Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/765

 POPULAR INITIATIVE 749

And another aptly says that the trouble with humankind has been to strike a balance because of the influence of mischievous demagogues.

It is pertinent to ask : What are the leaders of socialism and trades-unionism struggling for? Thomas H. Benton declared that the safety of the country depends upon the tranquillity of the masses. Who are disturbing the tranquillity of the masses ? The problem of the popular initiative is plain and clearly defined. It is a fanciful theory that every voter is capable of governing and of administering intricate public affairs, against common-sense backed by universal experience ; it is the power of popular license against representative government and constitutional security. No effort to obscure it by disquisitions upon its psychological nature and effects by theorizing upon choice and coercion, and the separation of political from business functions can conceal this issue. Psychological and sociological analyses wither before the raw fact that with the power of the initiative absolutism is established and the rights of the minority have no protection. The idea of the right of everybody to make laws is attractive, but it is a dangerous experiment to submit to a large and mixed population. In the language of Mr. A. L. Lowell, "the concep- tion is bold, but it is not likely to prove of any great use to man- kind ; if, indeed, it does not prove to be merely a happy hunting- ground for extremists and fanatics."

WILLIAM HORACE BROWN,

Secretary of the Civic Federation. CHICAGO.