The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-07-29
INFRINGEMENT

In explanation OF the lnslstence OF
the administration upon continued
heavy military expenditures so long af-
ter the World War and at a time when
so far as the public can see, there is
no new war cloud plainly approach
ing or even family outlined low down
on the horizon. Secretary Weeks said
in public address the other day that
Eve (of the administration have in
formation which we can not divulge,
obtained in reliable and complete
manner, which makes US the only
competent judges" It would be ex-
tremely interesting to know just where
is the danger thus limited at and to
what extent, if any, it is exaggerated;
but in the absence of information the
public can only wait and meanwhile
suspend judgment. II is pertinent to
remark, however, that on the surface,
at least, the United States is remark
ably free from international Difficult
ties, present or prospective, compared
with those present and prospective af-
ter the Civil War.
At that time the government at
Washington was in the midst of a
sharp controversy with Great Britain |
over the Alabama claims and the pos
sibilities of an explosion were greatly |
increased by the Irish Fenian raid |
across our borders into Canada. More
over, war with France was by no
means impossible result of the position
taken at Washington under the Mon
roe Doctrine that the French forces
unfolding the Emperor Macmillan in
Mexico must get out of that country
without delay. Yet, while facing two
such menacing international issues as
these, congress went ahead and re-
duced the governments annual expend-
lures rs per cent. Retrenchment con-
tinued steadily after 1865, although |
the Alabama claims were not submit |
ted to arbitration until 1871. In 1865, |
the last year of the war, tie United |
States governments total net exend-
lures, exclusive of interest charges,
were $1,217,704, 1879, but in 1886 they |
were cut down to $3S5,954,731, in
1867 to $202,947,733, and so on until |
1875 they had been reduced to $171,-
529,84S and 1879 to Sal, 535, 497. AT
ter Lees surrender both the army and
navy were almost Immediately laced |
on peace basis, the one eventually |
falling to $4,000 and the other (the
navy almost passing out of existence.
And yet, as point out, the prospect of
trouble with outside nations was far
more menacing than it seems to be
now.
The administration may indeed
have information that seems to call
for a cautious policy of continuing
preparedness, but there is good rea-
son to believe that this is not the on
ly explanation of vast expenditures
such as a half billion for the navy,
and the seemingly complete absence
Of any real determination to cut down
expenses and lift the burden of taxes,
such as characterized our government
after the Civil War even while fac
ng the prospect of international diff
iculties. Perhaps after all the chief
explanation is to be found in the fact
hat we live in changed times. The 8
government and people alike have ac-
Iuired the habit of more or less reck
ess spending. Such a confirmed hab-
t is not easily overcome and the
present prospect seems to be that we {
hall go farther and fare worse before
We submit to the knife of real re-
renchment-always a painful opera
ion even under conditions of impera-
i've demand.