The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-30
Dangers Threatening the Republic
In the New England Magazine" for oc-
tober. there is an article which contains
this rather significant paragraph:

'The centennial of the election of Jefferson ha
come; and the Republic .,in knows as Lincoln
knew, and jefferson, that whatever danger.
threaten il, no serious dangers threaten it from
my tendencies efforts OF the plain peo.
pie. A survey OF history shows that the
cause OF the decay and overthrow of republics
has been almost without exception the gradual
and fatal growth Of oligarchies. Of political cor
ruption incident to the growing power Of privi-
legged classes and Of the injustice and oppression
thereby inflicted on the common people, which
have brought their inevitable results
The reason for this is not hard to dis
cover The foundation of democratic gov
ernmcnt is faith in what is rightly called
common sense-faith in the good judg-
man ~ ~ -verage man is not to be
trusted IN himself. no one can Re
sru7ir m MIN. Humanity is one;
20 IS. acts the individual are primar-
l-y iIva9t-.f7 and the world is coming
rra .,is ,e that education, refine
=3. &c. th hereditary tradition, can
Bot -5iet e class permanently above
rf+ average II will be fit to be en-
tfls 81 Hla re destiny of the State
Tic -r. =. a.. which ruling class can
be evolved is by that process of natural
selection which makes a man a ruler IL he
is wise, courageous and honest; and ma
ture has taken care to make plain the
unlikelihood that all such men will be-
long to any particular class. As fast as
artificial selection comes in conflict with
this natural law of selection it becomes
imperative; aristocracies are overthrow
by the commoners. the dilettante theorist
Is depcsed by the practical man of affairs.
and the plutocracy is overruled by the
masses.
IL The average man is mean corrupt
dishonest. selfish. education will not
eradicate these qualities from his nature.
If man is tyrannical and grasp!ng when
poor, the possession of twenty million
dollars will not change these characteris-
tics in him, but give them an immensely
greater scope. II he is morally unfit for
the control OF others, the fact that he is
q king or a boss will not make him more
1T to rule. The safety in the system of
self government lies simply in the fact
that there is a check upon the exhibition
OF all these undesirable qualities. They
so injure the Commonwealth that the rea-
sonable and intelligent voter sees that |
they cannot be tolerated In the Offices of |
the State. The vote of the people for |
their ruler, or for the measures which are |
necessary in government, is therefore die |
lated by a sense Of what is best and |
right The action of a self-constituted |
oligarchy is not checked by anything save
fear, and the greater the power of the
oligarchy becomes the less fear it has of
The consequences of any unjust deed 1t
Is not necessary to assume that the cap
itaiist is worse than other men. 1t is
only needful to point out his immense end
practically uncontrolled power to do
harm
He cannot, Of course, furnish aduIter-
afcd goods to the public without a certain |
risk, although in the case Of a monopoly