The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-09-03
The Coming of Democracy.
BY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright, 1915 by Frank Cranc)

u
There is but one lesson for the world
10 learn-democracy.
The only cure for the shortcomings of
democracy is more democracy
All the seeming efficiency Of autocracy
is setback TO progress.
The failures of democracy have in
/ themselves more Of the seed of evolution
than the successes of abSolutiSm
Democracy is the ferment of the world.
IL shall not cease until the whole be
/ leavened.
Democracy demands general inteli-
gence. the education of all children, the
manhood of the least and poorest citizen.
the Acknowledgement of all women; au-
tocracyS strength rests upon the serf.
the moujik, the ignorant raboe. tyranny
is made possible by servile Gnlntelhgence.
The citizen does not exist for the
state; the state exists for the citizen.
The problems Of modern life are but
phases of the one problem of the spread
of democracy
That is what ali the weiter of business
means the struggle of government with
/ trusts. the clamor of labor unions. the
amending strife that accompanies produc-
.
ing into their own il indicates the sure
march of justice unto the least of these
my brethren.
The line wavers Violence, wrong.
egotiSm. stubbolnneSS, greed have their
way here and there. But slowly democ-
racy advances. as in battle of the
trenches.
Democracy moves forward with the
slowness of the tide, with the impercep-
tibiity of the procession OF the equi-
noXes, but it does move.
I The Sure-footedness of democracy, the
inevitabllty of It's going forward, is what
7 we mean when we say-God
Democracy Is permeating. We are
getting it in the schoo-room the wisest
teachers are not rulers, they are guiding
their pupils in self-government.
In one of our state prisons we are wit
Messing the most SCATTERING experiment
OF our day-prisoners governing them
selves better than armed guards ever
governed them.
+ We are in the beginnings of stupen-
dous world-revolution Mankind is COM
ing of age.
America, the foremost exponent Of
democracy is the most prosperous Of ma
tons. England is rapidly upheaving
through its crust Of caste. is really be-
coming a democracy France viii never
turn back from repubhcanism. Under
the iron lid of despotism IN Russia and
Germany the people are Seething. Even
Japan and China are astir.
1t makes little difference who shall con-
quer Germany. England. or the United
States in fifty years from now the peo-
pie in these countries shall rule them
selves. and who their nominal overlords
are will make no difference.
I What royal family or what president is
at the head Of the government IS Of less
/ import every decade.
As the people come 20 manhood stature
+ the ruler sinks into the servant, TO be
dismissed at viii.
As the people come into self-conscious
ness wars shall become absurd. for no
people hates another people War means
/ lack Of sef-goveInment, il is the stupid
ity Of absolutism.
/ When Democracy shall arrive il viii
sail no battleships, drill no armies, build
no forts.
Germans and Frenchmen shall shake
/ hands over the grave OF fictitious hate OF
Germany and France.
East and West shall no longer plot as
rivals, but plan as partners.
Come, democracy. breath of the living
/ Cod advancing feet Of the multitude
learning to keep step rising sun of intel
/ ligence. clean west wind of liberty, jls-
/ tice, and humanity, blowing away all
noxious vapors from stagnant pools of
ancient fraud. day of hope, scattering the
| long night of despair
For men 20 men shall brothers be
For a that and a. that