WORLD DEPRESSION

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1932, Page 3

WORLD DEPRESSION

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

THE GLOOM OF 1857

WELLINGTON, May 31

“It is curious t.mt many men think that the great depression the world is passing through, with all its attendant misery arid misapprehension is unprecedented,” said Mr J. A. Clarke, missionary from the Belgian Congo, nowin Wellington, during an address delivered at Nimmo’s Hall yesterday. “As a matter of fact that is not so, as there have been times when everything looked at its blackest, and there seemed to be no more at all ahead. I no rtot say this lightly but refer to ‘Harper’s Magazine’ of October 10, 1857, which said editorially: “It is a gloomy moment in history. Not for many years—not in the lifetime of most men who read this paper—has there been so much grave and deep misapprehension; never has the future seemed s° incalculable as at this time. In our own country (America) there is universal commercial prostration and panic, and thousands of oUr poorest fellowcitizens are turned out against the approaching winter without employment and without the prospect of it. “In France the political cauldron seethes and bubbles with uncertainty; Russia hangs, as usual, like a dark cloud upon the horizon of Europe; while all the energies, resources and influences of the British Empire are sorely tried, and are yet to be tried more sorely, in coping with the vast and deadly Indian* insurrection, and with its disturbed relations with China. It as a solemn moment and no man can feel an indifference (which, happily, no man pretends to feel) in the issue of events.

■ “Of our troubles no man can see the end. They are fortunately, mainly commercial; and if we are only to lose money, and by painful poverty to be taught wisdom—the wisdom of honour, of faith, of sympathy, and of charity—no man need seriously despair. And yet the very haste to he rich, which is the occasion of this widespread calamity, has also tended to destroy the moral forces with which we are to resist and subdue the calamity. “Good friends, let our conduct prove that the call comes to men who have large -hearts, however narrowed their homes may be: who have nothing but manhood, strong in its belief in God to rely upon ; and whoever shows himself truly a. God-fearing man now, by helping .wherever and however he can will be blessed and beloved as a great light in darkness.’ “That me followed in the magazine,” said Mr Clarke, “by the statement that depressions had ocurred in American business ever since the revolutionary war and everything had looked black and seemed unending, yet every one of them has been followed by recovery and prosperity.”