Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-05
WHAT is DEMOCRACY?
BY DR.. Frank Crane
Article VII

SO far we have considered the first six
points in our definition of Democracy:
Democracy is CD Force GU of Opinion
CD and of Feeling (4) operating within the
People 60 enabling the Majority of them
CO. to Get what they Want CD by means of
Organization (8) and to make these gains
secure by Laws (9) for it is only by making
its own Mistakes that a nation can (10)
achieve it's destiny, which is to Grow.
The seventh point concerns Organization.
1t is that the people Get what they Want
by means of Organization.
That is the only way they can get it.
A mob does not get what it wants. 1t
gets what it does not want. 1t is sorry for
it the next day.
Passion does not get us what we want, ex-
cept that it induces us to organization.
Argument and reasoning and logic cannot
get the people what they want, except as
these things also produce organized effort.
Superficial thinking sometimes assumes
that Democracy is mob government, that it is
incoherent and easily subject to stampede
and panic.
Quite the contrary is the case. Democracy
will not work at ali unless it is highly Or
ganized. In fact, it is much more organized
than any autocracy. The absolute monarch
governs his subjects best when they are ig-
norant and docile, when they can be herded
like sheep. But you cannot herd the people
in a Democracy. Each is thinking unit.
A flock OF sheep will march along very
nicely guarded by a shepherd dog. They do
not have to understand what they are doing
A mass of men, however, must have some
idea as to whittier they are going and why.
And they get along we'll only in proportion as
they organize themselves and each learns to
keep step and find his proper place.
For this reason Democracy moves more
slowly than monarchy It does not get quick
action.
An absolute monarchy is perhaps the most
efficient government in the world, If govern
ment is all we are after. But in Democracy
it is Not Government that we are after. Gov
eminent is a secondary consideration. It is
a means to an end. The end is the pros
perity and welfare Of the people, and not the
efficiency of the state nor the glory of the
dynasty.
Under the militaristic rule of the Hohen-
zollerns and Of the Romanovs, the citizen
existed for the state. Under Democracy the
state is merely tool Of the citizen.
Because Democracy gets it's will by
means of organization, it gets it very slow
ly, but when it is accomplished, it is al
ways right and does not have to be re-
versed.
1t took a good many years, for instance,
for the American people to make up their
mind what it wanted to do with Slavery,
with Women's Rights, and with Prohibit
ton. Each Of these questions was debated
long and seriously. Finally, each one of
them was put through that slow and tedious
process by which the people can amend their
Constitution. Each was voted on by the
State Legislatures. The new proposals were
fought at every step of the way. Yet final
ly, when they wero secured, we knew the
will of the people had been registered, and
we were pretty we'll assured that what they
led today they would not have to take
back tomorrow.