Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-06
ARE THESE THE BIRTH
PANGS OF DEMOCRACY?
(Chicago IIerald)

There is only one possible consola-
ton for the great catastrophe that
Europe faces-for the hecatombs of
slain, for the ruin and wreck OF bat
tie. II is that the terrible scenes
which the world may be called on to
witness may be the birth of a newer.
greater democracy in all the nations
OF Europe.
How far Europe IS from this democ-
racy is shown by the mutual recrimin-
nations in which car and kaiser have
been INDUCING. The car issued a
statement Monday imputing the blame
for hostilities to the kaiser. The kali
ser, in turn. lays the guilt at the door
OF the car. Neither mentioned the
people as responsible. The idea of
the people intervening at such a mo-
ment had not occurred to them.
Whether Kaiser Wilhelm or Car
Nicholas or Emperor Francis Joseph
or some other individual is most TO
blame for the present unfortunate
state Of Europe is not the most impor-
tant point, as they seem TO think.
What IS supremacy important is the
strange. the unfortunate. the repre-
hensible fact that the life and death
of Europe lie to a great extent in the
hands OF these men.
Had there originally been a submis-
sion OF the weighty issues OF war and
peace in properly convoked parlia-
ments. such as was Witnessed Monday
In England when Premier Asquith put
the decision squarely up to the repre-
sentatives OF the people, would the
nations have rushed as madly to the
conflict as their rulers have led them?
Would the people have risen as one
man and demanded the right to slaugh-
ter and be slaughtered? 1t is most
improbable.
The peoples Of Europe have not as
yet been consulted as TO the conflict.
They have had the CORY dish set be-
fore them by their rulers and have
been invited to partake. Under the
circumstances they have rallied to
their flags and their Netherlands by a
natural instinct of pride and patriot
ism. But they have had no voice in
the great decision which so vitality
concerns them.
1t is the system that is to blame,
the system that is condemned by every |
step in the march of events. Europe
is suffering from too much kaiser, too |
much car. too much emperor. She is /
suffering from the fact that the SUI
preme decisions at the most critical /
moments in her history are in the |
hands of individuals who may. by !
miracle, be supremely good and wise, !
but who generally are not.
In the midst of the worldwide tu- |
multi the fact stands out in letters of
living light that the best safeguard of
the world against headlong aggression, |
with its unforseeable consequences, !
is more democratic institutions. There |
must be no country in which ruler is |
powerful enought to substitute the /
views and impulses OF the individual /
for the decision of the nation on SUI
preme moral questions like wars and |
treaties. Government by divine |
right" is not only an anarchronism; |
it is a constant danger.
II matters not how patriotic the mo- |
tives of the kaisers and cZars and en- |
perors may be. II matters not that |
they sincerely belive they are answer |
ing the supreme needs of their coun- |
try. They are but men. The nations !
whose rulers they are must have a
broader representation, fuller voice, |
wiser decision at the great critical |
moments than any individual is fit i |
to give.
This then is the hope and the need: |
that If Europe indeed must be drench- |
ed in blood until the gigantic and Grim |
inal folly OF It all is made an axiom |
of history and world polity. there will |
at least be the compensation TO a war !
wrecked continent that democratic in
situations Will tate p firmer hold on /
men-that, in the long event, per-
haps,
Her watchmen shall descry from
far
The young republic. like a sun,
Rise from these crimson seas OF war.