The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1874-07-25 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

OUR WILITAILT RIVERA:OR—ROW IT IS NXI,ENDEnd Among the many features of our military system whicla demand the attention of the working classes, its financial aspect is undoubtedly the most important. A formerly popular political econothist is reported to have I once said that the government of this country could be I carried on with an expenditure of sixty millions perl annum, but when it is found that instead of sixty, the expenditure in 1873 is seventy millions, it is the duty of the people not only to ascertain the cause, but also to ' .levise means for its reduction. At no time was thisl more necessary than at pri sent. Only a few months ago the late Government, without consulting the Legislature or the people, plunged the country into an aggressive war, and but recently the head of the present Cabinet has declared that our foreign policy must be of • spirited character. With a national debt of over 800 millions hanging like a weight around our necks, a debt created by the exercise of spirited foreign policies in years gone by, the words of the Premier must awake the liveliest apprehensions in the minds of those who have the welfare of their country at heart. What,theu, is the position of the military expenditure of England at the present time. In the lirst place, we have a national debt of 800,681,421, a lebt incurred for past wars, which has been left as a legacy ts., this and future generations. The interest of this debt amounts to 26 millions per annum. Thus the labour and ingenuity of the working classes is taxed to pay the interest of a debt incurred in days gone by. Were this the only fact that could be advanced in opposition to the present military system, it would be sufficient to demonstrate the necessity of adopting the plan of settling all disputes by a process that requires no national debt to support it—namely, international arbitration. . _ . . . .  Prior to the Crimean war, i.e., in 1854, the cost of the array and navy was 15 millions„per annum. Since that war, however, its cost has been 10 millions per annum greater (oar rulers doubtless acting upon the exploded idea, that to be sere of peace we should be, prepared for war), and in 1873, while our total national expenditure is 71 millions, the fighting forces and interest of war debt absorb 52, leaving 19 millions to be devoted to the .otlier costs of the governing of the country ! And yet in spite of these things we boast of our civilisation! Is it civilization that while the English people toil, their toil shall be taxed to maintain a huge murdering mu. chine ? Is it civilisation that from every ss. levied in taxes upon the people's food 4n. should be spent in war, or for war purposes? Is it civilisation that while 54d. out of every 7d. is devoted to the same porpoise, td. only out of that sum should be devoted to the education of the rising generation I' If so, if this is the civilization of our rulers, can it be the civilization of the working classes, and if not, then in the name of all that is good and true, why do they allow each a system to continue P . . . .  But it m not enough to enquire what is the military revenue of the country, but we have also to learn how that revenue is expended. DI it tepee the army If en, how is it we are told that we are defenceless. Take the opinions of the leading journals of the upper classes, take the opinions of the most eminent milder" autheritievif the day, audio Parliament and out of Parliament they are constantly coutending that as far as our army is concerned, we are absolutely defenceless. Is it upon our navy Ask Lord Hampton, ask the late chief constrector of the navy, E. J. Reed; ask those who have been • officers in the service, and their reply is one and all that it is in a totally inefficient condition. Upon whom them is the military revenue of onr country expended ? Upon our aristocracy, upen those who hare robbed the people of their land. ?oh, have denied them their libe, ties, Ow hare kept them in snlyection, nod nho up. oropriate in large portion of the military expenditure /  Upon Viscount Vincent, with his £3,000 per mum, • upon Nelson and his successors, with their £3,506 per annum • upon Lord Napier, £2,000 ; Lord Reap% 1.0,000 ; ',Ord Harding, 23,000; Lord Gough and '