The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-22

Through the ages it has been said
"the people have been nothing; they
should be everything" This phrase
of BarbusSe may we'll be a watch
word OF democracy. The modern
world, to borrow Lincoln's word
can not endure half slave, half
free" its government half of the
people, by the people, for the peo-
pie and half at the will of irrespon-
sible oligarchies, parasitic on the
divine right OF kings As Kant
long ago pointed out, the civil gov
ernment OF every state must be re-
publican ~
1t matters little what are the
shortcomings OF republics. We may
admit a degree OF truth in every ac-
cusation. But such faults are those
Of collective humanity above which
no government ever rose. A democ-
racy must learn by experience.
Blunt and direct in method, its
course can not be always friction
less. II government were perfect
it might be superAuous.
War is not function OF democ-
racy. People at large do not call
for war. Those in any nation who
clamor for war for wars sake are
the "populace," who have nothing
to lose, and the war castles" who
lave something to gain. The war
castles are three in number-the
aristocratic, the plutocratic, and the
military. The ariStocratic caste
springs from the dynastic stem with
no roots in the soil of today. The
military is an outgrowth from the
dynastic stock, having become its
right arm even as the state church
is the left. The plutocratic caste,
often personihed as capitalism is
an offshoot of democracy, grated
on the dynastic stem. Every ma
ion in war time nourishes its band
OF prohteerS. Once established, they
co their worst TO bring on war and
to continue the conAagration once
i. is started.
AT the door OF plutocracy or cap
italism' the blame for most modern
wars has been laid But the real
culprits are higher up. 1t is true
that greed has been grossly present
in the inception OF each war, and on
both sides, but it has rarely, if ever,
been the original motive force. The
dynastic machinery plutocracy has
utilized, becauShe it stood ready at
its hand.
1t is true that national ambitions,
with the economic limitations and
distractions by which nations are
hemmed in, become powerful incen-
tives to diScord. 1t is equally true
that personal ambition and econom-
ic embarrassment cften furnish i'm
pelling incentives to burglary. But
there exists no logical reason why
national discomfort should ripen
into war or individual unrest into
robbery. The remedy in either case,
il remedy there be, must be sought
within the bounds Of law and order.
Reciprocity is the natural cure for
national economic ills. The resort
to arms for economic reasons has its
origin in tradition and its availabil-
ity lies in the fact that the instru-
ments OF dynastic militarism are ey-
erywhere within grasp.
But big business has no natu-
lal love for war nor for war makers.
1t uses them for prospective gain
but even then with misgivings.
Isaac Seligman once said : War de
atroys property; bankers do not
look with favor on destruction OF
wealth " Capitalism" as it is called,
is not the taproot OF evil. Its ALI
ance with militarism persists only so
long as autocracy keeps militarism
alive, as its chief bulwark.
1t is fairly clear that the passing
OF the dynastic regime will carry, in
due time, militarism with it, leaving
democracy free to settle accounts
with plutocracy. But money pow
err is, in reality, a product OF de
mocracy. Its leaders rise from the
mass by their own exertions. Wealth
is accumulated and latent power.
Those who gain it fairly should be
entitled to its use, in ways not preju-
dicial to society. Democracy en-
courages thrift, ard thrift opens the
avenues to wealth. The problem is
to safeguard holdings while at the
same time to prevent the holders
from oyerreaching and interference
with the rights OF others. This prob
lem in the hands of free people is
not insoluble. The fading OF dy-
nastic illusions will clear the way
for the solution OF the further eco
nomic problems of wealth, poverty,
incompetence and unemployment.
Wealth and poverty are inevitable
in degree, and permanent. There
is no final panacea for the ills OF
either. Weakness is as menacing as
strength. But problems of wealth
and poverty alike may be solved
through mutual aid and applied in
telligence.
1t is no part OF the purpose OF this
paper to discuss the application OF
international principles to the inter
nal problems OF the state. Yet it is
manifest that the same doctrines APP
| ply alike to national and information
al relations. Conquest, monopoly
and "cut-throat competition are
Just as disastrous in economic and
amor ri nNHEn ED0M