The Glenwood post., 1918-03-23
THE CALL OF THE PEOPLE

busse may well be a watchword of
democracy. The modern world, to bor-
row Lincoln 3 word, "cannot endure
half slave half free,' its government
half of the people, by the people, for
the people, and half at the will of ir-
responsible oligarchies, parasites on
the ''divine right of kings AS Kant
long ago pointed out, "the civil govern
can.''
1t matters little what are the short
comings of republics. We must 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 meth
cd, its course cannot be always fric-
tionless. If government were perfect
it might be supertluous.
War is not function of democracy.
People at large do not call for war
Those i'll any nation who clamor for
war for wars sake are the "popu-
lace,' who have nothing to lose, and
the was castes,n who have something
to gain. These war castes are three in
number-the aristocratic, the plutocrat
ic, and the military. The aristocratic
caste springs from the dynastic stem
with no roots in the soil of today. The
military is an outgrowth from the dy
nastic stock, having become it's Fright
arm even as the state church is the
left. The plutocratic caste, often per-
sonlfled as capitalism,'' is an off
shoot of democracy, grated on the
dynastic stem. Every nation in war
time nourishes its band of profiteers.
Once established, they do their worst
to bring on war and to continue the
confIagration once it is started.
AT the door Of plutocracy or "cap-
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 it has rarely, if ever, been
the original motive force. The dynastic
machinery. plutocracy has utilized, be-
cause it stood ready at its hand.
1t is true that national ambitions,
with the economic limitations and OBJ
structions by which nations are hemmed
in, become powerful incentives to dis
cord. 1t is equally true that personal
ambition and economic embarrassment
often furnish impelling 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, if remedy there be, must be
sought within the bounds of law and
order. Reciprocity is the natural cure
fer 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. 1t
Uses them for prospective gain, but
even then with misgivings. Isaac Sa-
ligman once said: "War destroys prop
elty, bankers do not look with favor
on destruction of Wealth. "Capital-
ism,' as it is called, is not the taproot
Of evil. It's alliance with militarism
persists only SO long as autocracy keeps
nlIltarism alive, as its chief bulwark.
1t is fairly clear that the passing +
the dynastic regime will carry, in dI,
time, militarism with it, leaving democ-
raey free to settle accounts with pllu,
torracy. But "money powcr'' is, in
reality, product of democracy. It's
leaders lise from the mass by their own
nxertions. Wealth is accumulated and
latent power. Those who gain it fairly
should be entitled to its use, in ways
MT prejudicial to society. Democracy
encourage thrift and thrift opens the
avenues to wealth. The problem is t,
safeguard holdings while at the same
time to prevent the holders from over.
reaching and interference with the
rights of others. This problem in tn.
hands of free people is not insoluble
The fading of dynastic illusions vii!
clear the way for the solution of The
further economic problems of wealth
poverty, incompetence and malemploy'
ment.
Wealth and poverty are inevitable in
a degree and permanent. There is nc
fiual a.