The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-08-25
BURDENS OF WAR FALL
HEAVIEST UPON BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES.


considerations have caused some
wars, but that business men as class
are more given to the plotting of
war than other elements is on the
face of it an inaccurate and even
stupid statement.
The burdens of war fall heavily up
on business enterprise. In its extrava-
giant and wasteful expenditure bur-
dens are created for business, always
reflected in high and sometimes al
most coniscatory taxes. The fabric
of business is broken down, the chan
nels of business clogged and changed.
Spectators and fnanciers, compare
lively few in number, do profit by
war; the great mass of business men
are its heaviest financial losers.
Those whose memories run back to
the 'Spanish-American War cannot
forget the abuse showered on Presi-
dent Mckinley because he sought by
diplomatic means to avert war. For
this he was denounced on the floors of
Congress as "the tool of Wall Street."
deaf to the cry of suffering in cruel
fled Cuba, and too careless of national
honor to be willing to "avenge the
Maine," because of the alleged in
f1uence upon the administration of
great commercial interests which, it
was said, opposed war. So long as
Congress stood with President Nc
Kinley it was overwhelmed with a
veritable flood of protests from the
people because of the failure to de-
clare war. 1t was Champ Clark, op-
position leader in the House, who de-
clared that the opposition party
dragged the administration into
war by the scruff of the neck" This
attitude of the minority was due to
popular pressure. The popular demand
for war seemed almost universal.
Nor can it be said that any of the
wars in which this country has en-
gagged were brought about by the
pressure of business interests. The
financial stake which America had in
Europe had something to do with
American entry into the war, but it
would not have happened if German
attacks on American vessels had not
aroused popular feeling to high
pitch. Certainly more active than
business interests in urging Ameri-
can entry into that war were Ameri-
can idealists and internationalists
who believed that the cause of civil
lization was at stake in the European
struggle, and that if the United
States should remain out of the war,
the defeat of the allies would be fol-
lowed by attack of the victorious GEN.
trail powers on the United States.
Our Revolutionary War was not
precipitated by business interests;
most men of property in the colonies
were opposed to war for separation.
1t did not cause the War of 1872; it
was the Jeffersonian party which pre-
cipitated it, not the business sections
of the country, notably New England,
where opposition to the war rose al
most to the point of revolt. In these
same sections the Mexican war was
opposed. Great business interests of
the North sought to avert the Civil
War; it was a war of principle, al
most unanimously supported in both
sections.
1t is estimated that the ultimate
loss to the United States by reason
of the World War will be equal to
nearly one third of the total national
wealth at the beginning of the war.
1t created taxation of unprecedented
proportions, and business as whole
suffered vastly more than it benefited
by reason of the war. Income taxes
rose to as high as sixty percent and
never will subside to the pre-war
level. Scores of thousands of men
who thought they had prospered dur
ing the war discovered when defa-
ton came that they had suffered
heavy losses. No element in the coun-
try would be more reluctant to see the
country become involved in another
war than the representative of pro-
ductive enterprise. Indeed, one of the
results of the World War has been to
make war seem as terrible on the
commercial side, as in loss of life and
morale.
Ours is a government of public
opinion, and we cannot engage in war
without the approval of that opinion,
as declared through the Congress of
the United States, which is not in the
habit of flying in the face of that
public opinion upon which every men,
ber's tenure of office depends. The
theory that the American people can
be duped into war by prospective
profteers is no compliment to Ameri-
can intelligence or integrity, nor has
/, it historical justification. Such state
ments are a part of the Chunk" outfit
of the demagogues and ultra-paca-
/ fists.
COMMISSIONERS MEETING.