New-York tribune., 1917-07-16
Democracy at War

There is Committee on Public lnforma-
tion TO represent the institution Of govern
ment and keep its case in good con'em-
porary light. The idea was borrowed
from the institution of business.
There is no agency to perform a like
service for the institution of people.
This may be excused on the ground that
whereas government and business are IN
stitutions Of man and require for that rea-
son to be continually defended, the people
are Gods institution, and therefore in
scrutable. Yet in fairness it shall be said
that people are more maligned than either
government or business.
1t is the fashion TO speak Ill OF democ-
racy in war-this one particularly. 1t IS
slow to act, fond Of heroic gestures, pro-
crastinsting, suspicious, disobedient, in
efficient, impatient Of restraint, selt-lndul-
gent and most unwilling to submit to the
tyranny of intelligence. The institution Of
government $50 the indictment runs) IS
at the great disadvantage of having al
ways to propitiate democracy. When 1t
sees. or thinks it sees, clearly what ought
TO be done next, it cannot do the thing I'M
nediately or directly, but must first pro-
cure public opinion to be created in favor
of the steps proposed to be taken, which
consumes time, and even then the result is
generally compromise.
But if one were, so to speak, Commit
tee on Government Information, with
commission to represent the American IN
stitution of people, and to set its case IN
good contemporary light, one could reduce
the demagogue to speechless wonder at his
own moderation. Why not? Here on the
largest and richest single estate in the
temperate zone are gathered together one
hundred million Of the finest, strongest,
freest, healthiest, most intelligent, romantic,
aggressive, inventive and self-dependent
people that have existed as a nation in all
time. How came they here? Consider
that. They are those and the descendants
of those from all parts Of the world who
had the initiative and the imagination to
I'D and cross seas in search of better
place to live. That is as true Of the last
immigrant through Ellis Island as it was
of the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth
Rock. There are no others. A higher
rule of selection could not have been de-
vised by Deity reserving the best part
of the earth's area for fresh experiment
in human development.
These people have yet to make any great
mistake. They have never gone on false
errand They have never blundered in a
grave emergency. They have never once
voted wrong on high moral or economic
issue.
Only press agent could say it shame
lessly II is not good to say it often.
Government has been known &c fail the
PEOPLE. Never have the people failed their
government.
For good or i'll this aggregation Of hu-
man material has potentialities such as
have not yet been dreamed Of. 1t has
hardly been tested at all. One does noc
know what it will stand
The government wondered if it would
stand military conscription. This, it was
thought, would be severe test. II turned
out to be hardly any test at all.
A high member of the government was
heard to complain about the spiritual
lcthargy of the people. They were too
stupid and unimaginative to understand
what the war was about.
He was asked this question: What
has the government demanded Of the peo-
pie that they have not willingly given and
given promptly?'
Nothing" he answered
He was asked again: 'If tomorrow the
government should ask all the owners Of
pleasure cars 10 put them up for the saw
ing Of gasolene, or 10 give them 10 the
government, as an act Of national sacrifice
how many would respond"
He reflected and answered: Ninety
per cent"
He was asked again: IF all the pro-
ducers Of the country were asked 10 hand
over their plants, or 70 run them without
profit for the government. as an act Of na-
tional sacrifice, how many would respond?'
Again, and with less reflection, he an
swered: Ninety per cent"
So every one knows.
No one, in fact, doubts or mistrusts a
democracy al wsr--lesst Of all, this one
There is but the pretence Of 50 doing
This pretence has sevnsl aspects. II may