The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-01-24

sdemagogte or when they wither away and
die of dry-rot and neglect on the part of the
eitizenry itself. 1t has happened on num-
-ber of occasions in the history of the hui
man race that nation which had establish
ed rough form of republican citizenship for
all of Its people. changed into monarchy
Or some other form of dictatorial govern
f1ent through the failure of its people to
guard preserve and exercise their rights
as citizens. We want TO say more on this
point. but there is another point we wish
to make first, the main point of this edi-
torial and this is to urge all eligible citizens
to pay their poll taxes by the deadline. which
Is the close of business on February |, and
to bear in mind that they must also register
BY the end of june t3t
Let us look for moment now at the his
tor of mankind and its various types of
governments through the ages to see what
message it has for us today sss
What mankind was before the dawn of
history we do not really know. We do not
know how he lived for before the develop
nent of written language he could leave no
fecord3. But it is believed that he lived
as prifiiative tribes live today and to some
extent also the beats of the fields. and that
is with an "old male or tribal chieftain
who acted rs king, father, chief, priest judge,
and all+powerful ruler of his tribe. The tribe
was sraall unit, and was apt to- include
mostly his own family, relatives and descend
ants. He was the "old man. and his word
was law. He had the power of life and
deeth otcr his people. and there was no
cheek on his authority.
When ages had passed and mankind de-
veleped Of higher forms of society. such as
the butIding of houses, the discovery of
planting and agriculture and the domestica-
tion of animals, the result was the develop
fnent of cities of considerable size in the
river valleys of Asia Minor. This made it
possible for various individuals to be as
sighed specialized task. one man making the
weapons. another using them to hunt game,
another tending the cattle, another tanning
the leather. and SO forth
But for thousands of years the old dcta-
toral form of government survived in the
form of the absolute iife-and-death powers
of the ruler The king now became vener-
ated somewhat as a god. In ancient Babylon,
Egypt. Persia and other countries it was
a crime for the common people" even to
raise their eyes and look upon his august
presence when he was passing by in his
royal procession.
About this time, however. simple tribe
of people on the Greek peninsula across the
Mediterranean sea began to develop form
of government based on a completely diff
ferent principle. In crude and primative
way. they conceived the idea that the head
man of the community was not god and
that he did not draw his power from divine
authority but from the will and welfare of
the people whom he was supposed TO govern.
They conceived the idea that they. the peo-
pie. did not exist for the sole pleasure and
privilege of working as beasts of burden for
the chief, but that his own function as chief
was to serve the welfare of his people.
The Greeks of the city of Athens brought
this idea to its highest development amongst
the ancients When their city-state and its
environs grew to sizeable proportions they
divided it into political precincts or beats,
much as we do today in our counties, and
these beats were called "demes.' They de-
veloped kind of legislature or parliament
called the "Areopagitca, which met at reg
ular intervals in huge amphitheater in
Athens to pass laws. elect the chief of state.
and sit in judgment on offenders. The re-
presentatives in this body were selected by
the various 'demes" or precincts whose
people voted in local elections to chose their
most forcefu and talented representative
to represent them.
In the "Aereopagitica, there were estab-
lished rules of debate, and each represen-
tative from the various demes was permit
ted to speak to any question for stated
length of time, Of about one hour. II he
wandered froHh the question in hand, how
ever, he was called TO order by the others
and forced to return to the matter under
discussion or to take his seat.