The Washington herald., 1907-06-09

Arabie debate between NJ Jaures and M.
Clemenceau in June, 1905. debate on the
underlying relations between the social
istic programme and the principles of
democratic state. Jaures presented with
lucid fervor the ideal of that socialistic
democracy which binds itself 10 the shib-
boleth of equality. Clemenceau presented
with forceful acumen the conception OF an
individualist democracy. which takes lib
erty for its watchword. Neither protago-
mist indicated by his words that he saw
or felt the necessary and everlasting con-
tradiction between economic equality and
liberty. In the French revolution liberty
was the watchword Of the middle class;
equality. that of the lower. The distinc-
tion here is obvious. and its application
to American conditions almost equally so.
Says Mr. Butler:
The United States is in sore ueed today Of an
astocrscy of intellect and service, Because such an
arstoelacy does not exist in the popular conscious
ness we are bending the knee in worship 10 the
golden calf Of money. The form Of monarchy and
is pomp offer a valuable foil 90 the worship Of
money for rs own sake A democracy must provide
itself with foil Of its own. and none is better or
more effective than arisiocracy Of intellect and
service recruited from every part of our democratic
life
Mr.. Butler, by able argument. and with
considerable eloquence, argues that a
free state, built upon free labor. with
liberty for its watchword. and justice az
its guide. is the ideal Of true democ-
racy-that form Of society which Lowell
characterized so suRgestively, il incom-
pletely, as one in which every man has 4
chance, and knows that he has it. To
the hectic. emotional radiCalism. which
clamors for the exaltatiOn Of the mediocre
and the unfit, and upon which false de-
mOcracy builds. true democracy. will OPP
pose a healthy intellectual ~adicalism that
will seek to see life steadily. and to see
It whole: a radicalsm that will seek 20
redress old wrongs without inhlctng new
ones.
\ second essay in this volume IS "Edu-
cation Of Public Opinion" delivered by
Mr. Butler before the University Of Mich
igan This goes into the whole question
Of party politics and the essaylst points
out that the system has It's abuses. but
has its uses. also. In the last analysis, he
finds that public opinion starts with the
individual citizen. and the last paragraph
Of this speech sounds like a transcript
from one Of President Roosevelt's lee
lures.
All this comes hack 20 the point from which va
started the individual citizen. There is no trench
IN which he may hide no bombpToof "a which
weapons of responsibility viii not follow him. Arc
you politically alert Are you politically honest
II not you are a bad citizen and a couupter. how
eyer innocent. Of pblir opinion. If you are poltt
ally alert the standard which yr1 set is high one
worthy Of imitation hy your neighhor- Nou arc do
ing samethiug 70 educate public opinion.
Then comes an essay on Democracy
and Education" in which Prof. Butler
shows that he Is convinced that the great
est educational need Of our times Is z
fuller appreciation on the part Of th'
teachers Of what human institutions real
Is mean, and what tremendous moral is
sues and principles they involve. Il Is not
by vain-glorious boasting that we car
hope 10 conquer; II is only by the enthusi-
asm born Of intense conviction. that
finds the happiness of each in the good OF
all that our educational ideals will b,
satisfied.
I'm these three scholarly essays there i'
food for thought Tor every wide-awaks
American citizen. They represent a striv
ing toward a high ideal. but for "A natIoI
that is aspiring 10 be n leader among al
the nations Of the earth. scarce any idea
can be too high. (New York. The Mac
milan Coz