Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-19
BATES IVY DAY.
Continued from Page One.)

of liberty that had begun to breathe
within them. The legacy of Greece to
the world began TO be enjoyed by them
then for the first time, and the bud Of
democracy under the reviving in
tluences of the Renaissance began to
bloom. 1t meant struggle; knowl-
edge had been the organ of dcspotism;
II had been the secret of the upper
classes and they would not without a
struggle see that knowledge become
the possession of the masses. Cypress
they might; prosecute they did but
submission came not. An alternative
there was. And so blown by the gale
of democracy, freighted with the
embryo of a republic, the Mayflower
beached herself upon Plymouth Rock
and America was born.
To be sure there was not and coull
not be a complete remuneration of
English customs and a complete sur
render Of the ideas Of governing that
prevailed in the mother land; but
democracy grew steadily throughout
the colonial period and gave evidence
of that growth in the form of govern
mcnt which the colonies adopted.
In 1876 the American Congress
affixed its signature to that document
which voiced its bedrock belief and
gave uttcranCe to that sublime, but as
it seemed then foOlhardy, declaration
that Heaven intended all men to be
free and equal. We had started out to
do what no race or no nation had ever
done before. We had started out to
found a republic on the unlimited
suffrage of Il million and trust man
with self government.
In ITS the Congress ratified her
constitution and for more than a
century our theory of legislation has
been that of government by repre-
sentation in the hope and belief that a
celebrating legislative body would
always represent the popular will
That this theory has justified the
wisdom of its fathers is beyond qucs-
ton, century of national life has
indicated it. ON the other hand the
test Of 4 100 years has shown defects
in the representative idea, but no such
defects as shall warrant us in
abandoning the system, but such de-
feet rs make it imperative that we
safeguard and improve it.
With nation as with an Individual
the name is not a safe thing to judge
by, for using the name as a criterion
the nation may be a democracy but
using the character as the criterion it
may be an ariStocracy. A name is not
the indication of character. How do
we as nation classify? Are we q
democracy in name ana an aristOcracy
in character? If 50 why 90 are there
defects in our representative system?
Should senators be elected by
popular vote? Should voting be more
independent? Is there need of ballot
reform? Arc the lcgislations too tardy
in their response to the need of the
community and people" AS a corre.-
ton for this do we need the initiative
and referendum? In larger matters
are the trusts and monopolies making
our 50 called democracy a laughing
stock for other nations; is the tariff
opprcssivcly burdensomc upon the
consumer, are We as a maritime
nation to be relcgatcd to an insight
ficant place and the stars and stripes,
cease their minion on foreign waters.
Docs the corruption of the politician
parade with brazcn effrontcry the halls
where the honesty of craftsmanship
should reign supreme.
If any or all of these statements are
SO. why so?
What is the essential difference be-
tween a democracy in name and
character and a democracy only in
name?
Between Il nation where these
problems are rightly solved and one
whore CI1ph rTpIln,,1C inc
for solution that never comes. In
my thinking the difference is this that
the first is characterized by a whole
some. effective public opinion ana the
second by a lack of it.
What then is public opinion and
what have we as students to do with
it?
Public opinion is the motive power
of democratic institutions? It is the
prOtoplasm of national life 1t is the
compost" Of tho public sentiment and
public spirit Of every individual in the
land. the political conscience which is
as important for the ordering of the
affairs of the state as is the personal
conscience to the ordering of the
affairs of the Individual 1t is the
foundations of all free government and
to the extent that q government IL re
SponSivc to the expression of public
opinion to that extent is it free. AS
Bryce says "it has really been the
chief and ultimate power in nearly all
nations at nearly all times"
Legislation is in a general way the
crystallizatinn into statutes Of public
opinion.
1t not only sufliccs to create Iegsla-
ton hut it sufficcs to produce those
officials who are dcrcliCt i'm their en-
forcPmcnt Of that legislation. Every
individual is amcnahc to ii for his
acts and its Judgment is well nigh
supreme.
If then public opinion not only
makes but executes our laws. its vast
Importance in our soCiai-and national
life must he evident. 1t i indeed tie
power that rules the republic
1t is tn" force which drives all our
governmental machinery. 1t is moro
than power, it is direction also. 1t not
only makes the machinery GO, it de-
tCrmincs the course it shall take The
steam that drives the engine Of the
ship docs not guide the vessel, it sim
ply produces motion. But public
oDiDipr bv worry nature iC directive