The Globe-republican., 1900-03-22
ENGLAND ON DECLINE
LOSING PRESTIGE IN WORLDS
TRADE
Anaeraea ana Germany bounding For
yard While Great Britain Rests Com
tent with Her Laurels Americas

From her proud position as acknOw1-
edged head of the trading nations of
the world. there is a possibility, and
even probability that Great Britain
Will in the near future be relegated
to a place on the list below America
Germany, France and other nations
that are showing more enterprise in
the world OF commerce and trade and
which have been bounding forward
with tireleSS energy while England
has been resting seemingly content
with her 1aureIs, says a writer in the
St Louis G1obe-Democrat-
Only those who watch the course of
nations fully appreciate the laxity and
care1essness which have marked the
actions Of Great Britain a trading
nation within the last twenty-five
years, and only those who now look
at the figures and who consider what
the TTansvaal 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
eonQueRs the Beers or not, her trade
supremacy is threatened.
No branch of industry exemp1ifies
this more httingly 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 consume but 40 per cent of the
cotton spun in Europe, and the posi-
ton OF Liverpool as the dumping
ground OF the cotton crop is more a
theory than a reality.
France, Germany, Switzerland and
Russia have made mighty strides in the
eottoR 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 ia the front rank
Particular attention is paid to cotton
because it is and has been for more
than fifty years the greatest industry
Of England, furnishing employment not
only for hundreds of thousands of op-
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-
Rcy ia the cotton trade. Within the
last Eve years the number of spindIee
In England have increased only 500 600
while the other countries Of Europe
report an increase of 100000. Fiji
teen years ago England manufactured
30 per cent of the cotton goods made
In Europe. Last year Eng1ands 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 ap-
parently. has been content of late to
rest on her trade Iaure1s. While Eng
Land has been resting the other great
nations have been exerting themselves
Germany and America being particu-
1arly~ enterprising, and unless a great
change comes over the spirit and char
Rcter 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 world s
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-
10y such prosperity as now