St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1918-01-09
Roy. Francis Poole Speaks.

Rcy. Francis Poole Speaks.
The speaker of the afternoon was
Rev. lr. Francis A. Poole, who was
introduced by Mrs Her
bert f. Balch, the chairman of the
@ivics committee. Dr.~ Poole gave an
Illuminating and scholarly address
Upon "Democracy.'
In opening he said America means
democracy and the vindication of
democracy is the mission of the
western world. IF democracy fails
here the world will have done with
It and turn to something else. There
have been three chief forms of gov
ernment. First, the oriental which
John Fiskc has termed Conquest
Without incorporation" second, the
Roman idea, annexation and incor,
poration"; third, the Teutonic or
English idea, incorporation with
representations
Defines Democracy.
The idea of. democracy originated
with the Teutonic government,
though it was developed by the Enet
lish' In America, even more than IN
England, democracy has had lts
chance. The word democracy is de
rived from two words meaning strolS
people 1t is the strong rule of &
strong people. But it's classic defini-
ton was given by Lincoln in his ia
nous words: "A government of the
people, by the people, anl for tho
people, Bat along with the 1rin-
ciple and form is something more.
~,
est wai in all history is being fought
to make the world safe for ,lemoc-
racy." The very stars in their courses
have been lighting Ter this
Kinds OF Democracy.
Democracy is already established
III several spheres We have edu-
cational democracy; q public school
system the peer of any in the world.
We have political de oeracv.
Every male citizen has equal rights
theoretically and legally and equal
suffrage, whether we like it Or not.
is rapidly approaching. But one
thing is lacking. We have industrial
autocracy. Is there room here Cor
educational, religious and political
democracy .on one hand and indus
trial autocracy- on the other hand
Capital and labor was our greatest
problem before the war. After the
war industry in the democratic ma
tons must be the next to be demo-
cratizeG Shall the people have
choice IN the management of their
industries?
Must Be Thoroughly Democratic
[ believe it the part of the patriot
to advocate evolutionary measures,
and two of these are profit sharing
and the representation of labor on
the board of directors. To wage this
war in the name of democracy
against autocracy, and then to be
anything less than thoroughly demo-
cratic will amount to a moral crime.
In this war the spirit Of fraternity
and democracy is waning, while the
class spirit wanes. The coming Of
industrial democracy is only dreaded
because we are wondering IL the
people are fit to rule. Are our people
qualified to take the industries of the
land into their democratic charge
This is the crucial question. Every
thing depends here on the character
Of the sovereign. for Il democracy has
sovereign The sovereign in a de-
mccracy is the mass. The mass must
be intelligent, capable, upright and
kind Democracy is a failure when
the people do not measure up to
these high standards.
High Citizenship Necessary.
The essential thing in democracy
is a high order of citizenship The
founders of our nation provided FOR
this in two institutions-the school
and the church. One makes men in
telligent, the other develops their
character A religious democracy
and a christian commonwealth will
make the world safe. ! have no faith
in Il democracy on any other basis
| 1t must always be one member in q
| trinity of which the others arc the
school and the church. our ideal
| is a democracy which shall be 4
| thcocracy with a sovereign people iii
to rule themselves, but holding
! themselves accountable to the laws OF
| Christ.
\ rising vote of thanks was given
! at the close of the address.