CURRENT LITERATURE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1927, Page 4

CURRENT LITERATURE

WHEN FREEDOM FALTERS. A few years ago an anonymous hook “The Pomp of Power,” which dealt with contemporary world politics, attracted great attention. Although the title page of “When Freedom Falters” attributes the work simply to the author of the other, correspondence printed in the preface reveals his identity. He is Mr Laurence Lyon, a former member of the House of Commons. Mr Lyon notes that in several countries, the tendency is to encroach upon individual liberty. In Russia tho latter is' a thing of the past. Tn Italy it is subject to many restrictions. Tn America the great statue which welcomes the incoming traveller raises expectations which are imperfectly fulfilled. Quite apart from the question of prohibition, the American’s liberties are severely curtailed. Mr Lyon found a certain intolerance which exhibited itsell m fierce hostility to independence of thought in politics and science. There is less right of free speech in the United States than in England. It is notorious that despite the fifteenth amendment of the Constituion. ne-

groes. in the south, are in one way or another prevented from voting. As a result of the practice of the Courts testamentary freedom has been substantially diminished. Mr Lyon’s impressions of America are not wholly favourable. America’s prosperity is amazing, but lias this material progress been accompanied by a corresponding progress in culture? Mr Lyon doubts it. lie was struck everywhere by the extraordinary ignorance concerning foreign affairs and literature, past and present. This is not confined to the masses, but is displayed equally by successful hankers and lawyers rul'd others of similar standing. He was unable to discover any ono .who had the least conception of the political situation or personalities in other countries, noi wis there any wider familiarity with books or their writers. He believes that America’s financial policy is illjudged, and to her own prejudice. It must result in a loss of trade. “To exact large annual payments Lorn countries which are more or less debarred from American markets by a high tariff wall simply means that it these countries are to meet their obligations they must restrict imports from the United States.” He quotes with approval the words of Mr N. 11. Baker, formerly Secretary for Mar, who declared it to bo inconceivable that the rest of the world would continue to trade with the United States w’lile being taxed by the latter “for a, causa and in a form to them not greatly different from the tribute which Rome imposed on her friends and enemies alike.” Mr Lyon quotes some remarkable statistics in regard to crime in America.. An American criminologist' is his authority for the assertion that during the last twenty-live years, homicide has increased by 10!) per cent and that in the United States to-day. there are in proportion to the population, twice as many murders as in Italy, four times as many as in Soutih Africa anil Australia, eight times as many as in New Zealand, Spain, Norway, Ireland, England and Wales, and eighteen limes ias many as in Scotland. In 1023 there were -12 murders in the metropolitan area of London, with its population of seven and a lia.lt millions, fn lt)2t. there were 261 murders in the city of New York, and 137 in Chicago, fn ]922-3. there were 12.7 homicides per 100.000 of population, 25.5 in New Orleans, 37.7 in Nashville, and 60.2 in Memphis. According to Senator Borah: “During the last ten years 85,C00 people from poison, the pistol, the knife, or other unlawful means have suffered death.” That is a grader number of lives than America lost in the war. And much <>! this crime is undetected, or at any rate, unpunished. In St. Louis in the year 1923-24, 13.444 crimes were reported, but only 374 people were actually punished. The prevalence of crime may he due to the high proportion of illiterues, in which respect America comjHres rather badly with other countries. In Germany and Denmark, the percentage of illiterates is 0.2; in England, 1.8; America comes tenth on the list with fi.O. Nor can this high percentage be attributed wholly to tho negro and the newly arrived foreign element. Nntivo born illiterates number 3,1C0,000, of whom 1,250.000 are white.

Mr Lyon’s political estimates are interesting and judicious. He reminds us that although we may condemn Mr Lloyd George’s opportunism and instability, we should never torget that he, more than any other politician, was responsible for winning the war. He aroused the country at the most acute crisis of her history. and. whatever he did before or afterwards, tliht must, remain his great distinction. What is his political future? “A party in search of a leader may be in a. bad way, but o leader in search of a party is in a still more unfortunate position.” And that is Mr Lloyd George’s position. Sir Austen Chamberbin is “by training and temperament better fitted to guide the course of foreign affairs than anyone who has undertaken that task since Lord Grey of Fallodon. His knowledge is not more extensive and varied tlmn that of Lord C’urzon ; lmt he is happier as a negotiator. Lord Birkenhead, distinguished in Inis youth by an air of imperturbable impertinence, is, perhaps, the most brilliant man of bis generation. He is certuinly tho most polished speaker in England to-day. Mr Winston Churchill has been by turns Liberal. Coalitionist, and Conservative. Yet lie is not a renegade. He “quite sincerely believes that the country lias need of his services, and does not intend that it shill be deprived of them. He is first and tore-, most a great Winstoniaii.” He has been criticised more widely and bitterly than any politician of his day, with the possible exception of Mr Lloyd George, and lie lias been guilty of mistakes which have merited censure. But these are remembered, and his many signal services forgotten. And upon the whole balance Mr Lyon thinks that “no one lias received so much undeserved blame and so little earned credit as this great public seril.mt. For to that title Churchill lias a just claim.”