The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-30
The RedI sDif ference
ny pR. sEHANk CRANE

| The whole sdifferencs between the ariss tocratic and the deuocfntic point of view. | is that the formef dlstrusts human natuse.| fears snds despissa 1t, while the iatter' trusts it. & z The essential democrat is one who believes that mankind is better than anything t has done. 2.
 I am a democrat Of course I use the word in no American partiran ssnse) because 1 believe that humanits isSincurably good and; progressively wise.
 Msn have always been better than their in stitutions. It was the natural goodness of the human heart that abolished the cruel and fevolting doctrines of the theology of former day The people wsrs better than the
 An the frauds and tsrannies of naonarchs, and nobles of former times were built upon the theory that the people did not know whatxwss best for thenns and that a ruling class was necessary, lis true that the peo- pie were ignorant, but the only way to make then, wise is to put upon them the respon-i sibfljty of self-governmenf The people, as [ syholz never began to rise and excel until the aavent of responsible governments E A1K the privilege and established ininstice ia the United Etatss have come about from those measures taken in timid fear of the people W }. -lss .yy ;'se
 sPolitics is corrupt .sa We have always said that whenever public ownership of anything has been proposed. sWs are rapidly learning that sbig business, or huge wealth managed by individuals, Is not only as corrupt as pol itics but is the very corrupter of politics.
 The aristocrat is . seer of surfaces. He thinks it is the policemsn on the corner that A.. ~-. s-..t -H<. = A ter Of fact, 1t is the innate decency and love of peace in the crowd itself If that spirit wert not there the policeman would be swept away as leaf before the storm. VI
 He thinks it is kings end presidents that rule countries In reality countries rule themselves, and throne holders are but coui- fers In the game.
 He thinks it is legislatures and parliaments that make laws. But the truth is that laws are the secretion off the body polite; they are but lame expression of national couvic- tions and customs.s The basic law is the common law, which is no more nor less than the codified habits of the nation
 This thing you call humanity is moving along by, it's own steam. Nobody is guiding it. Nobody is moulding its destiny" Ex.s cept it be God, which perhaps is but an other name for the spirit of humanity.
 You speak of the ignorance, fickleness and mob madness of the people All true enough. The people have done some devlish deeds But it is doubtful if they ever did them ex- cept under the galling of their ancient enemy
 privileee. ~ , E
 The people, the great human race, grows by its own sap and force, It is like the Morse tree ygdrasil, whose roots are in the past, whose fruits hsngrin the golden future.
 So long as the worlh thought Jesus to be some sort of king they warred and pillaged and set up privileges and tyrannies
 Now we arc beginning to seek peace on earth and try to bring about good win toward men it is because ws are discovering that Jesus was a democrat, the original trustsr of the people. 4s1