The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-05-16
Greed Grossly in Evidence in the
Inception of Each Great
Conflict.
THRIFT THE way TO WEALTH
Fading Of pynastie illusions, VIII Clear
Path for Solution Of Further Eco
nomle Problems-co-o Operation
Must Bind Nations.
BY DAVID STARR JORDAN.
tFrom the Committee on Public In

| formation, Washington, D. c.]
Through the ages it has been said
''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
ernment half "of the people, by the
people, for the people" and half at
the will Of irresponsible oligarchies,
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
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. II a government were
perfect 1t might be superfiuous.
War is not a function Of democracy.
People at large do not call Tor war.
Those in any nation who clamor for
WuE lOT WuT suhe uTe tHe DOpu-
lace" who have nothing to lose. and
the war castes." who have some
thing to gain. These war castles are
three In number-the aristocratic, the
plutocrntic. 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 as
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 profiteers. Once established.
they do their worst to bring on war
and to continue the confagration once
1t is started.
Placing the Blame.
At the door of plutocracy or "cnp-
italism" the blame for most modern
wars has been laid. But the real cul-
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. II ever. been
the original motive force. The dynas-
tic machinery plutocracy has utilized,
because 1t stood ready at its hand.
It IL true that national ambitions,
with tho economic limitations and
distractions by which nations are
hemmed in, become powerful incen-
tives 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 ripen 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
fills. 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. hut
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 bulwark.
Passing Of Dynastie 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, n product of democracy.
Its leaders rise from the mass by their
own exertion. Wealth Is accumulated
and latent power. Those who gain 1t
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 interfer-
ence with the rights Of others. This
problem in the hands of a free people
is not insoluble. The fading of dy-
nastic Illusions will clear the way for
the solution of the further economic
problems of wealth. poverty. incom-
petence ard malemployment.
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 intelligence.
1t is not the purpose to discuss the
application of international principles
to the internal problems of the state.
Yet It IL manifest that the same doc
trines apply alike to national and in
ternational relations. Conquest. mo-