It may be helpful to relate, in just a word, what is meant in this
volume by essential democracy, essential united earth and similar
expressions. Springing from the Christian idea that all men are created
equal in the sight of God, in opportunity, it stands for that type of
society in which the essential power of government is wielded by the
mass of the people.
The one thing that it is important to remember is that a monarchy or an
oligarchy is not necessarily an antithesis of democracy--only absolutism
in the form of a monarchy or oligarchy or plutocracy is an antithesis to
democratic principles.
Many governments which live under the standard of a republic are not
democratic in spirit at all. Mexico has virtually been a despotism. The
Spanish-American states, especially until recent years, were nothing but
a specie of military tyranny. And France has often been only a
bureaucracy in structure and in state.
By essential democracy we mean the gradual triumph of the principles
which emphasize the equality of man before God, and which are everywhere
coming into increasing recognition throughout the world.
One author says that before the middle of the nineteenth century all the
great European states, with the exception of Russia and Turkey, had
adopted a constitution limiting the power of the crown "and investing a
considerable share of political power in the people, and in most of them
a representative legislature of the parliamentary or British type was
adopted." While in Switzerland, Norway and Sweden alone on the continent
democracy has reached a type of true efficiency. And these triumphs must
be remembered by the people for the sake of future inspiration and
courage; and because it may help one to interpret the present European
war as an agony incident to the progress of growth.
It is true that the victory of the principle of democracy has been
checked by the persisting of the military spirit in Europe and the
wonderful industrial expansion in both Europe and America. In England
also the triumph "has been delayed by the prevalence of aristocratic
traditions which still grant privileges and rights to a social class
based on berth and inherited wealth." While in American the simplicity
of the colonial life and the absence of the people from the aristocratic
classes of Europe promoted a vigorous and commanding growth of the
democratic ideas. And this is why the nations of the world in their
struggle for democracy are looking to America, because she has the most
nearly of all nations realized the democratic ideal.
In light of what has already been accomplished, how inspiring then
becomes the lure of the ideal of world democracy. Essentially it is
splendidly possible. The people crave it because it is God-born. They
love to think and work and vote for that far-off divine event. And more
than that the words, monarchy and oligarchy, are so out of date that
they are anxious to be in spirit and letter citizens of a republic. And
wherever the leaven is working thrones are in danger, because great
things are going to happen on this God-guided globe, in the interest of
humanity.
Let it be remembered that there are fifty recognized governments in the
world; and that of this number twenty-six are republics, twenty limited
monarchies, with democratic features, and only four absolute monarchies.
The very thought of this is an inspiration and shows that all the
nations are rapidly moving in the direction of essential world
democracy.