Destruction of Property by War.
War is the grand impoverisher of the world. In estimating its havoc of property, we must inquire not only how much it costs and how much it destroys, but how far it prevents the acquisition of wealth; and a full answer to these three questions would exhibit an amount of waste beyond the power of any imagination adequately to conceive. The annual productiveness of the United States is probably at least $3,500,000,000. A war of any magnitude would decrease that production one-fifth, or $700,000,000. This is in addition to the direct cost of the war and the property destroyed. The waste of property by war is dreadful. The track of an army is worse than the track of a tornado. Before it are fruitful fields, thriving villages, and happy homes. Behind it are devastated farms, forsaken dwellings, and smoldering ruins. Armies seize not only what is necessary for their own support, but destroy, out of mere wantonness, whatever may be of use to the people whose country they are ravishing. Splendid mirrors and costly pianos are dashed to pieces with the ax, and the brand of fire ignites the comfortable farm-house or the costly mansion, and leaves nothing behind but a heap of ashes.—Sel.