Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-15
THE REIGN OF FORCE OR THE REIGN
OF LAW


OF LAW
HE world must make choice between
the reign of force and thepreign of law.
- There is no other alternative.
The reign of force means tyranny and OPP
preston by the strong over the weak. -"
The reign Of law signifies justice and lib
erty and security to men of all cTassse
whether weak or strong. Embodied in a
representative democracy" with constitutional
limitations, it is the best form of govern
ment, assuring both the freedom of the indi-
yiduaI and the authority OF the state. OPP
posed to such democracy is oppressive an
archy on the one. hand and dictatorial mon
archy on the other hand, both of which rely
on irresponsible force to accomplish their
ends. t~
During the World war, mankind seemed
to be moving toward representative democ-
racy and the cry was raised, "Let US make
the world safe for democracy" That was a
popular slogan which aroused enthusiastic
support and raised high hopes.
But nothing was proposed to make democ-
racy safe for the world, and democracy is
never safe, nor long favored by men, unless
it rests on the firm foundations of inYolable
justice and unfailing righteousness. 1t can
not endure in, the absence Of morality and in
telligence among the people who adopt it.
The people themselves discard and destroy
democracy when IT ceases to aEord protection
FOR the right and tranquility and safety for
tbs social system. Indeed, u IS tbs worst
form Of government, and does not deserve
perpetuation, when it ceases to serve these
high ends. A mob may be, and always is,
more oppressive than a monarch, and its
tyranny is both more cruel and more difficult
Of correction. When democracy turns to
the reign Of the mob, it terrifies the people,
and they turn to some powerful personality
for protection. Dictators arise when democ-
racies become fmpotent or immoral and the
reign of law is supplanted by the reign of
force. Such was the outcome of "the
Reign Of Terror in France
Notwithstanding the enthusiastic response
to the slogan, Make the world safe for de-
mocracy," which arose in all lands some five
years ago. the people of Europe seem now to
be drifting towards the reign Of dictators,
who rule both kings and Kingdoms by the
rule of force. MusSOlini, not the Italian
King, governs Italy. Turkey. and the Sultan
are in the hands of military dictator. So
are Spain and the Spanish King. Distracted
Germany has been placed under a dictator,
and the political units which since the days
of Bismarck have composed the German en-
pire are falling apart and appealing to force.
Russia suffers under the dietatorial DONNA
ton of the dual tyranny of Lenine and Trotz-
ky. On all sides on the continent of Europe
Tie pCOplS appear " De LuI11luS 10 IuG IS1SH
Of force "The man on horseback is every
where in sight. In him the reign of force
always and inevitably reaches its incarnation
and elimination.
And if Continental Europe reverts to the
reign Of force, the regnant forces will be in
such form as was never known before, in all
the history of mankind. To 'the man on
horseback" will be committed instruments Of
coercion and subjugation never before WELD
ed my men Of his class. He and his mill
taristic followers will be armed with the
most powerful guns and the most destructive
explosives They will use tanks and machine
guns on land and aeroplanes in the air, rain
ing on helpless opponents below death-deal-
ing missiles, annihilating chemicals, and des-
olating gases. Thus were deferred and dis
persed revolutionists in Greece recently. With
such terrifying possibilities the Turk virtually
-defied the representatives of the Allied Pow
ers at Lausanne and Mussolini enforced his
unreasonable demands On Greece, notbwith-
standing the League of Nations, to which
italy was solemnly pledged.
1t is too obvious for doubt discussion
that the reign of force in Europe will not be
the rule Of righteousness. In the end it must
culminate in the subsection of the people to
the most INSCRIPTIONS militarism which will
treat the laws of both God and man with con-
tempt and set at nought the most sacred
treaties as "mere scraps of paper" The Mus
solinis will be no better than the Kaiser
Williams. Nothing but heaven-born moral
ity, enthrOned in the hearts of men can ar
rest the enslaving militarism which now
threatens the nations. The law of love and