The silver star., 1900-03-23
ENGLAND ON DECLINE
LOSING PRESTIGE IN WORLDS
TRADE.
America and Germany Boundins For
ward While Great Britain Rests Con-


From her proud position as acknowl-
edged head of the trading nations Of
the world, there Is a possibility, and
even a probability that Great Britain
Will in the near future be relegatad
to place on the list below America.
Germany, France and other nations
tnat are showing more enterprise in
the world of commerce and trade and
which have been bounding forward
with tireless energy while England
mas been resting seemingly content
with her laurels, says writer in the
st. Louis Globe-Democrat
Only those who watch the course of
nations fully appreciate the laxity and
carelessness which have marked the
actions of Great Britain as a trading
nation within the last twenty-five
years, and only those who now look
at the figures and who consider what
the Transvaal war means, can count
the cost. The truth is that England
has not kept pace with the worlds
progress, and that to-day. whether she
conquers the Beers or not, her trade
supremacy is threatened.
No branch Of industry exemplifies
this more fittingly than the manufac-
turing of cotton goods. Not many
years ago Liverpool ruled the raw
cotton market. and Lancashire mills
ruled the manufactured cotton goods
trade OF the world. Today English
mills cons lie but 40 per cent of the
cotton spun in Europe, and the posi-
tion of Liverpool as the dumping
ground of the cotton crop 10 more a
theory than reality.
France. Germany, Switzerland and
Russia have made mighty strides in the
cotton manufacturing business, and all
At the expense of England In Ger
many the greatest progress is shown,
but within the past ten years America
has had an impetus to this branch of
industry that promises ere long to
place her in the front rank.
Particular attention is paid to cotton
because it is and has been for NOR e
than fifty years the greatest industry
OF England, furnishing employment not
only for hundreds of thousands OF an
eratives. but making up a goodly part
OF the stuff sold by Great Britain to
her colonies and to other nations.
Now. however. England appears to
have reached the apex of her suprem-
acy in the cotton trade Within the
last five years the number of spindles
In England have increased only 500 900
while the other countries of Europe
report an increase of 100000. FIJI
teen years ago England manufactured
5S per cent Of the cotton goods made
In Europe. Last year England's per-
eentage was only 40. and by the signs
now showing. the percentage will be
still smaller this year.
With nations as with individuals. re-
pose comes with plenty. England. an
parently, has been content of late to
rest on her trade laurels. While Eng
land has been resting the other great
nations have been exerting themselves,
Germany and America being particu-
larly enterprising. and unless a great
change comes over the spirit and char
acter Of the English merchant within
the present generation the struggle for
commercial supremacy will be between
the Teuton and the American.
In one department of the worlds
business England is yet supreme. That
Is the ocean carrying trade. Not only
is she supreme in this. but never be-
fore did her ship-owning subjects en-
toy such prosperity as now.