The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-18
THE THEORY OF. SUFFRAGE.

THE THEORY OF SUFFRAGE.
pSAisxander Hamilton. the father OF the. Fed
Aralists. might have said this II we eliminate the
difference to woman suffrage:
A vote is like a rife: It's usefulness depends
on the character OF the user. The posses
sion OF the vote will more benefit men and
women not sufficiently developed to use It than
the possession OF rifles will unframed Egyp
tan feilaheen into soldiers This is of
women as of men and no more true 9" be
iieve in suffrage for women in America because
think they are ht'f for IL.
Eliminating the same reference to votes for
women, which not an issue IN his day. the
following might be ascribed to Thomas Jeffer
son and accepted his by all except those
thoroughly acquainted with all his writings;
The Democrat may reasonably and consistent
ny admit that the average persons opinion
"a matter OF public policy is worthless But
she is not+concerned about opinions. He is con
cerned about wishes That say ha Is
concerned about justice. The 'aristocrat Is con
cerned about efficiency. d" 1t follows, them
that to the Democrat 1.-THE fact that given
class ia ignorant or weak Is no evidence that
1T should not be allowed to vote. Rather the
tcontrary. For the fundamental paradox of
democracy is precisely this: the human being
should be sallowed TO vote because he is unfit
TO vote So II this United States ia Demo
Icracy. or is even trytngsto become q Democracy,
Khe question whether. women wise enough
ITO vote Is beside the point Any discussion of
* except as an interesting speculation is lin
pertinent.
Theodore Roosevelt fs the. author ~of the first
paragraph and Lucien Gary. Bull Mooser of
Chicago. is responsible. for theksecond
= These two quotations were dug up by New
York Life. which. says that II 1t understands Mr.
Cary's ideas "Mr Roosevelt is mighty poor
Democrat" and proceeds+to give its idea of the
franchise In this wise:
To mfnds,s vote is neither a.ritie nor a
nose Of quinine, bnt like the tide. on
(Which ships that have wise navigators may
come TO port. What, the day when a
huge proportion OF the voters are politically in
competent is the residue of ability and devo-
kion that governs through votes by sheer force
of mind and character.
Life, to sour mind. comes nearer to the truth
than either Mr.. Roosevelt or Mr.. Cary. Tina,
n few able men govern undoubtedly saves the
day but they govern because the voters, though
NOT always capable OF deciding as to technf
cal, questions and minor issues are capable OF
reaching the right conclusion and do reach the
right conclusion the broad fundamental IS
sues and are capable of Judging and In the
dong run do Judge correctly OF men. They
know how TO select wise navigators although
they may not know all about navigation.
J That is the theory OF representative demo
cracy. Delegation OF authority to a few is
the time TO devote to the study OF intricate
problems of government and many OF them are
ancapable Of mastering the problems which come
up from time to time. The people. for instance,
have neither the time, inclination nor ability 10
devise proper currency measure. but they
have the ability to select the right men 10 per
form the task. They do not always do II at
first, 1t is true but they will in time, 1t is when
- the to whom authority Is delegated prove
false incompetent that the demand comes
for greater participation by the people In
Legislation. II is when they find obstacles in
the way Of selecting the right man and in the way
OF correcting mistakes they may have made that
they demand tie elimination Of these obstruc-
tions. Hence the initiative and recall, These
are wanted. not To destroy representative gov
eminent but to make government more repre-
sentative. Tne FRICTION q t4ntted states sena.
tors by the people Is not step from repre-.
sentative and toward pure democracy, but a
necessary operation 10 make tbs democracy more
representative Ii Is easier to elect men to do
the will Of the people than TO elect men to
elect men for that purpose. majority of the
people might oppose the reelection Of an I'M
faithful senator but unless that majority were
overwhelming there world be no guarantee that
the legislature Sca,t eect some one else
People know what taey want and they know
human nature better than they know the science
OF politics. Moreover, they know this and. az.
eordingy they select wise navigators for the
ship Of State. II. however. those navigators