القرن التاسع عشر ، رقم ١٨٢، أبريل ١٨٩٢ [ظ‎‎٥‎٨] (٢٤٤/١٢١)

606
THE NINETEENTH
April
THE ATTACK
ON THE CREDIT OF
To gauge the material and social condition of any country with
accuracy is a matter involving mginy difficulties, even to those who
are skilled in making such estimates. There are so many matters
involved, that only those who are well provided with statistical data
can hope to arrive at any conclusion which would approach to a truth
ful generalisation of a complex and many-sided subject. But even
to the statistician or economist who may be well equipped for such a
task there are dangers and difficulties of a formidable character
where there are tendencies or influences towards a favoured precon
ception. For as Mr. G-oschen has so] well remarked, ' the adminis
trator of statistics is like a showman who is exhibiting certain figures—
according as he throws light or shade upon the pictures which he
exhibits, he-can produce true or false impressions. Whole rows of
figures he may throw into impenetrable shade, while others are at the
same time brought into excessive prominence, and thus to the eye
of the spectator much may be rendered invisible, and much may be
distorted by exaggerated lights, which turn facts into caricatures';
and therefore, he proceeds to say, 4 given a great number of figures
partially unknown, given unlimited power and discretion of selection,
and given an enthusiast determined to prove his case, and I will not
answer for the consequences.'
In matters which directly concern the value of any country's
credit or commercial undertakings, there is a still more dangerous
source for the creation of distorted or exaggerated pictures of the
truth. Here, too, skill of a sort is required to produce an illusory
picture. But under such circumstances the object of the manipulator
or showman, however skilfully veiled, is intentionally to produce
illusion in the mind of the spectator. The ostensible reason given
may be enthusiasm for truth, or a desire to protect the helpless public
investor; but the hidden and real motive is to produce such an
immediate impression upon the public mind as will favour the selfish
interests of some section of that powerful class of speculators who
have been well though severely described by Schaeffle as that' Whole
unclean brigand aristocracy of the Bourse.'
The debt of Australasia, now amounting to 183,469,612?., is too
1 Forwarded by the Premier of Tasmania.