The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-06
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Pilots Warning

TO the Ed1tOr or The Age-Herald.
 No mind contributed more to the foun- dation of the government of the United States of America, or more to the de- termination of the institutions through which this government has operated than did the mind of the author of '.,The Spirit of Laws" Montesquieus "The Spirit Of Laws published in 174S, supplied the an alysis which gave constructive statesmen more rational basis for policies and measures than had previously been avail able
 Book III of "The Spirit of Laws treats '"Of the Principles of the Three Kinds of Government" wherein is explained the difference between the nature" and the principle of a government; the former is that by which 1t is constituted the lat ter that by which it is made to act One is the particular structure, and the other the human passions which set it in mo- tion,"
 In Book VII analysis leads to the ref1ec- tion that republics end with luxury; monarchies with poverty.
 Book VIII treats "Of the Corruption of the Principles of the Three Governments" The idea of this section of the treatise is that the corruption of government gen. erally begins with the corruption of its
 principle. The opening paragraph ought to be needed today by the people of this country as a salient danger signal pointed out by one of the great pilots who made the voyage chart for the first captains of our ship of state. It should be read not as a mystifed prophecy, but as a calm analysis of inevitable conse- quence of certain conditions.
 Having previously shown that the 'prin- ciple" of democracy Is equality" the author proceeds to show the avenue whereby fatal corruption may attack democracy:
 "rhe principle of democracy is corrupt cd not only when the spirit of equality is extinct. but likewise when they fall into spirit of extreme equality, and when each citizen would fain be upon a level with those whom he has chosen to com mand him. Then the people, incapable of bearing the very power they have dele gated, want to manage everything them selves, to debate for the senate, to exc cute for the magistrate, and to decide for the judges.
 When this is the case, virtue can no longer subsist in the republic The peo- pie are desirous of exercising the func- tions of the magistrates, who cease to be revered The deliberations of the senate are sighted, all respect is then laid aside for the senators, and consequently for old age. If there Is no respect for old age, there will be none nresently for parents: deference to husbands will be likewise thrown off. and submission to masters. This license will soon become general, and the trouble of command be as fatiguing as that of obedience. Wives, children, servants will shake off all sub- jection. No longer will there be any such thing as manners, order, or virtue.''
 It behooves the people of this nation to compare the calm intelligence of the truthful exposition here quoted from ''The Spirit of Laws with the vociferations of the unconscious revolutionsts who are advocating direct legislation 'initia- tive" "referendum,' Imperative man. date" and that most inconsistent of all such suicidal devices, the recall" The very last step of the corruption" of a democracy has already been provided for in one of our states-the recall of judges.
 If the representatives chosen by the people show themselves unfaithful to their public trust, the proper remedy is to take greater care in the selection of represen- tatives Let the people seek out good rep resentatives and petition them to accept the burden of office and let them cease from merely choosing the best mixer" out of several candidates. If primary elections are obviously a poor means of selecting candidates let a better way be followed Only people lacking sufficient knowledge of the fundamental principles of social cooperation with respect to gov ernment could venture the attempt to control the current administration of powA CTS delegated to legislators and magis- trates. The principle of short terms was adopted in order to give opportunity for the only practicable recall"
 If our form of government is to be sub verted and an oligarchy Is to succeed a fatally corrupted" democracy, surely that tremenuos illustration of the origt- nal aspirations of this nation ought to be accomplished lon purpose" and not through ignorance. It Is deplorable that such revolution should be in progress unwittingly. ARTHUR LEFEVRE.
 Dallas, Tex, December 90, 1910