Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-04-16
AnaIyzing Our Deficiencies

man former british ambassador to the United States,
historian statesman diplomat and man OF Val1eo acneV
ments rounded out his remarkable career by puoSe
at the age 49, Modern Democracies two volume STUDY
of contemporary republican forms Of government IN "n
the ills effect democracy are treated at
Since the publication of "The Holy Roman Empire IN
1862 whatever Vscount Bryce wrote has commanded "oru
attention His books have been adopted universally as text
books for colleges In his American Commonwealth ne
told Americans about their government than tey
knew themselves and treated their problems win oroao
sympathy His later study indicates that he is becoming
cynical towards democratic ideals in practice.
Defects the operation Of popular government IN Amer
lea summed up by Bryce as follows:
oNEsae legislatures do not enjoy of the people
as is by them and by the trans
of Of their powers to the Glzhs atos e. B
higher level yet below that to be
expected nation proud of its institutions as "hoie ;o
branches not yet equal to the tasks
which extension of the functions of government " imposing
judiciary 3 the o large 5s 5P %'6y iSs prot.ees 9d es
and has few states ceased to be respected
and many that offenders constantly escape
FIVEThe laws are in mperfecy enforced that
security personal rights and to less extent for property
sixThe government especially largest cities
sEyENPay organizations democratic in theory and in their
EfGHT-The tone public public service
honorable public trust tho now rising are not yet what he
should be in so great nation ,-, - .oo4 ,n,o
legislatures been formid
|
OF brilliant gs the number OF & Sn p d % the aiona issues
before he are profoundly important
The of these failures of democratic practice to at
tain the standard required by democratic theory are set
forth by Bryce follows
of respect legislatures the quality
the men who fiji them few Of whom are superior in knowledge ma
lin sates below that average point of character
petence poI only fitness
the official that his party organization had the first claim on his
THREE-The medoory of most state judges and the dein
ToURThe delays of criminal justice due
partly to the weakness OF the Judges partly an antquaed and
o the
s of petty e' doHrae
@ FVEusae h laws are admnered III partly because @ some
section are found hard to enforce partly because elected officials
uenc their reelection partly also because in states there is
/ sIx-The scandals may the
Os S M OF masses % s % Of Immigrants of the
divided responsibility that could not be definitely fixed
by their votes trustworthy candidates. d) to the
sEvEN-Pary organizations long neglected
gain out Of en and whose Ss
multiplicity of elections created heavy of work. and they
EIGHT-The of fine quality were
politicians were liable to be by machine methods by
NiNTH-The been immense because the
M Were worth high price because secret bargains could
tn these Ipents Of whatever else offered
Ito lose
TENThe comparative horoly trained
minds among politicians of the second rankhey
In front ranks largely
here than most parts of Europe which other
Most students and observers of government will admit
that Vscount Bryce has correctly diagnosed the ills of
American democracy, and that whole we fail to measure
to the standards required for democracy And
1t Is due in no small degree to the deterioration citizen
ship brought about by the admission of hordes of inferior
classes of foreigners in the commerciazaon of our re-
sources at the expense of the nations future.