Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-07

WellS Is democracy Under Revision. y
The others serve as approaches to this
high point, either by way of direct evil
dence on the one hand or. on the other,
through the indirect testimony Of illus
trative fact and significant situation.
Democracy Under Revision" was pri-
marily a lecture given in 1927 at the
Sorbonne. The substance of the theme,
however, with its present wide currency
in the field Of modern political thought,
brings this study straight into imme-
date and general interest. In projec-
ton it is quite of a piece with this writ
er's recognized sincerity and power.
In sum: Democracy is equality
equality an inherency Of the people taken
together this collective body Is
sovereign the vote is it's work
ing tool by way of this instru-
mentality 1t, at stated tin%s, names The
personnel Of its directing board and die
tates the policies Of that going concern,
the government. Such, the theory, such
the norm Of modern democracy.
From this standpoint Mr.. Wells re-
views the institution in its modern con-
tent--a quite different invention from
the democracy of the ancient world.
Such resurvey begins with the birth of
democracy In the sixteenth century. The
ing pains of this new life-pains Of
promise and pains of menace in some
what disconcerting balance of disclosure.
The nineteenth century, however, saw
the new democracy In its coming of age
and in its display OF powers thatreached
beyond political purposes and plans out
into the social order where it took effect
in every aspect of the common life. And
here we are--looking upon the twentieth
century in the full stride of manhood,
lusty, confident, arrogant.
At this point Mr.. Wells asks us to stop
q while. A good place, he says, to add
the gains of democracy over the old
tyrannieS and inequities. To take stock,
SO to speak, before the next moVe-for
the next move is on its way.
Setting aside the familiar brew of
enthusiasm and rhetoric that begins to
ferment under mere mention of the
word democracy" what have we still
remaining from an older order that
serves to vitiate the good substance Of
this new political outlook?
Wars. We still have wars left over
out of old Savagery and barbarism. We
have poverty and crime and ignorance
We have other evil things, too, but
these are enough to account for the
confusion into which democracy has
fallen-the confusion under which, to-
day, it is striving to make Roadway.
With Mr.. Wells we are led to look
into the insincerity of nations in re-
spect to war. These keep up the SEEM
ingly eternal juggling for position in
the way Of preparedness" open road
to warfare itself. Again, as one Of
the bewildermentS of the present, Mr..
Wells argues for a simplifled and uni
form monetary system throughout the
world as q powerful agency of under
standing, of direct and simple CONNER
cial intercourse, of corporations cal
culated to superSede the arbitrary COM
pulSions of combat. And, once more,
he urges a new and general fronting
upon the vital fact that the world is
today an economic concern, not a polit-
ical theory. 1t is huge business, bent
upon production and distribution-bent
upon food and shelter and education
and leisure, upon achievement in the
arts Of peace and happy
living. Here are tremendous combina-
lions, inherent in the muni1cence Of
the natural world coupled with the in
ventive genius of man himself. Here
Is the world brought together into a
by the wiZardry Of doing
away with distances. And this must
be a peaceful neighborhood.
Such, in the rought, is the substance
of Democracy Under Revision" The
other studies contribute to this one by
way Of the social institutions around
art in its various forms, an
inlook upon certain political expert
ments here and there. In the course
of these studies Mr.. Wells bears down
hard on the quality of our education.
it is to meet the later de-
mands upon it in the substance OF the
youth coming on. In this particular
he mentions the United States in edu-
cation. Now when any Britisher men
lions this country we, its people, rarely
stop to hear what he has to say. In
stead we bristle. wonder why. When
the Englishman suggests that we, over
here, are lacking in culture, why do
we grow red and retort, well, l hope
we have as much as you have!" Why
not, in such situation, sit down in
we that rare and beautiful thing called
what are the evidences
of It. II we have itP" what is it any
wayP" IF it is lovely and desirable
and we have it not, let US strive after
it," How would that go in place OF
the RACES into which we fall when
charged with the lack Of this? We are
Young, SO we can get this thing, pro-
yided we do not spend our time in
declaring that we are already stepped
in It's rare essences, in its gentltng in
fuenceS.
However, this is, all In all, Wells
book-a book of sincerity, vision, keenly
diyining intelligence, q book OF direct
communication, practical, kindly, witty
Just Wells book to be accepted In
gladness and gratitude.
y X X X
THE STAR SPANGLED MANNER.
Beverley Nichols. Doubleday, Doran
& Co.
Like Amos n Andy-"Here they are!'
"a dozen or more Of perfectly good
American men and women sitting down,
in seeming delight, to have their pic
lures shot by a camera OF complete
equipment. Beverley Nichols is its other
name. zone Of the most popular young
men in the world" I" face and fig-
ure to make q movie hero'S fortune"
= perfectly attired" candid,
clever boy"-there are more
Of these dirty digs against this fully
grown man who is looking around these
United States and telling how certain
things, and people, look to his English
ewes. Quite open are these eyes. narrow
ing to Sits now and then when he is
trying to make a particularly true rec
ord. So first of all, Beverley Nichols sees
straight. And his words have a way
of going along. with that kind of seeing.
And, again, they do such good team
work as to deliver both the truth-or
as much Of the truth as can be told
from the outside Of the specimen in
its immediate setting. More
than this, he has the gift of laughter.
Nobody laughs-really laughs, almost
nobody. I don't know why any one on
this big earth should laugh, do you?
Yet the other night-morning, for 1t
was around o'clock, reading this
book, heard myself laugh, right out
loud, and long, too.