River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-01-17
William J. Gray on
World Democracy

Gray FORMER pastor OF the F1rSL
Congregational church Of this city,
very interesting just at this time.
Mr. Gray, who is now located at Ex-
celsior, Mimi, writes that the series
Of articles on current questions, APP
pearinQ in this paper, is appealing
and contributes one from his own
pen.
The progress Of democratic prin-
ciples working from the known to
the unknown form the unit to the
total Of political units in our nation
al and international life, is not only
full of interest at the present mo-
ment, but it is also very instructive
to all who hesitate or fail to keep
step with democracy's world wi de
stride.
Christian civilization starts with
the unit Of the individual. 1t re-
CARDS the whole as simply the sum
total Of all the parts. AS the units
are so is the whole. Individual
units that are right politically or
otherwise cannot be content with or
thrive in wrong conditions. They
are as leaven seeking to leaven the
whole lump. More than that their
view cannot of necessity be local or
even national. II must be interna-
tional. If they are free the whole
world must be considered, both as
the field for the exercise of that
freedom and as the guarantee of its
safety. Pres. Wilson is right; the
whole world must be made safe for
democracy.
Our national history has followed
this pathway of progress from the
landing of the Pilgrims to the land
ing of American troops somewhere
il France" The Pilgrims sought
liberty according to the light which
was in them and time has proven
that it was not darkness. They
nzade much of individual liberty
and yet learned how liberty is not
license, as they formed the local po-
litical group in way to promote
the common good. They worked
out the problem of local self-gov.
eminent with a fair measure of sue
cess.
The trainers of the Constitution
faced the same problem in a larger
way. French ideas and ideals
swayed many to the extreme of in
dividualism. Yet the practical ne
cessities Of the time compelled all to
devise ways by which the principles
Of democracy could be applied not
only to the New England township
but as we'll to the whole group Of
the Colonies. They began to solve
their problems but could not work
it out to the end. For our main ex
periences as nation have beer
linked with that question Of dem.
ocracy in the national group. State
Rights, the Civil war and other like
events are simply phases Of the IN
darlying problem. The outcome o.
all, however, is the all important
fact. Democracy has been and is
equal to the great task and we have
triumphant national life. The in
spring truth today is that we as Z
people are one-united, free and de-
termined to remain free. And now
the final step in the process con
fronts Us and so far away is that
move from the extreme Individual
ism Of I776, that sensitive ears
might almost hear a groan of pro-
test from the honored graves of the
Fathers. For we are practically
launched out in all effort to apply
the principles of democracy to the
world group of nations. We have
been driven to the step just as the
Revolutionary leaders were com
PEELED to their action. They started
the nation on the safe road to dem
ocracy. Now that national liberty
is endangered by world conditions.
In false security we have said the
Monroe Doctrine would safeguard
MS. We are learning our mistake.
No nation, no world can exist half
slave or half free. Liberty must en-
Tighten the world From our sues
cess as nation we believe the pres
ent trying experiences will bling
success. AS people we have set
ourselves to that glorious task,
knowing that the wisdom gathered