Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-01
WHAT is DEMOCRACY?
BY DR.. Frank Crane
Article III,


Democracy is Cd a Force (2) Of Oninion
20 and OF Feeling (4) operating within the
People (5) enabling the Majority of them
(6) to Get what they Want CD by means of
organization 80 and to make these gains
secure by Laws, CO. for it is only by maxim q
Its own Mistakes that nation can 1Ol
achleVe its destiny, which is to Grow
, III the last two articles we have taken up
the flrst two points, namely, that it is a
Gofce and that it is composed in part of
that it is composed also of Feeling.
1t is quite difficult to explain Feeling in
words. And it is also difficult If not i'm
possible, to explain any feeling to one who
does not already have it,
But this writing is intended for people who
d have the Feeling which ma es Democracy.
1t is not intended to tell them something they
90 not know, but to assist them in the utter
ance of something they already know.
A feeling can be best made distinct per-
maps by an example, and we have one ex-
ample in the comparatively modern world of
man who very strikingly exemplified in his
life what Democracy is.
This man is Abraham Lincoln
No better key to his character and purpose
can be found than the fact that he sensed
the people.
He had the conviction that the people were
shrewder than the members Of his cabinet
about him, wiser than the senators and con-
gressmen they elected, and more dependable
them.
In all his great decisions he harked back
in his mind to that great common people
from which he sprung, and he endeaYC
interpret their will as their chief servant. \
You do not find among those writer's who
are considered and who consider themselves
foremost, or among the chief figures of our
intellectual circles, virile belief in the COM
mons. Most such are inclined to be superior
and often a bit cynical. This is perhaps be-
cause the great mass of our existing Htera-
ture, and also the entire fabric of our edu-
cational system has been handed down to us
from past which was almost entirely mon
archical in thought.
The first-class minds who really feel the
moral supremacy of the masses are few and
far between.
Their number, however, is increasing, for
the resistless force of Democracy is always
pouring forth from the common people.
Do you feel democracy? Do you have that
utter confidence that somehow and In the
long run the voice of the people Is the voice
of God; and that the nearest to right con-
illusions obtainable on this earth will be
found in the mature judgment of the people?
The creed of democracy can perhaps be
best stated in the homely phrase which Lin
coin often used, but which think was coined
by P. T. Barnum:
"You can fool all of the people some of
the time, and you can fool some OF the peo-
pie all Of the time, but you cannot fool all
of the people all of the time"
When you are worried over one thing or
another that seems to threaten the nation,
over this or that vicious propaganda which
is menacing, can you go smilingly to sleep,
absolutely believing that:
"You can fool all of the people some of
the time and you can fool some of the peo--
pie all of the time, but you cannot fool all of
the people all of the timer"
Copyright, 1922, by Crane)