The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-02
U. S. REVOLUTIONS

When people speak with apprehension, if not alarm, cons
corning revolutions and coanter-revolutions in EUROPE, and the
possible effect upon the stability Of governments the world over
they seldom if ever realize that we in the United States arc
living in the midst Of a constant revolution.
A few nights ago in New York there was a great outpour-
ing of reds" from the East Side demanding a revolution,
applauding every reference to the revolution in Russia, and
every offensive mention of the allied nations.
II these poor, misguided people, too recently removed from
the Old World to appreciate the advantages of this government
could comprehend the nature of the government under whose
flag they live, and which guarantees them rights and liberties
not enjoyed anywhere else on earth, including the right to
revolt at stated intervals, they might lose some of their tervor
The revolution in this country is constantly IN progress in
country. Whenever there is a municipal, county or state cleo
ton, the people are offered an orderly method OF revolving.
Every four years they may change the executive OF the nation
and place whomsoever they choose in his place. Every two
wears they have the right to change the complexion of the high
est laN-making body in the land, and the states have provided
the same recourse for those who are dissatisfied with existing
conditions.
In the United States the people have the opportunity OF
appearing in strength at the ballot boxes and putting out of
office those who have been unfaithful to their trust. or who
have lost the confidence Of the people. In the countries where
the rulers are installed or dethroned by an infamed public, the
test of strength is force, the first resort, while in this country
force is the last resort, and is appealed to only when the
majority fails to secure its rights.
In this country the person receiving the largest number of
votes is declared the choice Of the people, and the assumption
is That if a majority of the people vote for a candidate they
might also invoke force as a last resort to place him in office
il the minority should resist.
1t is only when we witness revolutions and commissions in
other countries, the efforts that are required to unhorse the
rulers, and the power that is required in some cases to compel
the observance OF the will OF the people, that we can begin TO
appreciate the safeguards that the trainers of the constitution
under which we live placed about the government.
There can be nothing more simple than the fundamental
principle upon which the government is founded. The trainers
of the declaration Of independence had a taste of taxation with
out representation, OF being governed without having a voice in
the government. and beginning there. and continuing to the
present day, and growing stronger with each decade, is the
sentiment for the rule OF the majority with proper safeguards
for the rights OF the minority.
So when our misguided and deluded friends talk Of revolu.
ton in the United States, of its possibilities and its terrors, thew
should remember that 1t is a common experience for the people
OF this nation, for the people of the states counties and munici.
pahties to revolt against their officials and overthrow them for
any cause that may be satisfactory to the people.
The initiative, referendum and recall, adopted by many
cities and prevalent in some states, provides for revolt among
the people without the necessity OF waiting for the stated time
for elections. When one talks Of revolution, ominous as it ma,
sound, he predicts something for which ample provision is made
a, right which has been guaranteed since the founding of the
government, and a condition under which we are living.