p. 8 (568) | THE COST OF WAR

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 7, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 36.

THE COST OF WAR.

Not the least of the factors that go to establish the foolishness of war is its enormous cost. Next to the strong drink and tobacco habits, it is the most expensive luxury which humanity indulges. As one item indicating how fast the people's resources may be squandered in this wicked business, we give the following from Leslie's Weekly:—

Modern naval warfare is one of the most costly things that can be imagined, and a combat between two fleets means the expenditure of vast sums of money. Some idea of the high cost can be arrived at by taking a Japanese war-ship like the Kasuga or Nysshin, and calculating the number of shots she would discharge, say, at Port Arthur. The first-named ship carries four cannon which cost $30,000 each. One of these guns can fire two shots per minute, and every shot costs $400; thus in five minutes these four cannon can discharge forty bombs at a cost of $16,000. The smaller cannon cost each $18,000, and every shot they fire, means an expenditure of $70. They are very rapid, and it is estimated that in five minutes the twelve cannon could discharge shot to the value of nearly $35,000.

Is it any wonder that the “common people” of the world are poor, and that in the so-called “civilized nations,” the so-called “Christian nations”—which are the real supporters of the war and strong drink and tobacco habits—the common people are growing poorer? The war spirit is encouraged in politics, is fostered in the churches, and inculcated in the schools, under the guise of patriotism, until war and the preparation for it is a topic of universal and all-absorbing interest. And the common people not only have to furnish the brawn for the rank and file of the armies and navies, but they have to pay the greater part of the vast expense; while, at

the same time, they have nothing to gain but to be sacrificed by those who lure them on to further sacrifice to the god of war.

Is it Christian?—Hear the Captain of the Christian host, who, when doing the most noble and heroic service that humanity ever beheld, said of Himself, “The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” And the Apostle Paul reiterates the principle when he says: “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds).” What “strongholds” is the Christian army designed to pull down?—“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

With what weapons is the Christian army equipped, in order to contend with the only enemy (aside from self) against which they are to fight at all?—The answer of the Spirit is, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” This “whole armor” of the Christian, in all its detail of accoutrement, is specifically given as follows: “Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Now, if all the professed Christians in the world would adopt the principles and armament of warfare laid down by the “Captain of our salvation,” and would adopt the diplomatic principles embodied in the moral law and the Golden Rule, their influence upon the world would soon do away with the impoverishing expense and demoralizing effect of great armies and carnal warfare.