Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-12-09
DEM OCRACY'S MISSION

This is the mission upon which
democracy came into the world. Democ-
racy Is an assertion of the right Of the
individual 10 liv" and to be treated Justly
as against any attemp, on the part OF any
combination Of individuals TO make laws
which Will overhurden him or which will
destroy his equality among his Flows IN
! the matter of right or privilege and think
we all realize that the day has come when
democracy is being upon its Anal tcst.
The old world just now IL suffering from
wanton rejection Of the principle of
democracy and a substitution OF the prn-
ciple Of autoCracy as asserted In the name
hut without the authority and sanction Of
the multitude. This IL tho time of all
others when democracy should prove its
purity and its spiritual power 10 prevail
II is surely the manifest destiny of the
United states to cad IN the attempt 70
make this spirit prevail.
LEADERSHIP IS OURS
There are two WAYS in which the United
| States can assist TO accomplish this great
object: First by offering the example
within her own borders of the viii and
| bower of democracy TO make and enforce
laws which are unduestionably lust and
which are equal in their administration
laws which secure its fun right to labor
and yet at the same time safeguard The
integrity Of property and particularly Of
that property which Us devoted to the
development OF industry and the increase
Of the necessary wealth Of the world.
Second. by standing for right and jus
ice az towards individual nations The
law OF democracy is for The protection OF
the weak and influence OF every democ-
racy in the world should be for the pro
lection OF the weak nations, the nation
which Is struggling towards It's right and
towards its proper recognition and
| privilege In the family Of nations. The
United States cannot refuse this role OF
champion without putting the stigma OF
rejection upon the great and devoted men
who brought its government into existence
and established It in the face o. almost
| universal opposition and intrigue. even In
INC face OF wanton force. as for example,
| against the Orders In Council OF Grcat
Britain and the arbitrary Napoleonic de.
crees which involved us In what We know
! as the War Of 1872. urge you to consider
that the display OF an immediate dis
position on the part OF the Congress. TO
remedy any in1ustices or eviie that NAV
/ have shown themse elves In our own ma
tonaI life will afford the most ctfectual
offset to the forces OF chaos and tyranny
which are playing so disastrous n part
than one part of tho world The United
States Is Of necessity the sample democ-
racy OF the world, and the triumph OF
democracy depends upon its success,
BUDGET SYSTEM NECESSARY
Recovery from the disturbing ami some
| times disastrous effects of the late war
has been exceedingly slow on the other
side Of the water and has given promise.
| venture to sayN OF early completion only
| In our own fortunate country; but even
with us tho recovery hats and is mpeded
at times and there are Immediately scrv-
iceable acts Of legislation which ii seems
| to me we ought to attempt, to assist that
| recovery and prove the indestructible re-
| Cooperative force of a great government OF
! the people. One Of those Ia to prove that
! n great democracy can keep house as sue
| ssfully and In as businesslike fashion
as any other government II seems to me
| that tho first stop towards providing this
! Is to supply ourselves with systematic
method OF handling our estimates and
expenditures and bringing them to the
| point where they will not be an unncces-
sary strain upon our income or necessitate
| unreasonable taxation, In other words, a
workable budget system. And I respect
| fully suggest that two elements are es-
| sential TO such a system: namely. not
| only that the proposal OF appropriations
should be in the hands OF n single body
such as a single appropriations commit