Evening star., 1922-11-05

ulations protect the lives. health,
safety and happiness of all.
Isn't II strange that. sensible as
we are with reference to these re-
strictive measures, we grow restive
when suggestion Is made that dan
gers which threaten the life and
health of the republic exist? How
remarkable It is that we think that
a democracy Is an automatic sort
Of government, always in perfect
repair and never liable to break
down. We regard 1t as the only
perpetual motion machine ever in
vented. We have little time to cx-
anime the machine itself. and when
one begins pointing out defects.
We look upon him as a craak.
X y X
Abraham Lincoln once used this
language: ut has long been
grave question whether any gov
ernment. not too strong for the
liberties Of its people. can be strong
enough to maintain its existence in
great emergencies" do not quote
this to raise the question of the
strength or weakness of our sys-
tenn of government. I cheerfully
consent that a large majority of
our people are desirous of pre-
serving not alone the form, but
the spirit OF our institutions. The
question is. will we observe the
law of the road. and, II needful. in
order to prevent a crash, will We
yield our right Of way? Our gov
ernment is but the composite will
Of its citizens. Those who do no,
patiently submit to constituted
authority are not much concerned
10
whether the machine Is in perfect
working order or not.
1t may not be generally known
that when the fate of democracy
was in the balance and our COVER
ment was straining every resource
to assist Its maintenance. Of the
young men of America who were
conscripted into the Army more
than 100000 never made their ap-
pearance at the training camps.
Fortunately, the war came to a
successful end before the govern
ment had to determine what should
be done with this per cent who
openly Haunted constituted author
ity. II the number who think they
are entitled to all the privileges
of the American republic and owe
it no service or sacrifice in the
hour of need shall greatly increase
as the years go by. Lincoln's in
Quiry will be answered. This gov
ernment will not be able to main
tain Its existence in great ener-
genc1es.
The English language Is con-
stantly being added to by newly
coined words. One recently coined
by scientists is moron" 1t is used
to designate an adult with the
mentality Of a child from seven to
twelve years Of age. The test is not
one of general Information. men,
ory. rapidity Of thought, or OF lit
erary proficiency. 1t is one rather
or Intelligence, of the powers Of
reason. of the ability to grasp a
situation and logically to reach a
correct conclusion. In the con-
to 1.720.o00 men with the result
that At per cent OF them were rated
as twelve years old or younger.
What the percentage would be il
the test were applied to all men
of the republic. who can say? How
many men CT general information.
of good memory. of more or less
literary proficiency. yet children in
the power to reason. there are in
America we do not know. But
those OF us who believe in the old
order OF government OF liberty cir
cumscribed by law. understand
that these are the men out of whom
mobs are made. Demigogues make
their appeals to them. Their emo
lions are far more finely developed
than their judgment. They are
just as likely to be led wrong as
right. Is there not need for re-
statement Of old principles for the
sake Of these child-like men, for
q re-preachment of patriotism?
There can be none too many danger
signs erected along the future
highways opened up by democracy.