New-York tribune., 1920-03-31
Dernocracy's Unsafety

Democracy's Unsafety
Last weeks false dispatch from
Berlin, which said the Ebert govern
ment had agreed that the German
"Reds" could maintain their private
army, showed that Germany still
harbors adopts in the art Of fooling
the world. In this case the seeming
purpose was 20 promote Allied inter-
vention against "Red" rule in the
Rhine district.
Instead of capitulating the Ebert
government has become stiff and
peremptory. Its military command
ers demand the instant dissolution
of the "Red" army and surrender
of all arms. The Spartacist lead
ers admit their defeat, and unless
there is new turn Of events soviet
ism in Germany promises soon to be
at an end.
One correspondent deems it re-
markable that 100000 are able to
give law to 60, 100000. His surprise
will not be shared by those who
have studied the recent revolution
realistically. The first Russian rev.
olution came when the Petrograd
garrison took orders from the Duma
instead Of from the Car, and the
second when a couple Of regiments
obeyed Lenine and Trotzky instead
of the Kerensky government. The
people were not consulted in either
case. After six months Kerensky
called elections, but to this day Le-
nine and Trotzky have never per-
mitted a free election.
In Siberia the Bolshevist regime COL
lapsed and the Kolchak government
rose to power when 10000 organized
Czecho-Slovaks held the railroad.
Kolchak fell when the Czecho-
Slovaks withdrew and the Moscow
Bolshevists invaded helpless Siberia
with a couple. Of divisions. 1t has
been proved in Russia, in Hungary
and in Germany that popular sup
port has little to do with the success
or the non-success Of revolution.
Democracy, representing govern
ment by free public opinion, as con-
trasted with one Of force by an
armed minority, is becoming rela-
lively weak. Unweaponed millions
can be held in subjection by a
weaponed few. The implements and
the technique Of modern warfare
diminish pacific popular power.
1t is useless for those without ma
chine guns to attempt to fight, and
as soon as a military camarilla gets
control it sees to it that its possible
future opponents have no machine
guns. The only way a revolution
can start is by capturing the whole
or part of an existing military
establishment. Kapp failed the
other day not because the Berlin
populace was hostile in spirit but
because the Reichswehr refused to
declare for him.
Democracy in one respect is not so
safe as it was before the war. Anti
democrats have learned how easy It
IS to disregard prevailing opinion.
A small army which tends to be-
come professional and pratorian is
specially dangerous. A large army
based on universal service is better,
but 1t also contains elements Of dam
ger. The problem is how to adapt
to modern conditions the militia sys-
tenn of Washington's day with the
militia professionally competent, but
at the same time permeated by i.
sense of republican citizenship.
Before US is another case Of tho
need Of more democracy to overcome
the defects Of democracy. The
army to be trusted must be sur
charged with loyalty to society as a
whole. Corruption has been intro
duced through persistent preaching
Of the doctrines that a man owes
first allegiance to his class and may
do anything to promote its inter-
ests. Soldiers, with the common
good as their ideal, must be SO i'm
bued with the contrary idea that