Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-09

q QnQef Inc Title democracy ~dIEl Ell
fieieney," Congressman William Kent
Of California is writing notable
series of articles for. the San Fran
cisco Bulletin. In the opening article
he says, in part: .4..--@~
Recent days of the world have
brought with them one thing-that is
rew--the realizing sense, the Ideal,
of democracy. As far MS anatomy is
concerned, We of today do not differ
much In brain capacity from a fossil
skull recently discovered, and which
is believed by biologists to be con
! temporary with the Neanderthal Ne
groid type Of man, who before this
discovery was regarded as. our an.
Cestor.l No one knows how far back
dates the human brain tnadequate for
progress. We cannot show ihdfvidu-
ais or individual attainment higher
than the man who existed IN ancient
Athens. We cannot show philosophy
OF art higher than were produced 5000
years ago We are forced to look to
society and social relationship, to
human kfndliness and charity, stlg-
gested by Christian faith, for deVel-
opment from this time henceforward
II this democratic tendency promises
anything at all, it is that more people
may aspire with reasonable hope for
such conditions of life as may permit
their fuller development. This is the
promise of our day, and is found In
the political cret'l to which our ma
ton gives lip service at least. Bet
f11Ir
and timely answers to the unending
interrogations as to the relative i'm.
portance of the Individual and OF So
ciety-the position of the individual
in society. -..4.. $3.50 p
The earlier evolution of free gov.
eminent came through the revolt OF a
select few against tyrants. This was
the story. down through the days OF
Magma Charta and through our Rev
olutionary war It happened Fiat
the dominant classes Of our people
in colonial times were selected men
who. being practically equal in edu.I
cation and financial status, while
preaching the doctrines of human lib
erty, applied those doctrines to them
selves but not to their servants nor
to those whom they deemed their in.
feriors, and denied it to Quakers and
Catholics.
Step by step since that time We
have been working toward the ideals
which they protested and expressed
in the great declaration and preamble,
but which they did not entirely real
iZe.
In the worlds history there have
been found many forms of govern
ment, and many variations. In gen
eral terms they may be classified as
tyranny, oligarchy and democracy.
Up 70 the present time the efficiency
of these forms of government have
been in inverse ratio of the numbers
doing the governing, and it is the
present inefficiency Of democracy
that particularly appeals to the
friends of other systems.
No one can doubt but that Iyran-
nyamay be an ideal form of efficient
granted: First, successive line Of
really efficient tyIantS; second. a.
guaranty that their efficiency be di- :
reCted toward the common GOOD. ne J
failure OF either Of these to cventuato !
has caused tho rejection OF tyranny |
hy all civilized nations.
To lesser degree IT," same thing
is true Of tho rule OF an Oligarchy-
whether military or plutOcratic. The
efficiency generated will be- used in |
the interest Of the governing class, |
just as under trusts ar monopolies !
the efficiency Of production is absorb !
ed by the corporations. The man
that works on the sewer will receive
no consideration from an oligarchy or |
tyranny, whether political or indus |
trial
1t does not particularly matter by |
what form of choice the rulers are |
selected. A deSpotism may he herrdi- |
tary or elective, as may an oliGarChy.