The Americanisation of the World
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,^ '=i^fANA-CHAMPWGN STACKS NOTICE: Rtum or rnw all Library Matarialsl Th Mlnlntum Fe for Mch Lost Book is $50.00. The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Thaft mutilation, and undarlining of books are reasons for discipli- nary action and may result in dismissal from tlie University. To rerMw call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN iuV 2 6 M/IR ijgi JUNl 1997 MAY 2 7 11997 1999 JUfi 2 7 ZIlOO DEC21 m oc< cs?odn 8-M-04 LI6I O-1096 '^^^OTE sronAc^ 4 ! UBRWy !<?<<-*^;tf-ntf5tf -^^tf3^-^%?-^ %?tf-*^5*r- -ti ^5 i '^*3iaS;a 1 H I'.onORK ROOSEVELT.I Pkesiuknt oi- t i:% Uniti:!) States of Amf.hica. I^.^>J^--^*i^-;>J;;^ f-i*t^-i~:>ti?H*-i>;^ >-^:^'-^*i? ^^>^'-T3't^-^^!SaP>-'-:>i^.-.-^^^*-^?i;^'-5*;^.-'- i?7 By W. T. STEAD. NT THE - / , / AMERICANlSATIOn OF THE V \ .y" ^vv'y l::^ THE REVIEW OF REVIEWS ANNUAL, 1902. X THE GRHPH0PHONE. The Talking Machine is one of the important inventions of the Nineteenth Century. I THE 6RAND The Graphophone represents the highest achievement PRIX, attained in the development of the onl; Talking Machine art. T/SLKI HIGHEST The Grauhophone is the MACH AWARD Perfected Phonograph. AMfARI The "Qrnd" types, using large cylinders, reproduce witK'the full volume and purity of sound of the original rendition. PARIS Home-made records can easily be made on the Qraphophone by amateurs. TH* Thirtyflve Oifferent Styles. Every One is a Good One. EXPOSITION, \rm Prices . 25 * to S32. H'riU/or "Price Book I" to 1900. COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY Gen'l., 'RD 122, OXFORD STREET, LONDON, W. New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Detroit, Washington, Buffalo, Boston, Pittsburg, 8t. Louis, Minneapolis, Paris, Berlin. The World's Best Talking Mach. le THE AMERICANISATION OF THE WORLD OR The Trend of the Twentieth Century. "We fervently believe that our only chance of national prosperity lies in the timely remodelling of our system, so as to put it as nearly as possible upon an equality with the improved manageniMit of the Americans." Richard CoBDEN, 1835. BY W. T. STEAD. PUBLISHED AT THE "REVIEW OF REVIEWS" OFFICE, MOWBRAY HOUSE, NORFOLK STREET, LONDON, \\.C. 1902. PRINTED 1;Y WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS,^ LIMITED, STAMFORD STRB;ET, S.F. AND 28 GRKAT WINDMIbL STREET, W. M. P R E F A C E. The advent of the United States of America as the greatest of world-Powers is the greatest political, social, and commercial phenomenon of our times. For some years past t we have all been more or less dimly conscious of its significance. It is only when we look ^ at the manifold manifestations of the exuberant energy of the United States, and the world- wide influence which are the world in and the British in (I they exerting upon general Empire particular, that we realise how comparatively insignificant are all the other events of ^ our time. ^ The result of the rapid survey which I have embodied in this Annual will, I trust, i enable my readers to see in its true perspective the salient fiict which will dictate the trend ^ of events in the Twentieth Centurv. This is to all but it is of transcendant {). survey intensely interesting men, importance ^ for my own countrymen. For we are confronted by the necessity of taking one of those momentous decisions which decide the destiny of our country. Unless I am altogether I mistaken, we have an opportunity probably the last which is to be offered us of first V retaining our place as the of world-Powers. If we neglect it, we shall descend slowly ^ but irresistibly to the position of Holland and of Belgium. No one who contemplates with an impartial mind the array of facts now submitted to his attention, will deny that I have at least made out a very strong prima facie case in support of my contention that, unless we can succeed in merging the British Empire in the English-speaking I'nitcd States of the World, the disintegration of our Empire, and our definite displacement from the position of commercial and financial primacy is only a matter of time, and probably a very short time. If, on the other hand, we substitute for the insular patriotism of our nation the broader patriotism of the race, and frankly throw in our lot with the Americans to realise the great ideal of Race Union, we shall enter upon a new era of power and prosperity the like " of which the race has never realised since the world began. But if before our duty we, with ourselves as listless spirit, stand," the die will be cast, and we must reconcile best we can to accept a secondary position in a world in which we have hitherto played a leading role. it in our to If, on the contrary, we are resolute and courageous, we have power occupy a position of vantage, in which we need fear no foe and dread no rival. We shall continue on a wider scale to carry out the providential mission which has been entrusted to the English-speaking Race, whose United States will be able to secure the peace of the World. It is, therefore, in no spirit of despair, but rather with joyful confidence and great hope ^ that I commend this book to my fellow-countrymen. Decemb.r, 1901. W. T. STEAD. 111794 THE AMERICANISATION OF THE WORLD;, OR, THE TREND OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. PART I. THE UNITED STATES AND THE BRITISH EMPIRE. Of one thing the Briton is assured. However Chapter I. The English-Speakino World. he may be outstripped and overshadowed by The Americanisation of the world is a phrase the American, no one can deprive us of the which excites, quite needlessly, some resentment traditional glories which encompass the cradle " in Great Britain. It is even regarded as an of the race. The purple mist of centuries and " aflfront to England to suggest that the world is of song will never lift from these small islands Americanised. Its true of course on the northern seas. We may lose our primacy being destiny " is to be Anglicised. And many are quick to in the forging of iron and steel, but no inva- " discern something of anti-patriotic bias in the sion can deprive us of the indestructible renown writers who venture to call attention to the possessed by the land which gave birth to Alfred trend of the Twentieth Century. and Cromwell, to Shakespeare and Milton, to To all such irate champions of England and Burns and Scott. And as men will ever think with the English it is sufficient to reply that, as the more highly of the City of the Violet Crown creation of the Americans is the greatest achieve- its Groves of Academe, peopled with poets and ot ment of our race, there is no reason to resent sages, than of the geographically vast expanse the part the Americans are playing in re- Asiatic empires, so it may well be that England fashioning the world in their image, which, may be a name worn ever nearer the great heart after all, is substantially the image of ourselves. of mankind than that of the Continent-covering If we are afflicted with national vanity we can son of Anak, whose bulk overshadows the console ourselves by reflecting that the Ameri- world. cans are only giving to others what they inherited At the same time and I hasten to make this from ourselves. Whatever they do, all goes to admission to pacify irate American readers the credit of the family. It is an unnatural resentful of the suggestion that John Bull stands parent who does not exult in the achievements to Brother Jonathan as Athens to Persia it is to the of his sons, even although they should eclipse possible that the American may stand the triumphs of his sire, as much as the victories Briton as Christianity stands to Judaism. that of Hannibal threw into the shade the exploits of As it was through the Christian Church Hamilcar. the monotheism of the Jew conquered the world, the Whatever may be the objections that are so it may be through the Americans that raised from one side or the other, I hope the English ideals expressed in the English language reader, if he is a Briton, will at least be able may make the tour of the planet. The parallel to go so far with me as to rejoice in contem- is dangerously exact. For there is too much plating the achievements of the mighty nation reason to fear that many Americans regard the that has sprung from our loins, and if he is an English with the same unfilial ingratitude that American, to tolerate the complacency with many Christians regard the Jew. It is as useless which John Bull sets down all his exploits to to remind them that the men of the Mayflower the credit of the family. Without that element were English, as it is to remind anti-Semites of mutual sympathy, it is to be feared the survey that Christ and His apostles were Jews. Yet of the process which I have dubbed the Ameri- it was through the Christian Church, too that canisation of the World, is not likely to tend often unmindful of its Jewish parentage, to edification, but rather to recriminations, cavil- the ethical ideals of the Jew permeated and lings, and bittemess of spirit.