The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1921-05-19


the majority of them want, by means of
organization, and to make this secure by
laws which are just and equal"
Read it again; memorize it; and while
you are about it do some good hard think
ing. This little definition is simple enough
for small mind and complex enough to
keep Daniel Webster busy for weeks.
Now, then you may ask if this has
anything to do with boys, or the parents
of boys, who may read this and we will
not hesitate to answer with an emphatic
"Yesw
In the first place Democracy is not
plan or scheme; it is a FORCE that comes
from within; force that is not the pri-
vate property of Presidents, Governors,
and legislatures; it is a force common to
all and it is the exercise of this force that
makes our laws good, bad, or Indifferent.
The gorilla has force but he accomplishes
very little because it is uneducated force
and is misdirected; the mob may have
against a defenseless object Neither the
gorilla nor the mob exert the kind of force
that makes Democracy because Democracy
is the FORCE OF OPINION and opinion
is not possessed by the mob or gorilla. 4n
order to belive in Democracy you must
believe in the people because Democracy
=. 80, ~ Il L.
not as individuals but the people as
whole. 1t is the common good that prevails
and if we are to obtain the common good
we must have FORCE OF OPINION
AND FEELING.
Force of opinion usually has to do with
doubt, unjust laws, or laws that have be-
come unjust because of changing cond
tons. When the majority recognize this
fact and demand their revision these laws
are altered to meet existing conditions.
Democracy does not claim for all per-
sons equal pay, equal intelligence, equal
happiness nor equal social position
JUSTICE is its only claim-justice for all.
Pure Democracy will not be safe for
the world until men can somehow be led
to realize their responsibility to society by
giving thought to their public problems.
The people themselves must think, for the
people alone can act, and right thinking
must precede right action.
Are you still following along or did you
quit after reading the first paragraph?
Now then, let's see if there is not some
thing about this word Democracy that
directly concerns us.
In the first place Democracy is not
something big and foreign. 1t is that little
something with ourselves that causes us
to like and dislike. 1t may be that our
tastes at present run more in the direction
of "spuds" than governors, but that is be-
cause we are more interested right now
in eating than in electing men to Office.
Some of these times we are going to be
interested in both "spuds" and governors;
that is, we are going to be interested in
the representatives we elect if we are to
become good citizens and the best time to
begin to become interested is while we are
yet in school.
Even here, in the training school, the
majority rules. You may have thought
at times that we had an absolute monarchy
here but you were wrong. The majority
gets what it wants. OF course there is
always a minority that wants a lot of
things which are impossible. 1t is that
way in any phase of government. When
spring comes the majority of boys want
to play baseball and tennis-their wishes
are granted. Some years ago the majority
of the boys did not value the privileges
accorded, hence rules were necessary that
would crib this majority. This school is
limited Democracy, you might say, and
just as quickly as the majority of the boys
show by their actions that they are deserv-
ing more privileges and the majority want
these added RESPONSIBILITIES tha,, xy;I1 thep