Graham guardian., 1911-01-06
JANUARY 6, 1911.
DEMOCRACY OR PLuTOC-
RACY

RACY
In the present constitutional cam
paign there appears to be only one
issue, but this one is vital and as old
as organized government.
This question is: Shall a small
minority or practical majority
establish and control the govern
ment?" or, Shall the government be
established and administered for the
equal rights and opportunities OF
all, or only for the special advantage
and benefit of some?"
The world has always been gov
erned by minorities; still, with the
advancement and diffusion of knowl-
edge, of real science, a larger and
larger proportion of the governed
have attained self-government. The
history Of England shows this clear
" in the gradual absorption of prac-
tically all power by the House of
Commons. The Commons in Ari-
zona are now advancing a little
nearer toward real, just and neces-
sary self f-government. and, of course,
are opposed by the ''standpatters''
of special privilege.
The progress of Uncle Sam in this
country has been much like that OF
Gulliver in the Island Of Lillipnt,
He first takes a few giant strides in.
land. then a sleep, during which he
is tied fast to the earth by pigmies,
with innumerable little homespun
threads. Then he wakes, breaks
his fetters and stalks over their
highest towers of graft and crime.
The first of these steps taken here
was the Declaration of Independence
and winning of the war; the second,
the election Of jefferson; the third,
the election OF Jackson. A fourth
was attempted when Bryan ran, and
the Insurgents are still trying it.
1t looks as if the giant has taker
too long a nap this time.
The struggle Of the masses fol
equal rights to be secured to them
by the enactment of just laws i'm.
partially administered, appears ir
the different theories often advanced
as to the object and business oi
civil government. In the United
States this contest has been from
the beginning mostly between the
advocates of a practical majority
rule, democracy. and the advocate.
of government by wealthy person.
only, plutocracy. The advocates 81
majority rule wrote the Declaration
of independence, but the advocates
of minority control succeeded il
writing the federal constitution ant
in establishing a judicial construc
tion of it in accordance with Their
own theory.
Those favoring majority contro
still rely on the Declaration of In
dependence, which states that tht
inalienable or absolute rights ot
man are life, liberty and the pur
suit of happiness; that to secure
these rights, governments are in
stituted among men, deriving theil
just powers from the consent Of the
governed"
The preamble of the federal con
stitution acknowledges this fountain
head of governmental power, anC
the rest of it is devoted to ways anc
means of placing the issuing stream
above its source. In his Gettysburg
speech, President Lincoln said The
federal government was conceived
In liberty and dedicated to the prop
! ositlon that all fmen are created
equal" And. paraphasing, Chief
Justice Marshall "a described it as
government of the people, by the
people and for the people " This
,,lF surely from our highest authority
le,~s3l~ribes pure democracy, il
! &. i,.sf.tt tar ~ Oh yp4 tha eXpcf trnth