A NEW DEMAND FOR MONEY.
By W. N. G.
If the controversy between the United States and Spain should stop right now, without a blow being struck, it would still be a very expensive incident. The money already appropriated is only a kind of first instalment. When the war spirit is once aroused in a people, it does not down all at once. The army and navy, and a majority of the present Congress—to say nothing of the State Legislatures and the masses of the people—are becoming strongly imbued with the European idea of competing with other nations in great military preparations. As a nation the people of the United States have always had a tendency to boast of their military prowess, and seem to feel that no foreign nation would dare to attack them. But when an emergency arose, it was soon made apparent that the government barely rated in naval preparation with one of the well-nigh obsolete nations of the Old World. It was also made apparent that, compared with other great nations, our coasts were decidedly vulnerable, and neither army nor navy in any sort of condition for a sudden altercation. This condition of things has been a source of humiliation to the pride of our would-be military classes, and especially to our naval pretensions. And now has come the reaction; war or no war, the war spirit must needs have vent in some direction; if in no other way, it will be in the lavish expenditure of money in preparation for future emergencies. The work of building war vessels, of manufacturing great guns, of erecting fortifications, of piling up stores of destructive missiles, etc., will go on. Already large appropriations are asked for building up the naval academy at Annapolis, and putting it in condition as a first-class, up-to-date naval school. It is claimed, and perhaps correctly, that naval cadets can not now be trained there for handling the modern war vessels. One congressman says: “There was a time, in the days of old wooden ships, when the cadet at Annapolis could prepare himself for the duties connected with the naval service by acquiring knowledge merely of navigation and the handling of a few of the old-time guns. To-day the man who goes upon one of our war vessels must be an expert in every line of scientific knowledge.” It is estimated that not less than $6,000,000 will be necessary to reconstruct the institution; and this, as usual, will be a mere bagatelle as compared with the actual cost. The same principle prevails in the matter of keeping up the army. But this feature of the prospective expense which the people will have to bear is not confined to the regular army. The war spirit now aroused must be gratified in the States also. The State militia, or National Guard, as the home military forces are now generally designated, are making fresh demands in the way of outfits in general that will add enormously to the general expense. And all these combined demands will have to be met to please the would-be military heroes, and cater to the martial spirit that has now received a new impetus. The politicians understand the trend of the times, and they will be slow, even if conviction so incline them, to stand in the way of the popular military wave. Even the children are being reared to partake of this spirit of tinsel glory. They are taught it in the public school, in the Sunday-school, and in the home. Moreover, the popular ministers emphasize it in flights of oratory in the pulpit. From almost every quarter the spirit of military emulation has received an impulse from this Cuban incident that will cost the people millions and millions of dollars every year from this time forth, even if Spain and the United States should bury the hatchet before their navies come in sight of each other. And all this prospective expense is in face of the fact that we profess to be a “Christian nation;” in face of the fact that “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Men are just now being awakened to this latter fact, and the adversary of souls has very artfully raised the war cry to turn their minds in a different channel. He would fain draw their attention to the glittering honors of worldly military renown, and cause them to spend their money in the unholy work of destroying men’s lives, instead of the preparation for the coming King to set up His everlasting kingdom. “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not!” W. N. G.