The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-03
DEMOCRACY AS A SOLUTION
Of Problems of the Country Believed in
by Rev. F. A. Poole

| Rev. Francis A. Poole of Worcester
Mass, former pastor of the Barre Con
gregational church, spoke for over Al
hour in the opera house last evening on
Democracy tie occasion being one OF
series of lectures and entertainment,
given during the winter by the Barre
civic federation The speaker was intro,
duced by Mrs w. f. Shepard and held
firm hold on an audience that evil
IDENTIFY appreciated every word of his
discourse. The attendance which has
marked the previous numbers of the
course was amply maintained last even
ing.
As prelude to his remarks, Mr.. Poole
recalled his impression of the spirit OF
democracy which exists in Barre and
said that snobbish aristocracy has no
place in the life of this city. America
too, means democracy, he said, and bulk
ing large in the progress of this western
land is the realization OF the spirit Of
democracy, The problems are problems
of democracy; and monarchy and aris-
toeracy are arrested forms of democracy.
The fair name of these United States
will be scorned and shamed unless the
ideal of democracy is carried to a com
plete realization and noble vindication.
There are three great principles by
which nations are formed said the
speaker. The first of these, known as
the oriental principle, is that OF con
quest without Incorporation, eondi-
tion where land is annexed but not in
corporated Second among these prin-
ciples is that of the Romans, who an
neXed and Incorporated. The fatal de-
feet of this principle was the lack Of
representation. The Teutonic, or Eng
ish principle is that of incorporation and
representation. From this last principle
are drawn the essentials Of democracy.
1t does not depend upon war for corn
mon advance and it recognizes repre-
sentation. Its first eNemplification oe-
ours in the early English parliament,
only to be more freely emphasized years
later in the religious and really political
democracy of the New England Puri-
tans.
Democracy is comprised of two words
one strong" and the other "people" :"
1t is well to hold it to these two con
stituent elements. ln America the spirit
OF democracy has found expression in
many spheres. The constitution Of the
United States is democratic in its re-
ligious aspect, since it permits all creeds,
allows and yet does not enforce the wor-
ship Of God There is educational de-
mocracy, and the American system Of
education is without par in conse-
quence. In the democracy of its politics,
America has universal male suffrage and
female suffrage will follow in turn when
the women Of this country desire it.
The work OF the suffragettes is entirely
within their own sex.
The problem now is to extend democ-
racy whore it does not exist III Lincoln
could look the situation over to-day, he
might say with his Incompatible discern
ment, This nation cannot endure half
democratic and half aristocratic or auto
cratic" All the problems Of to-day are
problems of democracy. They can be
solved by democracy, and with this solu-
tion the necessity of Socialism will have
The difference of capital and labor
the greatest problem of the
day. The question of production has
been answered. and now we are facing
its distribution. The right Of the com
mumity to the treasures of nature is
prior and superior right to that of the
We must have methods of
which will operate for the
fairness OF all. The democratic IDEAL
has emerged in the political, industrial,
and educational realms. True,
the rich are growing richer, but the poor
are not so poor as formerly, and the
questions of capital and labor are To
be solved by patience and leadership.
cannot be reached by fomenting
class strife, but rather by serious think
ing. In the political life OF the country,
party resemblances are greater than
their differences Democracy compels re-
Iigions to submit to moral test of
social efficiency and the coed results are
not wanting. Education in its demo-
ratio aspects is providing more suitable !
according to the need am /.
natural bend of the individual
All of these aspects constitute a pro- (
yram of democratic influences which are .
and thoroughly American \
It is another link of evolution. the (
spirit of democracy is obedi.
mt to the ideal and to fight it is to I
contend against God.
FARMERS MEETINGS.