Evening star., 1922-10-08
American Democracy on Trial
In the Forum of the World

band the hosts of democracy be-
fore the cries Of victory have died
upon the air. II we are to prove
untrue criticisms Of our system Of
government, We must justify our
democracy in the eyes OF the world.
We must make 1t a system OF gov
eminent safe. sane and satisfac-
tory to the normal lover of liberty.
And 1t must not be done in the
and compelling their observance
by force OF arms. Democracy
must justify itself in a court Of
morals. not in courts OF law. To
reach this attitude of mind 1t has
been necessary for me to ignore
certain incidents touching recent
industrial disputes in America and
lean on some preconceived ideas
which are rooted in my mind and
which. think. are consistent
with good morals.
xx
The labor union has done a
world of good, particularly in re-
moving evil conditions under
which men were compelled to
work. ! cannot yield my assent to
the doctrine that the labor union
must 60. but 1t must keep itself
within the terms Of the Constitu-
tion and the laws Of the United
States. So long as It does it has
as much right to exist as any 9TH
er organization. It has q right to
promote its objects in all peace
full ways. However. neither trust
magnates nor labor unionists have
the right to compel me to Join
their organization or be deprived
of work. The man wishing to
intimidation or insult from a
single soul on earth.
He who believes in democracy
must be q nominal Christian to
the extent at least Of possessing
faith in the brotherhood Of hu-
mankind. Democracy must Justify
itself by getting away from the law
and getting into the gospel; 1t is
not needful to Judge either capital
or labor by the laws Of the land.
They are rather to be judged by
the rules OF humanity and moral
ity, upon which alone democracy
can safely rest. It were foolish to
deny that no employer is bound to
take back a striking workman.
BY the cold letter of tho law a
physician may find your child
gasping for breath in a virulent
attack Of Group and refuse to ad-
minister relief because you have
no money with which to pay him.
Yet in that high court OF morals
called public opinion what sort
Of an American would such a doc
tor be deemed to be? An attorney
is not bound by the strict letter
Of the law to defend an innocent
man unless a fee Is forthcoming.
but in that same court Of morals
what would be the judgment OF
mankind as to the grade of his
citizenship?
Contending Industrial forces of
America are waging a war which
directly involves not more than
20 per cent OF the people. The re-
mkining 80 per cent are the rest
Of us-just plain. everyday. JUS
tice-loving citizens. We are de-
MED ultimate facts on which to
decide with whom justice abides.
Yet our business 10 disorganized:
our comfort is marred; hardships
threaten US. We are compelled to
stand by as impotent as leprous
hand We are just goats.
In all controversies there is
something more involved than the
justification of what each side
deems to be its legal rights. In
the forum Of the world the ques-
ton whether American democracy
can endure is being tried. Ameri-
can conditions are as high above
European conditions as the stars
are above the earth, but monarch
list and belshevist are convinced
that we cannot live in a spirit OF
brotherhood. We must prove them
Copyright 1922 BY Thomas Z. Marshall.l
wrong for the glory of God and
the perpetuity of the republic.