The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-22
F. H. DILLON & co.
PUBLIC OPINION
MONARCHY.

To the Editor of The Farmer:
 Sir:-Let us be clear in the outset. Remember, the principle of autoc- racy, monarchy, oligarchy, plutocracy, various phases of the same thing, is neither good nor bad because part1- zans declars it to be one thing or the other. It must be judged in tho light of it's nature and results. If these are bad, then it is bad, and no argument can make it good. The essence, nature, tendency and prac- tice of the principle is centralized au- thority; the ownership and control of the resources of the life of the na- tion by one man or a few men. This is bad for the welfare of humanity. This is proved by the evil fruit 1t bears. In all it's long career on earth it has never produced a form and condition of society that is wor- thy of being called civilized or Chris tian. It is as far from producing a Christian civilization to-day as the day it began it's rule over men. it has not only failed to produce a Christian civilization but in the very nature of things it must ever fail 60 do SO.
 Its foundation is force, not spiri- tual and moral but physical. Equity being dead, the law of love in the relations of man cannot obtain. Its basis and end being physical, its mo- dus operandi cannot be spiritual. Be- ing a form of society operated in fa- vor of those who own and control so- ciety, it must be maintained, not by moral suasion, but by gun-suasion. Hence the large military forces in ev- cry autocratic government Is it not true that the more autocratlc the na- ton the larger and more expensive becomes it's military equipment? Must it not arm itself against an internal .fe,s1 cl1 lcf fnT Tor invasion? What will you say is the reason for the mounted police, the state constabulary, national militia, not to speak of the ordinary police force, detective bureaus army and navy, in so-called Christian America :? ter or mind? Are we depending for national peace and safety upon love and justice or upon physical force?
 It is a notorious fact that the most expensive and oppressive social sys- tenn on earth is the monarchical. Ob- inue, ancient and modern, and try td count up what it costs society to maintain them. You will cease to wonder that excessive taxation with out fair representation obtains the world over. Economically, morally, socially and religiously society goes from bad to worse under the guiding principle of the private ownership and control of the things of life. The only prevention and cure for the evils of monarchy is the destruction of monarchy and of the principles on which it rests.
 Democracy is the very opposite of monarchy in principle, form and re- suits. The fundamental principle of Democracy is decentralized authority the ownership and control of the na- ton by the people andfor the people.
 It rests on the consent of the gov erned. Being a democracy it cannot rest on anything else. Officers and operators shall be elected by a uni versal and equal franchise. They shall be the servants and not the mas ters of the people; and their fidelity to trust shall be safeguarded by the initiative referendum and recall. Physical force could have no place in a government based upon the consent of the governed. It will not be nec- essary at least to safeguard the na- tion against internal uprisings. Changes must come by ballot and not by sword.
 Democracy-the ownership and control of society by society-will ul- timately give the world a universal empire with brotherhood of man.
 PORTER.