DANGERS OF THE CENTURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 43

DANGERS OF THE CENTURY.

The New York World publishes the following replies to the question • " What, m your opinion, is the chief danger, social or political, that confronts the coming century?": — Archbishop of Canterbury I have not the slightest idea. The Bishop of Gloucester: Self-advertising Vanity.

Dean Farrar- The chief social danger is the dominance of drink. The chief political danger is our apathetic laxity m facing serious problems.

Lan Maclaren ■ Political collision of the Wes"tern Powers in the East, and, socially, anarchy.

Dr Max Nordau : The chief danger threatening civilisation itself, seems to me to be that mfer--aial selfishness called by pseudo-philosophers " Individualism."

Dr A. Conan Doyle : I should say the uncontrolled supremacy of an ill-balanced, excitable, and sensation-mongering press.

Mr Stanley J. Weyman The influence upon half-educated nations of an irresponsible press, ■whose first object must (with very rare exceptions) be pecuniary.

Mr Gilbert Parker, M.P. • Apart from international questions, the spread of big monopolies and trusts. Mr Arthur W. Pinero : Trades unions — the re"lfttions of -workmen and employers. Mr William Watson : Greed. ' Madairy* Sarah Grand- The sapping of the foundations of society, by laxity in the mattei of marriage.

Mr Max O'Rell: An irresponsible and un- - bridled press.

Lady Colin Campbell : The results of universal education.

Mr Zangwill : The reactionary reversion to xnediseval ideals of militarism, caste, and ecclesiastical clespotism ere they have been sufficiently purged by modern thought. Miss Ellen Terry: A lack of simplicity— m thought, manners, and customs. Lord Charles Beresford: The Chinese question.

Mr Keir Hardie, M.P. Militarism. Earl of Wemyss • Socialism, the State, and municipalities trying to play the part of Providence, and traders. Mr John Dillon, M.P. . Imperialism, militarism, and the corruption of public' life arising from the Companies' Acts , limited liability and the immense development of the Stock Exchange. Mr T. M. Healy, MP. Newspapers! Mrs Asquith . Militarism, Mrs Ormiston Chant: The glorification of *ordidness. Karl Blind Imperialism. Ouida . Tyranny ; tyranny of majorities ; tyranny, military, medical, scientific, political. M. de Blowitz • In my opinion, the chief danger that confronts the coming century is a universal and violent coalition of those who have everything to gain against thosa who have something to lose. Mr Walter Crane- The pursuit' of money. Mr G. R. Sims- The spread of insanity. Sir Walter Besant Increased naval armaments, and trusts.

During a disturbance at Christchurch on Thursday evening a visiting bookmaker named Charles King obstructed Constable Andrews, used had language towards him, and invited him to fight. King was fined £10, in default one month's imprisonment. The magistrate severely cautioned the accused, and pointed out that had this not been his first offence he would have been sent to gaol without the option of a fine.