Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/231

 THE CIVIC PROBLEM 2 1 5

war; how much more important to a nation is brain-power than sea-power.

But I cannot point out, much less consider, all the problems involved in the civic problem as it appears from the sociological standpoint. I must content myself by offering, in conclusion, a suggestion or two in regard to its solution.

From the sociological standpoint, the civic problem, embra- cing as it does a whole cluster of problems, is primarily educa- tional. But the problem of education is, from one point of view, a problem of government. A municipal government truly repre- sentative of the people is, as I have said, the active agent for promoting all their interests. This implies a liberal theory of the functions of government. Theories of government, however, are relative, not absolute. When the government of a nation or a city is from without of a nation by a king or a privileged class, or of a city by a state legislature, a ring, or a boss the laisses faire theory of government has much to commend it. For if history teaches anything at all, it is that t as a rule, the business of governing will be run in the interest of the governors. It is not strange, then, that with the ignorance, selfishness, and cor- ruption of the governments of the world before their eyes, men like Mr. Spencer should conclude that government should keep hands off; that in its attempts to mitigate human suffering it continually increases it. All governments have been in the past, and are now, more or less external, and consequently more or less paternal. They should, therefore, be restrained. But restraint is not the end; they should be popularized. When the government of a city becomes popular in reality as well as in name; when it is a government of, by, and for the people, then selfish and corrupt aims are no longer to be feared because a city could hardly be said to be corrupt and selfish with regard to itself and the only danger is ignorance. Then the positive theory of government applies. Then a municipal government, no matter how extensive its functions, is but the self-directed activity of the municipality, which is as wholesome for a city as that sort of activity is for an individual. The dangers of popu- lar ignorance will remain to be feared, blunders will be made,