Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-12-15
THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE

In the limited sphere of word making
Democracy means the Rule of the People
But in the vaster sphere Of operative gov.
eminent 1t signifies that application OF popu.
lar power To human affairs that will bring
the greatest good TO the greatest number Of
people who are wise enough 10 study it's
lofty policy, virtuous enough to follow it's
teachings, and fortunate enough to dwell
under the shadow Of It's mighty shield.
Whether, therefore, the organizations scat.
tered throughout the enlightened world and
Wanting the name Of Democracy be demo.
cratic or not depends upon the use which
they make OF this most sacred trust-Tht
Power Of the People.
Itneeds no tedious demonstration 10 show
that the men who would use public power
to confer special privileges, and distribute
with unequal hand the benefits and burdens
of organized society, are aristocrats in prac.
tice and aristocrats In heart though their ban.
ners should be as countless as the stars and
written all over with the democratic legend
of Equal rights to all-special privileges tc
none"
By the test Of the greatest good to the
greatest number" and "fair distribution
of benefits and burdens" shall every system
of government and method Of administra
ton be ultimately tried-even though the
fatlings OF misused power may for season
divert the public mind from the line Of In.
vestigstion and the duty OF criticism by
devices always selfish, habitually cunning
and most generally cruel, National pride
sectional jealousy, religious difference and
red handed war have served this purpose
too often in the past, and will do the same
in the future, unless vigilance becomes the
yoke fellow Of confidence and suspicion the
handmade Of patriotism. In the past man
has always trusted too much for the good
of bis liberty, and priced individual comfort
too highly Tor the good Of his race.
They who abuse popular power would
rob Us OF repose, because with it comes re.
Election, afterwards investigation.
In the crucial period Of investigation men
and measures, governments and policies
parties and platforms, creeds and practices
are examined in the light Of experience and
Judged by the fruits they have borne.
With the fattsd recipients Of special bene.
fits, that only is patriotism which applauds
the system by which they are selected for
distinctive blessings, while the masses go
hungry for the plain necessities of life. And
that only is loyalty which excuses the meth
DDS by which the favored few are enriched
with advantages at the expense OF the toll
ing millions.
Because Of mans inherent selfshness. and
the mental and physical inequality stamped
on the entire race, government is q neces.
sity. The protection Of the weak being the
necessity which called human government
into operation, that necessity must be met
or government fails.
According to the democratic view of gov
eminent in the abstract the subjects of gov.
eminent stand on the same plane OF merit,
and mal-use of power occurs when gov.
ernmental representatives or agents confer
special advantages upon a selected few, oil
so employ the power entrusted to them as
to bring about manifest inequality Of
wealth, influence or privileges Such a re-
suit is against the fundamental purposes oil
our Democratic form of government and is
therefore, usurpstion, 1t is against the rights
Of the many, and the power to stamp ouI
such crime is with the people.