The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-20
BY CHARLES G. MORRIS

We seek to recover for America
what it once had, later lost and
now needs. Not forgetting during
the first forty years or SO that
government Is necessary evil, the
Founders and the early American
citizens Of the new republic de-
clared and acted on a principle
that was later abandoned. The
principle which they wanted to
achieve was political equality. A
number of recent polls have shown
that large majority of our citi-
zens still recognize the evils of po-
litical inequality and desire to re-
turn to the principles of the
founders. They are blocked by the
exactly what the founders feared
holders of public Office. This was
when they solemnly declared in
the Connecticut constitution that
mo man or set Of men are en-
titled to exclusive public emolu-
ments or privileges from the COM
munity." Why did they use that
phrase?
Founders Human!
To understand we need only to
go back to study of the political
history of the stock from which
they came. They we're largely
British, descendants Of the people
who gave the kings prerogative a
mighty tumble when King John
signed Magma Charta. The pope's
provocative had also taken tum-
BILE under Cromwell and the pro-
tectorate. These were gains to-
ward freedom as between the king
and the mobiles, and as between the
pontff and the clergy. But priv
ilege in Its political form still held
its ground against the common
people. The next time that what
had been the kings prerogative
took another tumble, this time
along with that Of his peers, was
when the spirit of the Declara-
ton of Independence was trans
lated into the framework of a
political privilege still held fast
constitution of government. But
against the Negro slave, against
the American Indian, against Civ
ing equal political rights to wom-
EN-. They we're very human, these
founders! t.
Political Labels
The privileged folk. though baf-
fed bit by the loss of an i'm
N, ~, co a trn,,y,t IF riyarticiy,r, x,o I,,o
when they had to give up the title
mobility" as applied to the holders
Of grants Of special privilege, never
for moment left off their efforts
to break down, or at least to OBJ
struct. the actual accomplishment
Of human freedom and equal priv
ilege before the law. They re-
joiced when somebody in the gay
nineties invented the title of cap
tains Of industry" to apply TO per-
sons privileged by law. Today we
have a boss" of a party, city
or a ward; premier; I'll Duce":
der Fuehrer"; "Commissar." The
titles we use today are as multiple
as are the personalities that have
dominated any system of Unequal
ity for the benefit of a favored
class. Since the American Revo-
luton there has been a growing
realization that lords and barons
are unpopular titles and that such
titles also offer good handles for
opponents to seize. But author
ity which permits the possessor
to offer exactly the same sort OF
privilege to a political friends and
to deny 1t to a political foe is jeal-
ously guarded by any political
arty which may chance to hold
power anywhere in the uncivil-
lied world of politics.
Right Of Kings
Those who enjoy a privilege al
ways feel very sure that 1t is a
God given right, even If they have
to fight other men for 1t. Though
the Divine Right Of Kings Is not
so sure Of applause as 1t once was.
those enjoying a bit Of the SUBJ
stance hate to let 60 Of 1t. OF
course they may sometimes be so
1860