The Elbert County tribune., 1918-05-17
Greed Grossly in Evidence in the
Inception Of Each Great
Conflict.
THRIFT THE way TO WEALTH
Fading Of Dynastic Illusions VIII Clear
Path for Solution Of Further Eco
nomic Problems-co-Operat
Must Bind Nations.
BY DAVID STARR JORDAN.
From the Committee on Public In
formation, Wsshincton, D. C.l

6y DAVID STARR JORDAN.
From the Committee on Public In
formation, Washington, D. c..
Through the ages 1t has been said
1.-THE people have been nothing; they
should be everything" This phrase
of Barbusse may well be a watchword
of democracy. The modern world. to
borrow Lincoln's word. cannot en-
dure half slave, half free" its gov
eminent half "of the people, by the
people, for the people" aud half ut
the will of irresponsible ollgarohies,
parasitic on the divine right of
kings" AS Kant long ago pointed out.
the civil government of every state
must be republican"
1t matters little what are the short
comings of republics. We may admit
a degree of truth In every accusation.
But such faults are those of collective
humanity above which no government
ever rose. A democracy must learn
by experience. Blunt and direct In
method, its course cannot be always
frictionless. If government were
perfect it might be super1uous.
War Is not a function of democracy.
People at large do not call for war.
Those In any nation who clamor for
war for wars sake are the "popu-
lace" who have nothing to lose. and
the war castles" who have some
thing to gain. These war castles are
three in number-the arlstocratic, 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 out
growth from the dynastic stock, hav-
Ing become Its fright arm" even us
the state church is the left. The plu-
tocratic caste, often personified ms
Capitalism" is an offshoot of democ-
racy. grated on the dynastic stem.
Every nation In wartime nourishes Its
band of proflteers. Once established,
they do their worst to bring on war
and TO continue the confagration once
It Is started.
Placing the Blame.
At the door of plutocracy or "cnp-
italsm" the blame for most modern
wars has been laid. But the real Gull
prits are higher up. 1t is true that
greed has been grossly present In the
inception of each war, and on both
sides. but 1t has rarely, If ever. been
the original motive force. The dynas-
tic machinery plutocracy has utilized,
because 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-
tfves to discord. It Is equally true
that personal ambition and economic
embarrassment often furnish impel-
ling incentives to burglary. But there
exists no logical reason why national
discomfort should rlpen into war or
individual unrest into robbery. The
remedy In either case. II 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 availability lies in the fact that the
Instruments of dynastic militarism are
everywhere within grasp.
But "big business" has no natural
love for war nor for war makers. It
uses them for prospective gain, but
even then with misgivIngs. Isaac
Seligman once said: "War destroys
property; bankers do not look with
favor on destruction of wealth"
Capitalism" as 1t Is called. is not
the taproot of evil. Its alliance with
militarism persists only so long as au-
tocracy keeps militarism alive, as its
chief bulwnrk.
Passing Of DynastIc Regime.
1t is fairly clear that the passing of
the dynastic regime will carry, in due
time. militarism with 1t. leaving de-
mocracy free to settle accounts with
plutocracy. But money power" Is,
in reality. a product of democracy.
Its leaders rise from the mass by their
own exertion. Wealth is accumulated
and latent power. Those who gain It
fairly should be entitled to Its use. In
ways not prejudiced to society. De
mocracy encourages thrift and thrift
opens the avenues to wealth. The
problem is to safeguard holdings while
at the same time to prevent the hold
ers from overreaching and interior
ence with the rights OF others. This
problem In the hands of a-free people
is not insoluble. The fading of dy-
nastic Illusions viii clear the way for
the solution OF the further economic
problems of wealth. poverty. Incom-
petence ard malemployment
Wealth an6 poverty nre Inevitable
In degree, and permanent There is
no final panncea 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 intelligence.
1t Is not the purpose to discuss the
application of International PRINCIPLES