A WORLD REVOLUTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20076, 13 October 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

A WORLD REVOLUTION.

BT M. BUTTON WUITELAW.

THE SECOND RENAISSANCE.

It is obvious to all who study in any way tho affairs of tho present day that tho world in general is 011 the edge of a mighty revolution from nge-old channels into new ones, involving practically everything that is embraced in modern civilisation. In almost every country are arising problems so new and so startling that the rulers of tho world to-day aro as if standing in a mazo of baffling propensity. Numerous strikes and other labour troubles; demonstrations of antipathy (.gainst tho aristocracy of the country, resulting in "class hatred;" increases in crimes and violence; tho annihilation of time and space; discoveries and progressions in fields of medical and scientific research ; all these aro important factors which are giving birth to a second renaissance. Far back in tho Middlo Ages, beforo tho great renaissance had awakened " civilised" Europe (which at that timo consisted of tho British Isles, l 1 ranee, tho Netherlands, Italy, and Spain) tho rest of the then known world was under Oriental domination: Mongols the Russian steppes; Western Asia and North Africa were ruled by tho hostile scimitar of Islam; India and China were as closed and secret lands; whilo to tho westward of all, the mighty Atlantic seemed tho boundary of tho world. Then the renaissance awakened Europe, and stimulated adve.nture and opening up new land's and new sea routes, thus weakening tho power of oriental sway. From tlienco, whilo tho Orient remained dormant, the Occident shot rapidly ahead, applying tho Eastern knowledgo of scienco and mathematics, and developing them to a greater pitch of utility. Annihilation of Space.

With the wonderful improvement on the discoveries and inventions of the last half-century, the whole world has become linked together in ono vast body. Places that were, a few decades ago, geographically hundreds of miles apart, are now in daily communication with ono another. The giant linei, trans-continental railways, cable, telegraph, and above all, aerial transport and wireless, have so shattered and conquered space with a result that problems which, 50 years ago, were almost exclusively confined to European nations, now affect the whole world.

Without these wonders of modern invention, providing such close communication, New Zealand, for example, would be absolutely beyond the pale of everything—for minus her cablo and wireless, and her marine transportation, what other communication would she have with tho rest of the world ? Sho is just on the threshold of strengthening her isolated position by means of aerial transportation, which, when formally established, will be a great reinforcement in tho development of iier present condition. This annihilation of space and time must of necessity givo a great stimulus to trade, and the entirety of application and use of mchanical processes must lead to a great increaso and output in every field of in. ternational commerce, whether industrial or agricultural Machinery is everywhere replacing manual labour—on the farm, in the factory, and office, and in the home. It follows then, that a minimum of time must bo expanded in actual transportation; so that to-morrow, under a scientific regime, we shall find the business man wirelessing his orders abroad instead of cabling and aerial transport in place of marine, supplying his wants. Race Conflict. But over the face of this optimistic view of progress hangs the shadow of 'a new post-war problem—that of race-conflict—-which needs careful thought and tactful handling. Tho whito man, in his never-ceasing spirit of restlessness, a3 opposed to that of Oriental serenity, has spread to almost every corner of the earth, carving out new homes In his wake there naturally followed his Western civilisation and its accompanying advantages, wherein he brought his scientific, medical and educational factors into play. Confident in his superiority, ho introduced these to the coloured races with whom ho came in contact, imbuing their minds with his ideas and revolutionising their lives —and then pushed them aside to allow the untrammelad expansian of his own schemes. li, South Africa, for instance, tho whites are farming practically all tho territory that was native, giving tho original possessor little chance whereby to support himself, but at tho same tune providing him with free educat n. In America, during tho slave days thousands of negroes were imported for plantation work, but on the abolition of slavery they were left to multiply and inter-marry until the negroid question is a serious menaco to the States, where they are harried and persecuted. Can we wonder that tho native mind, no longer barbaric and dormant, is awakening to tho domination of white supremacy and demanding equality of existence ? Tho Asiatic and African races, united, place the white man in a very great minority; and if, with their lower standards of living (resulting from their religion, racial habits and morals) allowed free immigration anywhere, would soon drivo the white wage-earner out of existence. It is this basis of economic consideration that is the prime cause of racial hatred. Tho Arts.

Beside the commercial and political aspect, there is an awakening in other spheres; art, architecture, music, literature. even religion, have all felt its "breath. There aro the weird paintings of the Cubist School, apparently seeking to interpret by lino only, and giving no thought to proportion or aesthetic appeal; much the same seems to apply to the peculiar structures of architectural modernists, a few of whoso works have been erected in Paris. But these would appear to be only a passing phase—a new standard or " school" in embryo, for which at the present moment the artist is groping blindly; new thoughts arc entering his mind, but he do<!S not seo tho outward means of lucid expression. Other people are beginning to realise that thore is something more in religion than simply blind devotion, and aro attempting to sift the doctrines and teachings of centuries, to distinguish between truth and legend, wisdom and fiction; they are feeling the need of a practical, not a theoretical, religion—something that will harmonise, riot clash, with tho rush and clnmour of modern scientific and mcchanical life. The author is finding that the old ortho dox themes of love and war will not " catch ;" the general public do not want sketches of domestic life or of war-scarred heroes surrounded by glory—tho horrors of tho Great War showed strife in all its ghastly colour and terror. But after the war, with its blood-stained excitement, people could not settle down to pre-war life again; they felt tho necessity of something to make them forget those years of tenso and awful strain. Herefrom aroso the neurotic war influenced mind, clamouring for carnal satisfaction, tho outcome of which was tho production of literary and dramatic works with .1 deep-rooted appeal of sex. For a few following immediately on tho Peace Ireaty, the sex problem works drew great support. But that reaction of tho war is passing, and tho general public aro returning more to the pre-war standard of literary and musical production. It is not a question of mere national interest, but of world-wido importance. In every country and in every sphere tliero are new and unseen forces subtlcly working, some undermining conservative constitutions, others introducing uplifting thoughts, but all with the 0110 koynote of tho downfall of ancient formulao and tho adaption of modern application.