The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-15
WHAT SUSTAINS
OUR PROSPERITY?
Not Captains Of Industry, but
the Masses Of the PeopIe.
DECLARES WOODROW WILSON.
Business, Politics and Wealth of the
Country Come Up. Not Down. He
Says-All the People Do Not Believe
In Democratic Government.
BY WOODROW WILSON.


What fills me with confidence in the
future is that the world is not waiting
upon the stupidity of politics The
world has an awkw ward way of taking
things into its own hands. The life Of
the people must in the long run ex-
press itself in its politics. and it doe ,
not now express itself in this country
In the politics we have been accustom-
ed to In the last decade.
There are two or three theories of
government In this country Don't de-
ceive yourself by supposins all the
people believe in democratic govern
ment. because they do not. You have
only to listen to the utteranceS OF
very distinguished Republican speak
ers to see that they do not believe and
do not pretend to believe in represent
ative government. They will tell you
they do not believe the Judgment of
the people can be trusted. And are
you going TO take counsel from these
gentlemen as to the preservation of
our representative institutions when
they don't want them to represent the
great body of the people?
Prefers Judgment of Rank and File
! don't know whether | was born ST
or learned so or what happened to me
but | know this. that the deepest con.
viction | have. arising out of obServa
tion and experience is this. that /
would rather take the Judgment Of the
rank and file than the Judgment OF the
men who have become absorbed and
successful leaders in great undertak
ings
And | want to ask these gentlemen
this query: What sustains business in
the United States? What is it that
makes the United States prosperous
Is it that we have great captains of
industry? What would they do with
out the cunning and skill. the muscle
and the indOmitable aspiring hope of
the American people, II these people
were to find hope dying out of their
hearts they would become dumb driv
en- beasts. and your enterprises would
fail for lack of the very breath that
sustains them
If you want to find whether a M
ton is prosperous ask the men who
are on the make what they hope and
what they fear Go to the country
districts and ask anxious fathers who
are looking for openings for their sons
where they expect to get them in
where they find doors open and where
they find doors shut Go through the
places where men are making earn
ings and see whether they dread OF
confidently look forward to the future
and then you will find whether Ameri
| ca is waxing or waning. for If these
men are confident, full of hope; if they
know they are going to get fair treat
| ment wherever they go. then America
| can conquer the world of enterprise In
| their hope
But If you find what you do find
| men everywhere asking themselves
i whether the doors of opportunity have
not been locked in their faces-then
! you will have to take a new reckoning
/ as to the future of America.
| II only those who are chosen at the
top have the right of way in. what is
going to happen to America! Did you
i ed from the top! Did you ever hear
of nation that was not made viriie
that did not account for Its youth by
renewal from the bottom? Did you
ever hear Of tree that drew its saE
from It's flowers? Does 1t not draw II
from the dark and silent places of the
soil? Does not a nation draw its pow
er of renewal and enterprise and al
Its future FROM the ranks Of the great
body of unnamed men?
| Friend Of American Business.
Ii you are going to discourage these
men. If you are going to put the chill
Of fear in their hearts, then American
captains of industry can whistle fol
their future. and they will whistle IL
Wilderness
| / am the friend Of American bust
ness because / know where its founda
tions are laid and where they ar,
weak These foundations are solit
only when laid In the confidence ol
the common people.
Democrat? Why. man does no
understand history who isn't a Demo
| CEdL- a uldu uocSu L uuueI Stduu enter
prise who isn't a Democrat And lie
me say this. Democracy is not merel.
q matter Of programs; it is a matter o
| sympathy and insight 1t depend
upon whether your heart is in connec
tfon with the great heart of the pen
pie 1t does not depend upon whethe
you can cunningly devise a platform
! fhot IooHs inst apd pood Yo1 on
build fimsy platform and stand ol
1t successfully. provided its basis is Fl
the right kind Of spirit
1t Is a matter of seeing. not from
yonr eyes out. but from the eyes O
other men In Getting the vision tha
is IN the back Of the other mans hea'
Is the thing; getting the hope that i
the universal hope: getting that in
pulse that is the common human i'm