Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-03
WHAT is DEMOCRACY?
By DR.. Frank Crane
ARTICLE "


The ten-plank definition Of democracy
which we are considering is as follows:
Democracy is % a force (2) of opinion
(3) and of feeling az operating within
the people go enabling the majority of
them (6) to get what they want CD by
means of organization (S) and to make
these gains secure by laws CD for 1t is
only by making it's own mistakes that a
nation can (10) achieve it's destiny, which
is to grow.
We take up now the fifth point, which
brings out the fact that it is the welfare
of the majority of the people which is it's
object.
Democracy is the only sort of organiza-
ton which operates for the benefit Of the
majority of the people,
All other kinds of government are gov
ernments by a minority of some sort or
other.
In monarchy the welfare of the dy-
nasty and it's allied ruling classes is fore
most.
In an oligarchy it is the will of SUI
perior few that dominates. The scattered
republics Of past history, such, for in
stance, as the Greek republic, were not at
all democracies in the sense in which the
United States, Great Britain and France
are democracies. For they went upon the
assumption that the great mass of people
were too ignorant to know what they need
ed, and had to be guided by superior minds.
The sort of government which the Boil
sheviks gave to Russia after the overthrow
of the car was in no sense democracy.
1t was as autocratic as that bureaucracy
which it displaced. 1t merely substituted
a new set. of autocrats. TIE be sure, these
new rulers professed to have the welfare
Of the great masses at heart; but, for that
matter, so did the car, and the difference
was merely matter of opinion as to what
constitutes the welfare Of the people.
Socialism might operate as democracy,
If the majority of the people were per-
suaded that it is the best thing and if they
deliberately chose it. But Socialism foisted
upon people, the majority of whom do
not believe in it, would be nothing but an
other kind of autocracy.
1t follows from this that the purpose of
democracy is not at all to give an ideal gov
,ernment. In fact, the government it usual
ly gives is very imperfect. All democracy
aims to do is to give the majority of the
people the sort of thing they want
Democracy, therefore, is the only pro-
gram in which liberty is possible For
liberty consists in doing what one pleases,
and not in doing what some one else thinks
is best for him.
Under democracy the minority is not nee
essarily suppressed. Only the minority
cannot nave It's way IN determining the acts
of the state until it has succeeded in be-
coming the majority.
Thus the ways are always open. Any
man, or any group of men, can agitate as
they please, so long as they obey the laws
and restrain from violence in their en-
deavor to convince the majority.
There is no sense in revolution in a
democracy, because the majority is always
open to conviction. Thus there is naturally
in democracy free speech, a free press,
and the right of assemblage. There is, and
should be, constant discussion. In fact,
think Walter Baghot calls democracy a.
government by discussion
The rule has been we'll stated as follows
The majority should always rule, and the
minority should always be heard
Copyright, 1922, by Frank Crane)