or driven like beasts
to the forest. The civilization of
thousand years with twenty centuries
OF Christianity vanished over night
Trembling on every lip. the question
Is us II Armagcddon? I find tha,
Armageddon means the great destruc-
tion. the final conflict tho judgment of
God. 1t may be that America Is now
taking her place on that great field
of Armageddon foretold in holy writ
and dimly seen by poet and painters
where the final battle shall come bc-
tween error and truth. and In which
mans immortal soul finally conquers
his brute nature.
I do not know but these are grand
and awful times. something colossally
coed or colossaily evil Is bound to
come of such a tremendous upheaval.
Wherever l go. whether In the quiet
OF my farm or OH busy Wall street l
sense a great feeling among the peo-
pic that something OF appalling mag
nitude must happen ere long. A mys-
tical sense OF impending trouble has
hung over US like dark shadow ever
since the Lusitania went to her ocean
grave. This universal feeling. half
doubt and half fear. this wistful peer
ins into the future this vague drcaG
OF the unknown tomorrow Is at once
a warning and n call from God for ac-
ton. II Is easy to see now that il
would have been better for this coun.
try To have gone to war when the
Lusitania was sunk. We would have
at least been prepared to defend our
selves.
No sensible man wants war, for two
years President Wilson has used c.
cry means to avoid war. but German
has repeatedly broken her promise
and while processing friendship has
conspired with japan and Mexico to