Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-04
LISTLESS PATRIOTISM ARISING
FROM IIINEILSS pIIvI,N


WY ITH one accord the historians who
w have treated the decline and fall of
the Roman commonwealth note that
TIE characteristic mark of that eVentful
epoch was the continuous decrease of pop
ular interest i'll the public welfare
Men who were possessed of property
were too absorbed in the acquisition and en-
joyment of more wealth to care for the pro-
motion of good government and the security
of the State.
The poorer lasses-sometimes called "the
masses were concerned to get something
out of the government rather than to serve
it as good citizens. Hence their patriotism
was dru8ged into perpetual slumber by gifts
of bread and games provided for them by
demagogues at publce expense.
With all classes thus Indifferent ambi-
tious politicians pulled down for selfish ends
the essential supports Of good government
and overthrow the liberties of a slumbering
nation while it was wrapped in dreamless
sleep.
There are many parallels between the
days of the decay of the Roman state and
the present period in the history of the
American nation which give rise to fear: but
there are none more alarming than the de-
cline of the concern of the people for the
national welfare.
Perhaps in all the history of the Ameri-
can Republic the people were never so list
less during a year in which an election for
president occurred. 1t has been thought
necessary to put forth special efforts to in
duce voters to go to the polls and vote.
Indeed, the number of non-voting voters
has been steadily increasing for the last
half century.
In an article under the caption "The
Vanishing Voter" which was published in
Il recent number of THE New Republic" it
was shown that in every presidential cleo
ton since 1856 there has been constantly
decreasing ratio of voters to the number
of persons qualified to vote, till it has fallen
from "a per cent in the second Lincoln
campaign to 2.36 per cent in the Harding
Cox campaign of 1920.
In 1920 there were more than Sc 5000. 900
persons who were entitled to vote, and Pres
ident Harding was elected with a vote of
$780, zoo, which was more than 1000, 900
less than three-tenths of the voting popula-
ton Of the country. And be it remembered
in the election was involved the great issue
of the League of Nations'-and issue of
worldwide significance and Importance.
About 40000r000 voted in favor of the
"LeaSue of NatiOns,' else did not care
enough about the matter to vote at all.
If this indifference to great public ques-
tons continues. at no distant day the gov
eminent of the United States-the most
wealthy and powerful nation in the world
will be controlled by minority of the peo-
pie, and that means oligarchical government
OF course, the whole number of ballots
cast is always less than the number who
are qualified by law to vote. Aged people,
sick people, and people who change resi-
dence just before an election, cause this to
be true. But when all due allowance is
made on this account it remains true that
there is among our people, as it was among
the Romans growing indifference to pub
lie interests
The waning concern for the welfare of
the nation is a symptom of a disease Of the
heart which cannot be cured too promptly
1t indicates an excessive devotion to material
things and personal concerns on the one
hand, and a deficient sense of responsibility
for the faithful discharge of the duties of
citizenship on the other hand.