56 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



for supplying food, shelter and clothing to all government employees 

 and dependents. With respect to armaments, military and naval, all 

 the materials for the construction of vessels, forts, arms and equipments 

 must be taken from the common stock which is derived from the annual 

 product. The rations and clothing of soldiers, sailors and pensioners 

 must be provided in the same way. 



It follows that by so much as these government forces, military and 

 naval, are increased will the proportion of products withdrawn from 

 productive consumption be augmented. If these military expenditures 

 go beyond the absolute requirements for defense, leading to the estab- 

 lishment of a large standing army and a great navy, every one must 

 bear his proportion of that burden, because what is taken from the 

 common stock for these destructive purposes is nothing but the material 

 for shelter, food and clothing which would otherwise be constructively 

 or productively expended. By so much as the burden of militarism is 

 augmented must poverty be increased. 



I do not mean to give the idea that many of the functions of govern- 

 ment are not necessary and are not productive in a true sense. The 

 functions of the civil government are as necessary to the conduct of 

 productive industry and the government employees in this service are 

 as much needed as are the services of any other body of men who are 

 not directly occupied in the mechanical and manual work of production 

 or distribution. The officials of a just government supply mental 

 energy, the fourth and paramount factor in all production. Hence, the 

 constructive work of governments must be carefully kept distinct from 

 the destructive work of militarism. All that is taken from the annual 

 product either to pay debt incurred in war, or the interest thereon, 

 or for the support of armies or navies, is destructive and not con- 

 structive in its immediate application to any given year. By so much 

 as food, shelter and clothing are taken from the annual product for 

 military or destructive purposes, by so much is the quantity lessened 

 which would otherwise be consumed for reproductive purposes. Whether 

 or not such destructive consumption may be justified or otherwise is not 

 a question at issue in this discussion; I merely present the facts and 

 intend to show what militarism costs. 



We now come to the relative burden of taxation. If by way of tax- 

 ation so large a part of the annual product is taken for destructive pur- 

 poses as to leave less than a sufficient supply for necessity and comfort, 

 then the time has come for revision and removal of taxes lest degenera- 

 tion should ensue. The case of Italy may be cited. It is stated by 

 Italian economists that from twenty-five to thirty per cent, of the an- 

 nual product of Italy is expended in support of the government, mainly 

 for the destructive purposes of militarism; the consequences being that 

 great bodies of people cannot get enough to eat — there is not enough to 



