The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-02-15
BAKERS DEMOCRACY

scandal would result over 50 r7aay
contracts that are given out
Search the records and it will be
found that that has been the case in
all wars in all countries.
1t was not to be expected mat 'his
war would be an exception.
We cannot expect anything else I'm
til human nature underg0es a radical
transformation.
There is the dust OF scandal over
war contracts and other things done
in the heat and excitement and need
of speedy mobilization, things that
never can be done in a better way
until the very structure of govern
ment is changed.
Commenting upon which Louis F.
Post, in publication called The
Public" says that through it all
shines the light Of the spirit Of our
two foremost Woodrow VIII
son and Newton Baker.
Mr.. Post says that they are eXecu-
tives and doors of deeds and hardin
gers and prophets of better day
Then he prints extracts from a
speech delivered by Mr. Baker before
the Southern Society in New York
that he says should be printed and
widely read and distributed
Not since Lincoln's day, says Mr..
Post, has any war leader sounded the
call to higher duties in an address 81
lacking in sounding brass-in the
buncombe that will be tolerated no
longer by the common maR-tAat new
sort of common man with his revolu-
tiOnary habit Of measuring ali things
with the realities of his daily life.
How numerous and predominant that
species OF man is today we have no
means Of knowing. But he has shown
himself in formidable numbers IN
those industries and those sections
where the spirit of the president has
been nullifed by the acts of men
working at cross purposes. And the
Public ventures the guess that only
as that spirit permeates our govern /
ment, only to the extent that democ-
racy is applied at home, is maintained
and fostered and extended as a vital, |
dominant force. will curl
enterprise command the requisite
popular support That is why New
ton D. Baker is a great secretary Of
war, in sense far transcending con,
of mere military efficien-
CIV.
The Banner is pleased to make ex-
tracts from this wonderful address. !
which is commanding so much adnai-
ration.
Mr.. Baker said.
There is a quality in this war
which evokes d spiritual response and
that will be a new ksnd OF cement for
the making OF Il stronger and more
triumphant people when it is over.
we are not lighting this battle
alone / am not even ambitious that
the glory OF the final conquest should
come to US alone. would far rather !
have the triumph Of democracy the re-
ward OF the associated effort OF demo |,
cratic people everywhere, So that
when the war il over neither We
nor they can have any monopoly Of
that virtue, bur viii be partners in its
glory, and so associates in the future
progress which is to be made.
For We must never forget. when
We speak of democracy, that it is not
an accomplishment it is not a thing !.
that has been done: it is a system of
growth. and though today we might |
achieve what our limited vision pro. |
claims to US as the democratic ideal. /
its quality is such that when we stand
on what now seems to US the highest /
peak OF that range, there will be-
greater heights to tempt and Inspire
us.
And SO. when this Var is over, ana
the crude madievalism which at last
brings the Hohenzollerns and the
h}apshurgs to confront their fate in
the young giant Of the democratic /
spirit; when this contest is over and
the David Of democracy has dealt
with the Goliath OF medievalism and
there VIII still be work for
David to do worthy of his best efforts,
and in the accomplishment of it large
benefits to the race still remain 10 be /
achieved.
1T is i wonderful story. the align !
ment Of the nations which can truly
be called civilized, against the ancient
medievalism which survives IN the
heart of Europe. The hope of man.
kind so often frustrated. apparently, {