The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-05-26
The Attack On Security :.

| openly as anCl-QemOcraClc.F OllC1c1anS
and parties whatever their belief can
be counted on the proclaim loudly
and ardently for democracy.
| But this deep devotion on the part
of the people and this failure of the
opposition to come out openly as
enemies shouting "down with democ-
racy," and "down with peoples rule"
present serious problems.
Those who fear democracy and
would destroy it or limit it, try to
mislead the people by appealing
to prejudices and primitive fears,
they try to confuse by specious argu-
ments, and use definitions that make
democracy mean whatever they like.
In the name of democracy and to
save that ideal the enemy offers an
abridgment of the freedom of speech
of the press, and the right to peace
fully assemble. 1t asks us to accept
laws aimed at curtailing the right
of labor to organize and to bargain
collectively. 1t offers us hate, fear
and suspicion. That same enemy
pleads with us to SHAKEN our pace
towards the fuller life in order not
to disturb the status quo, which pre-
sumably is the alpha and the omega
of democracy. Democracy can mean
anything from the way we own, OPP
crate, or tax our economic royalists
to the way we operate to extend our
economic influence in the world or
the aid we extend to Chang kai-
Shek, Greece and carry on the cold
war.
The antidote for this foreign sub
stance in our social system is a pro-
gram of re-examining and redefin-
ing the great American ideal-liber-
ty,, equality, freedom and above all
the true meaning of democracy. The
nature of democracy is such that
great scholars have many times cal
led attention to the serious need for
it's constant determination and re-
definition. That is so because the
battle for democracy is always on,
is never quite settled for good, and
as the fight is continued on diff
ferent level under different circum-
stances, new interpretations are nee
essary.
Definition
The dictionary says democracy is
rule by the people. For short defini-
ton that is probably good enough
Rule by the people.
He, therefore, who processes to be
a true democrat says, in substance, |
that he stakes his safety, general
and future hopes in the mass
of people. He says that he believes
the peoples native hunger for Sc
curity, freedom, and liberty, their
and fill for justice will
somehow suffice in solving the great
problems for the best interest of all.
And that is precisely what democ-
'acy is: A statement of faith in the
common man, deep and reverent re-
;pect for individual personality. 1t
S a statement of belief, recogni-
ion of the worth and dignity of
he human being; regard for the
natural right to a chance
% make the most possible of himself.
Democracy is a force and faith
directed towards the future rather
han towards the past. 1t is state
nent of what things ought to be
ather than what they are. 1t is then,
!. recognition of the peoples right
o participate in all phases of hu-
nan activity, political, economic and
ocial. 1t means that the common peo-
lie have the right to set up their
,wn ways of doing business, select
heir own political candidates and
rganize their own political parties.
TIC avoid being tricked into ac-
epting false and misleading defini-
ion, and, as consequence, fraudu-
emit substitutes labeled ''Pure democ-
acy" a good rule to remember is
hat democracy is not a set of in t
titutions. Institutions are mechan- J
SINS and devices. They are born, t
ften serve we'll for a time but as
ften are replaced by higher and i
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