THE PRESS. 697 



The editor of the Farming World, however, makes 

 some reparation for the appearance of the above article by 

 exhibiting a deep solicitude for the laboring people of 

 Europe, who have been reduced to pauperism by the same 

 financial system that prevails in this country, and who are 

 now required to support a large standing army to keep 

 themselves in subjection. 



He says: 



u One very great advantage this country has over the 

 nations of Europe is that it is unnecessary for it to keet> up 

 an immense standing *army in or^er to keep peace with its 

 neighbors. Although they are apparently at profound 

 peace, the great powers of Europe are recruiting and 

 drilling armies, building fortifications and war vessels, and 

 making extensive military preparations as if war was 

 imminent. And yet the rulers claim that they earnestly 

 desire peace, and that all this is done simply to keep 

 peace. Each nation seems to be striving to make its 

 military strength so great that no other nation will dare 

 attack it. To maintain peace in Europe on this plan, the 

 five great powers now have twelve millions of armed men, 

 and are still increasing the number. The public debts of 

 European nations are constantly increasing, and it seems 

 impossible that they can enjoy any great degree of pros- 

 perity while under the crushing weight of such an 

 overgrown military system." 



If the writer of the above article had taken the pains 

 to learn what he ought to know before undertaking to 

 enlighten the public, he would have discovered that the 

 people of the United States contribute much more to the 

 support of their "sitting army," than any of the nations 

 of Europe do for their standing army, and that it is "im- 

 possible to enjoy any great degree of prosperity while under 

 the weight o f such an overgrown ' ' and vicious system of 



46 



