The Washington times., 1917-04-08
Democracy EnveIoping the World


very proud of their country as the
first great democracy of the modern
world. They looked with contempt
upon the "effete monarchies of Eu-
rope" They hailed with sympathy
and recognition the establishment of
the French republic upon sure
foundations, the growth of liberal
sentiment in England, and the erec-
ton of a constitutional monarchy in
Italy. The German heroes of the
Revolution Of Forty-nine were doubly
heroes in America. And Lincoln's S
Gettysburg address touched so pro-
foundly the American heart because
he saw the struggle to preserve the
Union as one which tested the
foundations of a nation dedicated to
liberty, by whose fall it might be de-
cided that government Of the people,
for the people, and by the people
would perish from the earth.
During the last few decades Amer
leans have grown somewhat cynical
about democracy. The republics
founded in Central and South Ameri-
ca, with their revolutions for break
fast, were arguments for the theory
that all nations are not fitted for
self-government. We did not think
clearly about the misgovernment of
Spain and Portugal which they had
escaped. Our American tourists
abroad found so much to admire in
Germany, its efficiency, its scientific
attainments, its severe scholarship,
that the argument became q rather
popular one which gave to auto
cratic absolutism the palm for sue
cessful government. 1t was doubt
less the appeal that Cuba desired
freedom which drove us into the
Spanish war, but victory for Cuba
Libre was somewhat complicated by
our proceeding to govern the Fill
pinos according to our own sweet
will. The fight which Persia made
for freedom and a republican form
of government did not receive the
sympathy. here that it should have
done. The overthrow Of monarchy
by Portugal left US doubtful about
the wisdom of the change in gov
eminent there, and the advent of
China as a republic made US smile
with incredulity. In Mexico we
openly desired the rule of q strong
man, like Porfrio Diaz, dictator, in
stead of waiting for the slow pro-
cesses Of revolution to establish a
democratic form Of government
there.
All this has been changed by the
European war, and our knowledge Of
what autocracy means for the safety
and peace not only of the countries
where it prevails, but of the world
itself. We need to remind ourselves
again of the glorious part which
America has played as the pioneer
democracy of the modern era
Thomas Carlyle believed in the
strong man theory of government, in
the king as the man who can, in
nights rather than rights, and was
ever suspicious of popular rule. Yet
this is his tribute to America in its
influence upon the -7orld:
| Borne over the Atlantic, to the
closing eaT of Louis, King by the
Grace of God, what sounds are
these. muffled, ominous, new in
our centuries? Boston harhor is
black with unexpected Tea. Be-
hold a Pennsylvania Congress
gatherS and ere long, on Bunker
| Hill. Democracy. announcing in
rifle voIleys, death winged. under
her Star Banner, to the tune of
"Yankee-doodle-do that she is
born, and, whirlwind-Iike, will
envelop the whole world.
1t is a proud heritage that we may
claim for our country. And Presi-
dent Wilson sent a message to Will
helm, Kaiser by the grace of God
when in his address to Congress he
unveiled in good, old-fashioned
American way, the crimes of autoc-
racy that have come to their climax
in the bringing on of this world-war,
He has given US the opportunity to
wage war for freedom once again:
We shall tight for the things we
have always carried nearest our
hearts-for democracy, for the
right of those who submit to all
thority to have a voice in their
own governments, for the rights
and liberties of small nations. for
a universal dominion Of right by
such a concert of free peoples as
shall bring peace and safety to
all nations and make the world
itself at last free. To suc.I a
task we can dedicate our lives
and our fortunes. everything that
we are and every ing that we
I have.
1t is the spirit of 1776 that nerves
this nation to the war of 1917.