New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-25
The End of England
By Arthur Gleason

ers are one requirement, imperial leaders
are another and the creators Of domestic
policy are third. Let us state the need ia
these terms:
/. Can a democracy produce leaders !,
peace times who can shape legislation ard
give guidance TO the democratic movements
The mass of the people have developed col
lective will. which demands a reconstruction
OF the state, expressed in terms Of Parlis.
mentary control manhood suffrage, the pre-
dominance of the House Of Commons over
the House of Lords, and reconstruction
Of industry and the institution Of property
expressed in terms Of social legislation, a.
fecting land reform, minimum wage and con-
troll of collective enterprise, such as mines
and railways, and further expressed in free
experiment outside legal enactment though
later TO be incorporated IN Legislative acts
such as workshop councils. Those Leaders o.
peace Great Britain produced. Her swirl st'
justments TO the demands Of modern SELF
conscious democracy have proved that she 70
the fertile mother Of democratic initiative
Can the fcOplc Meet Niisie'
,. Can democracy produce leaders unds
the strain of international crisis who cas
carry through determined policy demand
ing organization. efficiency. applied scenes
and a spiritual unity? This requirement
distinct from the requirements Of wise DO
nestle policy The reason is plain. Inc
dealings of nation with its citizens nave
reached a level Of sanity. intelligence ana
ethical decency which the dealings OF nation
with nation have not reached. Information
ally, we are in the jungle. To handle tnes'
international relationships Of greed ana
hate the nation has TO employ brute ioree'
1t has 20 turn its farmers into killers. II mas
70 make shells in place of workers cottages.
But even while this need is most acute sh'
because it is acute, there arose IN Urea.
Britain the demand for a policy which "0u'a
draw the sprawled out empire into one s'S"
The present Cabinet is the answer to 'a'
demand.
To the question, Can democracy produo
leaders? the British people reply that I'q
are selecting their leaders according 10 'n'"
need, and that, in doing So they are PROVES
a democratic principle. II Is not an aof0s'
ton of the democratic principle when pc"
pie turns to its experts. II is one eEprs'S0-
of the democratic principle. For demO''s'
brought in two things when It entered ~
with the organization Of the Industrial ie'',
luton. 1t brought in n mass movement 81.
it brought in specialization. The eoIIeeu"
will must always turn TO experts TO ofsS"'''
it's desires into action.
An Arstocracy of Talent
The democratic movement began conscious
ly with the purpose OF freeing the h'l,'
race from poverty. But it has steadily INV
gone a broadening Of purpose uhder -"
pressure of it's own requirements
found that for self-preservation It mus' -
clude the release of talent and the ereA'--
of spiritual values in its programme
produce leaders and TO enhance the meSH"'
of life are as much within its province o
proper standard of living in terms OF n0S.'
and wages. It recognizes its need OF 81 -
tocracy OF talent. The leaders OF ue u'
cratic movement state this: such Hsn 4.
"A. e." Wells, Zmmern and Sidney W."
This aristocracy will include social eAP.
artists, ethical leaders. teachers, impei"
ecutives, organizers and specialists ~
eign policy War is only one OF the ",
situations where the democracy, WITH ''' y
tributed responsibility, does no; posses -
itself the necessary intelligence and Jus" -,
policy to master the sudden crisis !,
democracy is only fulfilling its own h''"''
recognizing a diversity of gifts -,
But through all the adjustments -,
coming years, calling for expert ue'S"
the principle Of democratic eontrol wiz y.
vail In time the democracy will deVe'or
own tradition Of policy and service sn'
crate it's own leaders. The common Pr
of Great Britain have never spoken ,..v
therefore believed they we're dumb ps' ut.
were not dumb, they we're only ih"s "a
The common people Of Great br''''" IA
never acted with common purpose 70 '"e 80.
II was therefore believed that they ws' r..<
potent. But they were not impoteh] -.
were only unawakened. Now they s''
ing to sneak and to act.