The people's voice., 1941-10-08
DEMOCRACY

Editors Note: Speaking on the
subject, Democracy in Our Home
Town." Attorney General John Bon
ner last Monday addressed the Bill
| lings Business and Professional
/ Women's Club in Billings. We print
below, thoughtful excerpts Of that
specify
| In order to effectively aid thai
which is most dear to us, (our de
mocracy) we must pause and reflec1
SO that we may know what to do il
the most efficient way for the pur.
pose of making secure our democratic
form of government.
What is democracy? Knowing this
would be a great help, for 1t is oul
lawless and uncertain thoughts, it is
the indefiniteness of our Impressions
that fill darkness, whether mental OF
physical, with specters and hobgob-
Inns. Democracy as we know it exists
only in one country in the world and
that is in these great United States,
experiment in government vas had
and though as late as 1884 James
Russell Lowell still referred to de
mocracy as an experiment in govern
ment in this country, l believe that
everyone will agree with me now that
democracy is reality in this great
nation.
Lincoln defined democracy from the
political aspect as "The government
of the people, by the people, and for
the people" Theodore Parker de-
fined democracy from the ethical
aspect by saying that Democracy
meant not 4 am as good as you are,
but you are as good as / am" In
order to have true democracy we
must, of course, practice its defini-
tions both from an ethical and polit-
ical standpoint
The object of democracy as we
know it is to make it necessary that
every man should be treated as the
sovereign of himself, and his standing
in the community must be one Of fell
use, his real Importance depends upon
his individual quality.
The seed of democracy sprouted in
in large communities in the process
of history and finally bloomed on this
continent. 1t is rooted in the suffer-
ing and blood of mankind. Though
some of it's tender limbs have sprouted
only to be brutally cut off, in other
countries it has refused to die and will
remain permanent here as long as
we remain fit to take care of it. In
order to remain fit to enjoy the bene-
fit of our democracy and yet see that
it has healthy growth, we must ever
make it our business to see that it
does not die. Men and women INT to
be called Americans think the same
basically and have the same IDEAS of
COVER nment. Of course, we differ on
many things connected with politics
and economics. If we could and
would, when we have difficulties in
our communities, sit down first and
agree upon the points about which we
do not differ, then our controversies
would be easily settled. The trouble |
now is that we keep quarreling about |
our differences and forget about those |
.hings we agree upon. This proceed |
Ire leads to difficulties, damage and |
enmities which well could be avoided |
and thus eliminate a definite danger |
% cur democratic form of government. |
You remember that Voltaire said |
like this, 81 do not agree
With one word you say but | will de-
end with my life your right to say
t. Where is there a more beautiful
md truthful passage in the history
If democracy? That phrase to me
epresents the foundation of democ-
acy. We must be tolerant with lie
'ther fellows's viewpoint. We must
4bide with the rule of the majority.
We must not, in times Of stress, be-
ome bitter and forget that different
lew points have been the vehicles
# progress in the democratic form Of
overnment.
In order to practice democracy in
ur country, we should not shirk our
peal governmental responsibilities.
'ur system of government was
ounded on the theory that there must
o civic responsibility in the various
communities. | could cite you exam
lie from our laws in this respect but
uffice it is for me to point out to
ou the example of jury duty Many
us complain about our legal proce-
ure and become more or less dis
with it's grinding machinery.
Iowever, you will find in many COM
lunities competent men and women {
'hO would rather attend to their own I
fairs than to give some of their l
me to jury service. In communities
ou will find but few who are willing
, give their time for worthy COM @
unity enterprises. And yet what a r
onderful place our communities S
ould be if everyone put his shoulder p
the wheel as far as civic respon- n
bility is concerned. t
g
Take the matter of elections affect e