BRITISH PESSIMISM

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4467, 21 September 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

BRITISH PESSIMISM

MR CARNEGIE’S VIEWS

A recent number of the “Nineteenth Century” contains an article on this subject, which is all the more interesting because it is in striking contrast to the many depressing wails which we have beo n treated to of late by other writers who have been at great pains to make it quite clear Great Britain is losing her position of national supremacy, that the trade of the same country is rapidly falling off, that the general prosperity of the Empire as a whole is fast diminishing, and that prospects for the future are more gloomy than at any other period. Such views are mischiev-i ous. Despondency is quick to spread, and most difficult to overcome once it takes firm root. It invariably forms a serious drawback to strenuous and persistent effort, and yot many mere theorists have for months past been doing their utmost to encourage Britishers all the world over to believe that it is quite useless to struggle against; the inevitable, and that they may as well make up their, minds to take a back, seat in competition with other nations which are making .progress in various directions. But Mr Carnegie is certainly no theorist. He is a man who has won millions for himself in a country where many of Great Britain’s keenest business rivals are to be found, and even amongst such : people. -he gave a . very practical demonstration of his ability to take a foremost position.. Seriatim Mr Carnegie examines the lamentations which some writers on this subject are inclined to acoord the dignity of eternal truth. “No longer Great Britain against the world in anything,” say the present day Jeremiahs, “no longer first among nations in wealth or credit, in manufacturing, mining, weaving', commerce. Primacy all lost.” Are things really so bad as all this ? Mr Carnegie thinks not. There are dangers present and to come, and the_ nation will have to pull itself together in order to meet the ever-changing times and circumstances. Consols have fallen,; it is true, and lenders deduct fij.per cent, on the amount lent because British credit is impaired, but no other nation could have , passed through what i Britain has and emerged with financial credit at ail. Evan this fall—due to war charges and increasing expendituremay be speedily recovered. .In wealth, man for man approaches Great ‘Britain; “In mining,-weaving, commerce, rand manufactures primacy has,gone only if the pessimist persists in. measuring 'Britain against the whole American Union;” in other words, setting in direct contrast forty-one millions of people qn two small islands against seventy-seven-mil. lions inhabiting the greater portion of a large continent unequalled in resources. The authority from, whom wo quote , asserts that in. weaving and; foreign commerce Britain has still _ primacy in the - aggregate, even against the United Sjtates; and in exports she is but little behind. British. shipping still exceeds that of any nation twice over,; and' no man living is likely to see that, very decided, lead overcome. In shipbuilding the output of the : United Kingdom is treble the tonnage of America pen yea'r, and over five times that of Germany. In iron making the; British output, man for. man, will, remain greater than that of any country, except the United States; whilst , as to steel her output of five million .tons last year,” says Mr Carnegie, “shows what a, little giant Britain is.” * ,

'' But what adds special value to the friendly criticisms of Mr Carnegie is that he recognises and points, out certain danger signals. These he would not -g----nore,l nor would the builder of Pittsburg bemoan ; their . appearance. ■ He desires the good ship Birtannia to steer -such a course as’will enable her to avoid either shoals or rocks, .and is of the opinion that this will not be impossible, &L though the task will not be 'facilitated by the loud trumpeting of jeremiads in all directions. His" advice is sound; and is. moreover, in many.; respects on , all fours with-the warning: recently given as to increased- national expenditure, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Government, expenditure: ;in « Great i Brir tain is nearly £3 per head, which compares ha'dly, with' £1 per bead in . the United States, arid £1 7s 6d in Germany. Mr Carnegie is not favourable . to; fur* ther territorial ' expansion, and urges more attention: being given to : the better-; ment of conditions at Home. But in addition:to ■’ advocating: greater .economy and - - a cessation of . the quest: for .new territories and markets, other things are pointedly referred to by the great, philanthropist. . The Britqn: must learn to throw aside his conservative-habits and customs and thoroughly adjust himself top resent conditions. He must become quite alive to the fact that he is now —if never before—confronted with foee worthy of. hie steel, and abandon the “easy-going indifference 3, generated by the past monopoly of production.” Once these ideas are thoroughly grasped Mr Carnegie has no fear of the result. “The qualities of the .race lie dormant, - and are still there; * the domed endurance, the ambition to excel, the will to do or die, are all there. The blood has.not deteriorated. We ' see: how 'the British workman develops, .when in competition with the American in the mills of the Republic he takes his ooat off.”. The cheering words of the great iron, master who is now with such unexampled generosity and great wisdom; distributing his millions' for the benefit of his fellowmen should,' and so doubt-will, have** most wholesome.effect in stimulating Britishers 'in parts of the Empire to renewed successful effort.