The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-09

easily be misread. That nations
do decay is obvious enough; but
they do not decay according to immuta-
bic laws, like cheese.
It would be easy to lay ones finger on
half a dozen ominous-looking facts and
to argue from them that the decrepitude
they testify is universal; but it would De
equally easy to take other facts IN sup
port of a theory that it is period OF
change and not of decadence that we are
passing through.
The English temperament is, compared
with that of the American, sluggish ana
conservative. 1t must be owned. also,
that the American has a more pronounc-
ed genius for operations on vast scale.
But the superiority of the American does
not imply the decadence of the English
man. Only the loss of the peculiar char
acteristics of the Britisher. his grim te-
nacity. his thoroughness, his determine
ton not to be beaten in what he under
takes can do that The question is, are
the distlnctively English virtues disap-
pearing? Is the type, temperament and
character of Englishmen becoming modl-
fled? Or is the cry of "Decadence' due
to the fact that the conditions of suPrem-
acy are changing, and that the English
man, ever slow and ease-loving:, has not
yet learned his lesson, perhaps has hard
" vet realized that there is a lesson to
learn?
METHODS; NOT MEN.
Too much stress may easily be laid
upon the triumphs won by Americans and
Germans in the industrial field. In GER
tain branches of the engineering trade
they, have pioneered new methods and
have established a great reputation. But,
after all what does it amount to? 1t is
the methods that have wrought the rev.
olution, not any special strength IN the
men that have applied those methods,
We have our finger here on the great
lesson which the Englishman must learn.
if he is to retain his relative supremacy
in the great International struggle tor
power The highest intellectual powers
are required for modern business, not
mere sna1 tness or push, but trained in
tellect of a type that, az far as this
country is concerned. is at present woe
fully deficient quantity.
In England we are hampered again with
prejudices ridiculous enough, but very
real. The so-called learned professions
have still their votaries, who profess to
look down socially on the mere person IN
trade" Yet it is sufficiently obvious
that the centre of gravity of our social
system has travelled far away from the
country gentleman and his cousins, the
learned professionals. AS Carlyle we'll
said the future is not with arms and
the man." but with tools and the man.
and the danger is that the English social
system tries to cover UP this truth, and
still frantically endeavors to make be-
lieve that the centre Of power lies with
an idle, or at any rate comparatively
idle, land-ownng class. There Is no OBJ
lection to an aristocracy titled as eX-
tensively as you will. There is every dam
ger in its pretending that it does not di-
rectly or Indirectly draw its sustenance
from trade, and from little else
HIGH SALARIES.
It is difficult TO believe that an fntelli-
gent appreciation OF this anomalous posi-
ton will not force itself on the nation
sooner or later. The competitors of
England, the capitalists Of America and
Germany. have recognized that high lev
vel of material equipment. of SAVIOR falre,
of experience are necessary to the lead
ers of industry. AS result. they call for
and mature those qualities wherever they
find them. They pay high salaries in a
way that makes the old school OF Eng
lishmen SILVER. But their reward Is Ger
tain By thus wisely using the power at
command they are evolving a whole class
of technics experts, masters. call them as
you like, who bring to the problems con-
fronting them intelligence that has no
counterpart save in rare instances in sim
liar enterprises here.
muCn Tor 1NCuSlTldl DuL
the indictment Of our American critics
goes much further than this Self-indul-
gence, leading to softened fibre. is
said to be our besetting sin. Again, we
must 1t is feared, plead guilty to the
charge-with reservations. 1t IS true that
we have lost the faculty of strong and
righteous Indignation at injustice, that
more and more in the large cities men
cease to think and feel for themselves.
but drift with the stream that surrounds
them for the moment, that three-fifth Of
our adult townspeople seek spurious ex-
element in gambling. miscalled sport
But what, then? Is it irreparable? Is 1t
not the outcome Of an absurd educational
training that makes the rising generation
acquainted with its powers, but speaks no
word of its duties? We spend millions in
educating-free-the plastic substance OF
the cllfd's mind, and it results in-Hool-
ganism. Is it the incurably corrupt ma
ture of the child that is al fault? Or is
it the incompetence of the teaching sys-
tenn to understand its work and bring its
undoubted powers to bear:
UPROOTING OLD IDEALS.
rne modern world, under the influence
of the daily press, the steamship, the
railway, the cable and even the cycle and