Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-26
WILSON THEORY OF
DEMOCRACY

TT is possible to talk a thing into life. 1t
is even easier to talk a thing to death.
Carlyle said modern democracy was the
result OF printing The newspaper opened
the loodgatcs Of publicity. Mr.. Wilson
Recognized the power of the press twenty
FIVE years ago, when he wrote:
When all sources Of information are ac-
cessibe TO all men alike, when the worlds
thought and the worlds news are scattered
broadcast where the poorest may find them,
the nondcmOCratic forms of government
must find life a desperate venture. EN-
elusive privilege needs privacy. but cannot
have IT, Kngship Of the elder patterns
needs sanctity, but can find 1t nowhere OBJ
! tainable In world of news Items and sat
isned curiosity. The many will no longer
receive submissively the thought of a ruling
few. but insist upon having opinions OF
their own.
There are echoes Of this carly conviction
In Mr.. Wilson's use Of press publicity; in
his arraignment of the German autocracy
in his attempts to stimulate discussion in
Germany. The facts OF the world today
bear him out. For example, difficult az It
has been to get true account Of what is
going on in Russia, tho enterprise Of the
press is every day piecng together the
large design. The precise views Of NJ.
Trotsky on world socialism, his plan to M.
root the captalistic system everywhere, his
version of this war being not between
nations, but between classes, arc being pub
lished. Even Germany, while it can keep
news out, cannot keep news in. But mighty
as are the forces of the press, Mr.. Wilson
went on to say in the essay quoted above:
No one can fail to perceive that they arc
Inadequate to produce OF themselves such
Government as ours. The influences ot
popular education, Of the press
may only confuse and paralyze tho mind
with their myriad stinging lashes OF exc
element. They Uverwhclm one
with Impressions but do they give stall
wartness to his manhood?
The big point that he leads up to is that
not mere talk. not mere wild.cycd rcyolu.
tion and stormy protest can erect DEM
ocratic Government.
There is almost nothing in common be-
tween popular outbreaks such ms took
place in France at her great EevolU-
tion and the establishment Of a Govern
rnent like our own. Democracy
IN Europe outside of Closetcd Switzerland
has always acted I'm rebellion, as dcstruc-
five force Democracy In Amer
lea, on the other hand, and in the English
colonies has had, almost from the first
truly organic growth. our
democratic State was not piece of de-
veloped theory, but piece OF developed
habit. It was not created by mere aspira-
tions or by new faith, II was built up BY
SLOW custom. An immature peo-
pie could not have had ii. Such
Government as ours is form Of conduct.
and its only stable foundation Is charac-
ter A particular form Of government
may no more be adopted than particular
type of character. democracy,
far from being a crude form Of Govern
ment is possible only among peoples OF
the highest and steadest political habit
II can never be made to sit
easily or safely on first generations,
II is poison to the infant, but tonic to the
man.
This sober conservatism is not the side
of ar. Wilson that it is the fashion of this
day to applaud. We hail the Russian rev.
olution as the greatest event Of our times,
as a thrilling promise Of a good time
coming. but not as the completed product
Of a mature democracy. Making the world
safe for democracy in the wiisonan
philosophy, is making it safe from kings
and from mobs alike.
The world prays for, sufficient stability
OF government in Russia to save her from
= return 10 Czarsm, to make her voice
sound ever clearer the prophecy of lib.
srty through Germany's eastern gates. But
Al is We in our maturity who must teach
Russia democracy, and not she who must
teach u.s. grown men in the art of the
checks and balances of liberty. Revolu-
ton. not anarchy. is what Germany needs. |
Revolution is not anarchy. 1t is the oppO.
site OF anarchy. Revolution must always
be for something respectable" as Chester.
ton puts it. 1t will do no good to urge
Germans TO initiate but to surpass, the
Russians in democracy.
The Presidents policy Of supreme pa.
tIence with Russia implies supreme i'm,
patience with German autoeracy. The
more friendship we hold out to the budding
nnsslan Government the more relentless
nthtinE must we threaten for its arch
theny