Evening star., 1937-07-24
Government Viewed
In the Light of History
To the Editor Of The Star:


we are witnessing today great
Worldwide conflict supposedly between
two theories of government theories
winch have stimulated on the continent
lear, suspicion, frantic demonstrations
ana even IN some cases resorted to grue-
some bloodshed. These theories are sup
ported by those in one instance who are
IN favor OF rule by clique, oligarchy or
some tltular head and on the other
hand by those who believe in rule by the
many, the masses or, to use the more
popular term. the democratic way. Both
factions seem very earnest in their en-
deaVors and no doubt conscience to
great extent is molding their decisions.
Ol course, we all have our own personal
viewpoints on such matters. but merely
Tor the sake of interest and the ge-old
axiom that history frequently repeats
Itself, let us briefly trace the course of
human events during the last four or five
mlllenniums and see which form or
theory has proven the more successful.
We are told by historians that the
nucleus of that great drama called "the
evolution OF the state is the early patri-
archal family and. Of course. this form
OF organization existed really before
there was any kind of government in the
modern sense of the word In the patri-
archal set-up the eldest male in the
family was always looked up to and
respected as the head over the small
group which he ruled. The next chap
ter in this metamorphosis of the state
was the tribe, ruled over by a chieftain
and sometimes assisted by advisory
councils. Here we notice that as society
increased there was a tendency to add
to the administrative end.
The next step in political development
was the ancient Oriental empire under
which flourished the civilizations of
Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, India and
China. We are told that these empires
were not strongly centralized, but were
made up of subordinate units obliged to
furnish soldiers and to pay tribute. Our
next form of government was the first
real attempt at democratic government,
known as the Greek city state Here
culture and education abounded and rep
resentatlve rule worked out favorably,
due in part to the small geographical
size and uniflcation OF thought.
The conquests of Alexander the
Great about the middle of the fourth
century BIC. destroyed the independence
OF the Greek cities and for time re-
tarded the adVancements of democratic
rule. The immense size of this newly
formed Roman empire made it impos-
slble to be carried on in the representa-
tive democratic way and therefore bu-
reaucratic and despotic empire was the
inevitable outcome. Romes system pre-
vented political education. and its very
success in tyrannical suppression brought
about its own downfall.
The next evolution was that of the
feudal state with its powerful barons
and their manOrs. This set-up was not
as efficient as the former and was an
intricate, interloCking form of govern
ment, with each noble vassal to the
other with the King at the top of
continually shaky pyramid. Under this
system and that of the Romans indi-
vldual initiative was stifled and the
rights of the common man were un-
rlghtfully suppressed.
The industrial revolution was the big
factor in bringing once more the world
back to the folds of democracy. Through
the introduction of new inventions and
the factory system, trade and economics
mounted by leaps and bounds Indi-
viduals became the power OF the state
and individuals demanded a say as to
the progress of political thought The
old philosophy of divine right of kings SO
exemplif1ed by Louis the XIV when he
said, upon question, that he was state,
gave way to the more radical and pop
ular theories of free spy ech. press and
the right of peaceful assembly.
This was the beginning OF new
thought, new era. and one which was
to raise the world to the heights of
social, economic and political develop
ment. It was this era which gave us the
telegraph, the telephone, the radio, the
automobile, the railroad, the flying ma
chine and countless other luxuries
heretofore only dreamed of.
Until today it has withstood in many
nations the obstacles trying to defeat
it, but in others it has succumbed to the
ancient premise that one or a few
should rule the many. This is the philos-
opohy which builds empires at the cost
OF thousands of lives, taxing the people
to pauperism so that a huge war ma
chine might always be ready to defend
the conquered territory. This Is the
philosophy that persecutes certain fac
tons numerically that the ruling factor
might remain as near omnipotent as
possible. This is the philosophy of Alex
ander the Great, Caesar, Charlemagne,
Napoleon. Mussolini and Hitler.
In the countries abroad which are
resorting to this philosophy, individual
Initiative to great extent has been
curbed, freedom of speech and press has
been stopped and educational freedom
has been dealt wicked blow.
I am inclined to believe, therefore. II
we as a nation do not plan progressively
and Systematically that we. too, might
drift backward to Rome, back to the
pagan influences Of barbaric policies.
BENJAMIN R. STICKNEY, JR,