Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-24
TRUE AND FALSE DEMOCRACY
DR.. Fuller is Charter Day Orator al
University Of California.
WEAKNESS IN SCHEME OF SOCIALISM
Seeks to Overcome ImDerfectiOns Of
Men by Adding Them in Hope
They WIN Cancel Each
other.

BERKELEY, Cal. March z.-Ths forty
seventh anniversary of the founding OF
the University OF California was observed
here today. Despite the rain, q great crowd
thronged Harmony gymnasium. where the
exercises were held. The charter day ad-
dress was delivered by DR.. Nicholas Murray
Butler, president Of Columbia university,
New York, who spoke on The True and
False Democracy" DR.. Butler said In
part:
The socialist propaganda, never more seri-
ously or more ably carried on than now, is
an earnest and sincere attempt 70 escape
from conditions that are burdenSome and
unhappy Despite its most imperfect inter-
pTetations OF the economic significance or
history and Its ringing the changes on the
misleading theory OF class CONSEQUENCES.
favorable Judgment because Its proclaimed
motive Is TO help the mass OF mankind.
No Just man can quarrel with its aim but
few readers Of history or students of human
nature can approve its program. What Is
il that socialism aims to accomplish by
esiTSSss eons 9st sSsss to
what II eoneeives 70 be a just economic
and political condition.
FRIIRcy of Socialism.
ence to immediate concrete proposals. socia
ence TO immediate concrete proposals. social
| ism would substitute for individual Initiative
! the collective and corporate responsibility
IN matters relating 70 PEoPsEy o ena Pro
= uucllOns IN the nope OF thereby SpiiectiiAh
and overcoming the evils which attach 10
| an individualism run Wild. But We must
| not lose sight OF the fact that the cor
| pOrate or collective responsibility which Il
would substitute for Individual initiative
| is only such corporate or collective respOn-
/ sihility as a group Of these very same
| individuals could exercise. Therefore So
! eialism iH primarily an attempt to over
| come mems Individual imperfections by
! adding them together, IN the hope that
| they viii cancel each other. This Is not
| only bad mathematics, but worse psychol-
! Ogy. In pursuing formula socialism fails
| TO take account OF the facts Out OF the
people Il would constitute a mob. In for
getfulness that the mob, led or unled, is
ever had TO face.
AristOeFacy of Intellect.
The Roman republic conquered every en-
envy but It's own Vices With the warning
written large across the page Of history,
what Is the lesson OF Rome for America
The United States Is IN sore need today OF
/ an aristocracy OF intellect and service
! Because such an aTistOcracy does not exist
In the popular consciousness We are bend
ing the knee In worship 10 the golden cali
OF money. The form OF monarchy and It's
money for It's own sake. democracy mus
provide itself with foil Of It's own and
none Is better or more effective than ar
aristOcracy OF intellect and service re-
life.
A free state built upon free labor, with
liberty for It's watchword and Justice az
its guide. Is the Ideal Of a true democracy
that form OF society which Lowell charac-
teriEed 20 suggestively if incompleteiy az
one In which every man has a chance and
knows that he has H.